SALEM – Brothers Josh and Jake Banta are both still in championship contention after one day of wrestling in the OSAA State Wrestling Championships, which began Thursday in Salem.

Astoria is in 20th place in the team standings with 19 points, while Sweet Home leads the field of 39 schools with 57 points. Tillamook (52.5) and Scappoose (39) are running second and third in the team standings.

Six Astoria wrestlers were in action on Day 1.

Freshman Kenny Dowell went 1-1 at 103 pounds, and will face La Pine’s Randy Steel in a consolation match today.

At 152 pounds, senior Josh Banta opened with a 37-second pin over Tyler Drafahl of Brookings-Harbor, and will wrestle a championship quarterfinal today vs. Stayton’s Mihael Martushev.

Astoria has two wrestlers at 215 – junior Ricky Welty was 1-1, with a consolation victory over Sweet Home’s Ethan Rowe; and No. 1-seeded senior Jake Banta posted a 28-second fall over Cliff Rhoten of Rogue River. Banta wrestles Brian Olsen of Brookings-Harbor in a quarterfinal today.

Two Fishermen are competing at 285 – senior Ben Mattingly and junior Colton Schwarz, who both wrestle consolation matches today.