East Liverpool’s Paige Cowan wrestles against Edison’s Lydia Krepps at 126 pounds on Friday. Cowan won by technical fall to advance to the semifinals. (Photo by Kim North)

WHEELING, W.Va. — Five Beaver Local boys wrestlers advanced to the semifinals of the 72nd annual Ron Mauck Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Wrestling Tournament on Friday at WesBanco Arena.

East Liverpool and Oak Glen boys also produced one semifinalist each.

Beaver Local freshman Jordan Bates (19-2) scored his third pin of the tournament by taking down John Marshall’s Milo Ward in 3:30 in his 106-pound quarterfinal. The top seed will face Barnesville’s Easton Stephen (17-5) in today’s semifinal.

Also in the 106-pound class, East Liverpool junior Kyle Ingram (23-3) pinned Edison’s Kaleb Marker in 1:01 to earn his ticket to the semifinal. His semifinal opponent is Cameron’s Maverick Lilley (22-1).

Beaver Local sophomore Jeryck Boyd (10-7) advanced to the 113-pound semifinal with a 12-11 win over the second seed Bronson Matthews of University. Boyd will meet Steubenville’s Jailen Steave (19-6) in today’s semifinal.

Oak Glen senior Wyatt Wolanski, the No. 2 seed, was a 6-4 winner over Martins Ferry’s Keenan Lucy in his 144-pound quarterfinal. Wolanski (29-3) will meet Barnesville’s Colt Carpenter (18-5) in his semifinal.

Top-seeded Beaver Local senior Bobby Buchheit will be in line for his fourth OVAC title on Saturday as he scored his third pin of the tournament with a takedown of Wheeling Park’s Jake Carman in 3:07 in Friday’s 150-pound quarterfinal. Buchheit (8-0) will meet Caldwell’s Owen Hunt (27-7) in today’s semifinal.

Beaver Local sophomore Jake Hughes, also a top seed, produced his third pin of the tournament with a win over Weir’s Terell Jones in 1:39 in a 157-pound quarterfinal on Friday. Hughes (23-3) is set to take on Cambridge’s Gavin Resor (16-4) in the semifinal.

Beaver Local junior Evan Ours, the fourth seed, easily qualified for the 165-pound semifinals with a pin of Caldwell’s Adan Bender in 1:18 on Friday. Ours (19-6) is set to meet top-seeded Gunnar Gossett (32-1) of Union Local in today’s semifinal.

Friday also marked the first day of girls competition in the tournament’s history.

Local quarterfinal winners include East Palestine’s McKenna Paparella (107), East Liverpool’s Piper Wolfe (114), East Liverpool’s Nariyah Monteiro (120), East Liverpool’s Paige Cowan (126) and East Liverpool’s Alanna Mcgonigal (165).

The OVAC tournament continues with semifinals and consolation matches at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Saturday’s second session, which includes finals and placement matches, will run from 3:30 p.m. until about 7:30 p.m.