AUBURN HILLS — In the opening round of the state wrestling finals, Niles had three, Edwardsburg and Cassopolis two and Brandywine one wrestler advance to the championship quarterfinals Friday.

Brandywine’s Sam Burge, along with Niles’ Andrew Flick, Brenden Hall and Mitchell Findeisen were all first round winners at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills Thursday.

Edwardsburg’s Michael Higley and Hunter Vargo, along with Cassopolis’ Colin Kelley and AJ Green also won first round matches.

In Division 2, Flick defeated Randy Smith of Forest Hills Eastern 4-2, Brenden Hall blanked Nathan Wynsma of Allendale 4-0 and Mitchell Findeisen defeated Gianni Baez of Bryon Center 13-1.

DeVonte Gaskill was pinned by Joel Rees of Sparta, Cade Stephenson lost to Julian Saldana of Melvindale 21-5 and Courtland Lamberton lost to Nolan Rickman of Trenton 4-2. Quintin Smith lost to Gage Paul of Petosky 8-4.

Higley pinned Detroit-Cesar Chavez Academy’s Bryan Roblero in 2:51, while Vargo pinned Farmington’s Jake Justice in 1:59.

Joe Hess was pinned by Danny Kruse of Lowell and Blake Parsons was pinned by Jon Cox of Dearborn Heights-Annapolis in 5:39.

In Division 3, Buchanan’s Adam Eger lost his first round match to KJ Suitor of Swan Valley 11-1.

Dowagiac’s Kody Walker was pinned by Amante Young, while Michael Nuyen lost 8-6 to James Bruce of Gladstone.

In Division 4, Kelley won by injury default over Tyler Teague of Springport, Green defeated Joe Gratton of Marlette 15-6 and Reese West was edged by Jason Craig of Lawton 4-3.