Both Austin wrestlers took home victories on the opening day of the state wrestling meet to advance to the quarterfinals at the Minnesota State Wrestling meet in Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Wednesday.

At 145 pounds Howie Underwood got past Anoka’s Jake Waste (32-2 overall), who is ranked No. 2 in Class ‘AAA’ on a forfeit and Michael Hirsch beat Wes Dodd (32-7 overall) of Bloomington Jefferson/Bloomington Kennedy on a 17-5 decision.

Underwood (30-9 overall), a junior, will face Jarett Hoeppner of Apple Valley (37-5 overall) Thursday. Hoeppner is ranked No. 3 in Class ‘AAA.’

Hirsch (35-3 overall) will face Erik Berdahl of Coon Rapids Thursday in the 189 pound bracket. Berdahl (38-4 overall) is ranked No. 3 in Class ‘AAA.’

Class ‘A’

At 119 pounds, Southland’s Grant Hegge (35-5 overall) lost a 2-1 overtime to Adam Bates of (24-2 overall) of Sibley East. Hegge will wrestle in the consolation bracket Thursday.

At 130 pounds, Hayfield’s Nick Masching and Southland’s Matt Schroeder each got wins.

Masching (31-9 overall) beat Matt Hagen of Wadena/Deer Creek on a 3-1 overtime decision and Schroeder (38-0 overall) beat Brad Mass of Medford on a 2-1 decision.

Masching will now take on Devin Scott (37-1 overall) of Holdingford in the quarterfinals and Schroeder will go against Tony Vaske of (37-2 overall) of Aitkin.

At 145 pounds, Hayfield sophomore Myles Moreno (16-13 overall) lost to Mike Lucero (31-2 overall) on a 3-2 decision. Moreno will now compete in the consolation round.

At 152 pounds, Hayfield senior Mark Evjen (30-9 overall) beat Josh Meech of USC with a pin (1:47). Evjen will take on Bryce Andrews (36-2 overall) of Madelia/Truman/Martin Luther next.

Class ‘AA’

At 112 pounds Grand Meadow/LeRoy/Ostrander/Kingsland’s Noah Schlee (31-9 overall) was pinned by Cody Paulsen of Totino/Grace in 4:28. Schlee will wrestle in the consolation round Thursday.

At 189 pounds, GMLOK’s Carter Brandt (30-10 overall) upset Montgomery/Lonsdale/LeCenter’s Johnny Krocak (40-2 overall) with a 6-4 overtime decision.

Brandt, a sophomore, will take on Zimmerman’s Jeff Nielsen (34-2 overall) Thursday.

At 215 pounds, GMLOK’s Jacob Hamlin (32-8 overall) was beaten on a 17-2 technical fall by Kris Olson (40-1 overall) of Foley.

Hamlin will wrestle in the consolation round Thursday.