The first day of the Class M state wrestling championships Friday at Windham High did not offer many surprises in early rounds as defending champ Bacon Academy took an early lead with 73 points, 9 1/2 ahead of second-place Ledyard.
The Colonels placed 11 of 14 wrestlers into the quarterfinals, which start around 9 a.m. today. Semifinals will start around 2 and the finals have a strict 7 p.m. start. Fifth and third place wrestleback divisions rounds will be held around 4.
Nick Lauer (103), Matt Jones (112), Caile Johnson (130), Brandon Finney (135), William Finney (140), Dean Gilbert (145), Brendan Sullivan (152), Alex Manwaring (160), Dakota Kelly (171), Mike Spellman (189) and Josh Lawrence (215) escaped their early round matchups. Manwaring recorded a 29 second pin, and Kelly (1:12) and Lawrence (1:32) also had quick opening match pinfalls.
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The Colonels hope to make up ground early when Lawrence faces Bacon's Tom Scott in the quarterfinals.
