BILLINGS — If all goes as planned, the busses may be a little heavier on the trip back from the All-Class State wrestling tournament at the Rimock Auto Arena at MetraPark.

The Flathead Braves and Glacier Wolfpack combined to send five wrestlers through to the semifinals while 13 are still in contention to bring home hardware.

Flathead’s Trae Vasquez (113), Dyan Guzman (126) and Payton Hume (132) all won their quarterfinal matches to keep their sights on a state title.

Vasquez opened up the first state tournament in his prep career with a 19-second pin of Butte’s Gabe Tierney. He then went on to dominate Russell Wieholtz of Great Falls 8-2, including a double-leg takedown just 15 seconds into the match.

Wieholt’s two points were uncontested escapes as Vasquez elected to work from his feet.

“I felt like I wrestled really well on my feet, and I felt like I was keeping the pressure on everyone I was wrestling so they couldn’t get a shot off,” he said. “I felt like since I was going forward I was dominating the match.”

Vasquez will meet sophomore Nick Kunz from Helena Capital in the semifinals.

“I was just trying to take care of Day 1 and focus one match at a time,” the freshman said.

“Now it’s on my semifinal match. If I can get through that and get to the state finals, I’ll be focusing on that, but right now it’s one match at a time and focus on dominating.”

After locking up a near-side cradle, Guzman, a senior, took and early 5-0 lead in his quarterfinal match against Great Falls’ Jarren Komac. He would score another take down to hold on to a 7-5 victory. He’ll meet Helena’s Landon Bailey in the semifinals.

Hume, a freshman, beat Keegan Mulhill of Bozeman, 7-6, in his opening-round match. His quarterfinal match against Butte’s Kelly Merrick was a little less nerve-wracking. Hume pinned Merrick just 29 seconds into the third period to become Flathead’s second rookie to reach the semis where he’ll meet Jordan Komac of Great Falls.

The Braves have nine total wrestlers in both the championship and consolation brackets. They currently sit in sixth place in the team standings with 65.5 points.

Glacier’s Justin Gibson (103) and Quinn Barber (152) defeated their quarterfinal opponents to stay alive in the hunt for a state championship.

Barber, who placed fifth a year ago, defeated Flathead’s Hunter Rush in crosstown quarterfinal action to earn his second straight trip to the semifinals.

Two low level single-leg takedowns gave Gibson a 4-0 lead early in the second period. He ran the score up to 6-2 before pinning Rush with 44 seconds left in the match.

It was Gibson’s second pin in as many matches.

“I thought I wrestled pretty good. I had a good first day, going into the second day I feel pretty confident,” the sophomore said. “There aren’t a lot of things I want to change. I just want to do the same things I’ve been doing. I’m looking forward to (Day 2).”

Barber, who wrestled Bozeman Hawks’ in his first two matches, pinned Brandon Cooper before squeaking past Ben Manion. Barber’s reversal 15 seconds into the second period proved to be the winning move as he hung on for a 2-0 decision.

The senior will face Brock Bushfield of Billings Skyview in his semifinal match.

The Wolfpack, who qualified 10 wrestlers, are in 13th place with 40 points.

Class AA action continues today at 9:30 a.m. with semifinal and consolation quarterfinal matches.