The Warrenton boys wrestling team had a fantastic first day at the MSHSAA Class 3 wrestling championships at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

Of the seven Warriors wrestlers, five are still alive in their weight classes, and three have already earned a state medal by advancing to the semifinals, where they can finish no worse than sixth.

The results earned Warrenton 38.5 points and the team sits in seventh place after the first day. Warrenton coach Clayton Olsson said that, all things considered, he was happy with how the event began.

“It was a good first day,” Olsson said. “The three guys who have the medals have been working their butts off all year. They deserve it. In this sport, you don’t really get what you deserve; you get what you earn.”

While junior Zayden Teson (132 pounds), senior Max Teson (157) and senior Nathan Donovan (113) each won their first two matches to advance to the semifinal round on Saturday, the way in which the junior won his matches – by a technical fall in the first round and by fall over Webb City’s Tyler Christensen in 90 seconds in round two – turned heads.

“Going from my freshman year, being seized up and not being able to get to my offense, this feels great,” Zayden Teson said. “A first-period tech and a first-period pin, I felt like this was a home meet so far. My third year here, I feel like I’ve got it under control.”

While Zayden Teson’s win had style, it would be hard to argue with the substance in his teammates’ wins.

Donovan opened the tournament with a 10-1 major decision over DeSoto’s Jacob O’Dell and a 10-5 decision over Winnetonka’s Aaron Roberts.

“It’s a relief, being senior year because we work year-round,” Donovan said. “To get a second medal, it’s a great feeling. In my second round, that kid had some slick moves in neutral and he was tough on top. I had to stay calm, stay composed and do what I do.”

The final member of the medal trio, Max Teson, beat Jefferson City’s Nicholas Redcay by fall in 1:39 before securing his medal by beating Smithville’s Cannon Hutchcraft 7-4.

“Finally, I wrestled the way I knew I could wrestle,” Max Teson said. “I’ve worked so hard all summer, wrestling against ranked guys and, finally, I am (at that level).”

While the top trio had a quick path to medals, Warrenton still has two more wrestlers who can medal as they work their way back from opening-round defeats: sophomore Colton Tinker (120) and senior Korben Johnson (190).

Tinker opened the event, losing by fall in 5:23 to Kearney’s Landon Westfall. Since that defeat, though, he hasn’t dropped a match.

He beat Fort Zumwalt South’s Joel Gumahin by a 1-0 decision and Pacific’s Mason Link by fall in 46 seconds to advance to the consolation semifinals.

Likewise, Johnson has rebounded strongly from an early defeat. He fell to Cape Central’s Connor Poole by fall in 2:38 before wins over Bolivar’s Sam Harless by fall in 3:17 and Washington’s Camden Dewert in 1:48 have kept him alive into matches on Saturday.

“Tomorrow morning will be big for those guys,” Olsson said.