ST. PAUL — Five area wrestlers won their first match of the State Individual Wrestling Tournament on Thursday at Grand Casino Arena.

In Class AA, New Ulm Area’s Elijah Rieser defeated Pierz’s Carter Young by a 6-2 decision at 139, while NUA’s Alex Portner earned a 16-1 technical fall over South St. Paul’s Lucas Leisering. Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial’s Mason Adams pinned Totino-Grace’s Fua Taumalolo in 3:55 to advance at 285. For the girls, NUA’s Ellie Dake earned a win by fall in 3:17 against Mound-Westonka’s Delaney Parker at 170.

Also from the area, NUA’s Regan Johnson took an 11-1 major decision loss to Cannon Falls’ Owen Parish at 114, while LCWM’s Ryder Antony lost a 6-2 decision to Kasson-Mantorville’s Kaden Lindquist at 121. Kane Johnson lost a 7-4 decision to Alexandria Area’s Nolan Fettig at 133, and NUA’s Candon Briggs took a 20-4 technical fall loss to Simley’s Amelio Salas in 1:22 at 172. NUA’s Lane Ruch lost a 15-5 major decision to Kasson-Mantorville’s Parker Richards at 189, and Sibley East’s Julio Alejandro lost a 7-6 decision to Blue Earth Area’s Timmy Nagel at 133. Sibley East’s Tanner Johnson lost a 17-2 technical fall in 2:39 to Pelican Rapids’ Jackson Peasley at 139 while Wabasso’s Mason Kampsen lost an 18-1 technical fall in 6:00 to GMLOS’s Drake Payne at 215. Sibley East Gianny Lopez lost a 16-0 technical fall to Holdingford’s Simon Boeckman at 172.

Quarterfinals begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, while wrestlebacks begin at 4 p.m. Friday.