MORRISTOWN — Prep wrestling officially got under way last week, but several area teams got their first taste of an invitational Saturday at the annual Union Local Rick Link Invitational, which attracted more than 20 teams.

University — one of the top big-school teams in the state of West Virginia — flexed its muscle early and often en route to claiming eight championships, ringing up 343 points to claim the team title.

Martins Ferry, which had a pair of champions, finished second with 166 points, edging out West Virginia perennial power Parkersburg South by two points.

Steubenville (157) and Barnesville (146) rounded out the top five.

Martins Ferry was led by two-time state qualifier Dylan Ward. He won the title at 120 pounds by pinning Steubenville’s Ethan Stimpert at the 3:08 mark.

The Purple Riders’ second champion of the day came at 190 when Alexander Finsley edged out St. Clairsville’s Jacob Walker, 6-4, for the title.

Johnny McFarland settled for runner-up at 165 after being on the short end of an 18-1 technical fall at the hands of University’s Dakota Hagedorn.

Steubenville recorded its lone title at 126 thanks to impressive freshman Charlie Abbott. He pinned University’s Conner Graser at the 3:10 mark.

Barnesville, which had some of its lineup competing at the Walsh Ironman this weekend in Canton, produced a champion thanks to senior Logan Tague, who pinned Steubenville’s Savier Faulks at the 3:51 mark. For his efforts, throughout the day, Tague garnered the Most Oustanding Wrestler award.

Sophomore Ayden King settled for a runner-up finish after being pinned by University’s Dom Parker at the 5:53 mark in the 157-pound title bout.

Junior Johnathan Huntsman finished second at 106, dropping a narrow 6-4 decision to University sophomore Pepper Martin.

Bellaire is home to the champion at 113 pounds. Sophomore Grant Vasey, after falling behind Martins Ferry’s Jase Mahoney early in the match, recovered and pinned the Purple Rider at the 2:25 mark.

The host Jets produced a champion at 138 pounds thanks to senior Brody Myers. He pinned Circleville sophomore Ayden Reedy in 4:48.

St. Clairsville’s Zachary McKeever was the runnerup at 144, falling to South’s Nathan Murphy via a first-period fall.

Edison’s Ethan Waggoner settled for second at 175 after being pinned by University’s Luca Felix in just 91 seconds.