ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- It was a strong start to day one of the NCAA Div. III Mideast Regional at RIT for the Elizabethtown College wrestling team. Seven Blue Jays are still alive after day one, including five in the semifinal round going into Saturday's final day.

Ethan Liptzin and Brian Schneider both had first round matches while the remaining Blue Jays all had byes to begin Friday. That was no issue for either Liptzin or Schneider as both won their first matches easily. Liptzin would record three consecutive tech falls en route to the semis at 125 while Schneider registered three straight pins to reach the semis at 165.

Ganon Smith, Will Davis and Dylan Waller won a pair of matches each to also advance to their weight class semifinal round.

Gavin Fehr and Shane Strausser suffered defeats that put them onto the consolation side of the bracket, but both Jays won to remain in play for a podium finish. Fehr and Strausser can finish no worse than eighth for Elizabethtown.

The Blue Jays currently sit in second as a team going into Saturday.