KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Defending champion Penn State stretched its lead over the field to 10 points after the Thursday night session at the NCAA Div. I Championships at the T-Mobile Center.

Punching eight wrestlers into the quarterfinals, with their other two wrestlers alive in the consolation rounds, Penn State was able to tack on a number of bonus point wins this session.

On the championship side, Beau Bartlett (141) and Aaron Brooks (197) got pins, Levi Haines (157) secured a technical fall and a major decision was added by Greg Kerkvliet (285). On consolation side, Aaron Nagao (133) won by technical fall and Tyler Kasak (149) secured a major decision.

The battle for a NCAA trophy (given to the top four programs) is lining up as wide-open and competitive as predicted. Only four points separate the second-place teams and the seventh place team.

After day one, second place is shared by rivals Iowa and Iowa State with 24.5 points. Michigan and NC State are tied in fourth with 22 points. Nebraska is sixth with 21 points and Ohio State is seventh with 20.5 points.

After Penn State, Nebraska has the most in the quarterfinals with seven wrestlers. Iowa State, Michigan and NC State have five in the quarters, while Arizona State, Iowa and Virginia Tech have four.

The round seemed to have fewer upsets than some recent years, when the Thursday evening session saw many highly ranked athletes go downd.

The highest seed to get beaten in round two happened at 125 pounds, when No. 15 Caleb Smith of Nebraska defeated No. 2 seed Luke Stanich of Lehigh, 4-1 in sudden victory.

The next highest seeds to go down were at No. 5. At 157, No. 12 Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech beat No. 5 Ryder Downey of UNI, 9-6. At 197, Missouri’s No. 12 Rocky Elam stopped No. 5 Jacob Cardenas of Cornell, 4-0.

On the other hand, the lowest seed to advance to the quarterfinals was No. 28 Jared Simma of Northern Iowa ar 174 pounds, who knocked off the No. 5 and No. 21 seeds on Thursday. Simma will battle past national champion and No. 4 seed Shane Griffith of Michigan in the quarterfinals.

It was a good day for No. 1 seeds, all who advanced to the quarterfinals. In addition, each of the past NCAA champions were able to make the finals.

Vito Arujau of Cornell (133), two-timer Keegan O’Toole of Missouri (165), David Carr of Iowa State (165) Shane Griffith of Michigan (165), Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech (174), plus Penn State’s three-time champions Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (197)

The most highly anticipated quarterfinal will include No. 1 seed Lewis and No. 9 seed Starocci. Starocci was unbeaten during the regular season, but an injury forced him to default his matches at the Big Ten Championships, and his seed slipped to No. 9. Starocci won both of his matches by decision on Thursday.

Friday morning’s session begins at 11:00 a.m. CT, and will include the quarterfinals and two consolation rounds. Action will be broadcast on ESPNU and ESPN+

NCAA DIV. I CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Kansas City, Mo., March 21

Quarterfinal pairings (with seeds)

125 pounds

No. 1 Braeden Davis (Penn State) vs. No. 8 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State)

No. 12 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) vs. No. 4 Matt Ramos (Purdue)

No. 3 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. No. 6 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State)

No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) vs. No. 15 Caleb Smith (Nebraska)

133 pounds

No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 8 Evan Frost (Iowa State)

No. 5 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) vs. No. 4 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers)

No. 3 Kai Orine (NC State) vs. No. 6 Vito Arujau (Cornell)

No. 7 Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) vs. No. 2 Ryan Crookham (Lehigh)

141 pounds

No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. No. 9 Brock Hardy (Nebraska)

No. 5 Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State) vs. No. 4 Ryan Jack (NC State)

No. 3 Real Woods (Iowa) vs. No. 6 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina)

No. 26 Vance Vombaur (Minnesota) vs. No. 2 Beau Bartlett (Penn State)

149 pounds

No. 1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) vs. No. 8 Casey Swiderski (Iowa State)

No. 5 Ty Watters (West Virginia) vs. No. 4 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech)

No. 3 Jackson Arrington (NC State) vs. No. 6 Austin Gomez (Michigan)

No. 10 Chance Lamer (Cal Poly) vs. No. 2 Kyle Parco (Arizona State)

157 pounds

No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) vs. No. 8 Peyton Robb (Nebraska)

No. 12 Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 4 Ed Scott (NC State)

No. 3 Meyer Shapiro (Cornell) vs. No. 6 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford)

No. 10 Jared Franek (Iowa) vs. No. 2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State)

165 pounds

No. 1 Keegan O`Toole (Missouri) vs. No. 8 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska)

No. 5 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) vs. No. 4 David Carr (Iowa State)

No. 3 Julian Ramirez (Cornell) vs. No. 6 Mike Caliendo (Iowa)

No. 10 Cameron Amine (Michigan) vs. No. 2 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State)

174 pounds

No. 1 Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 8 Carter Starocci (Penn State)

No. 28 Jared Simma (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 4 Shane Griffith (Michigan)

No. 3 Edmond Ruth (Illinois) vs. No. 6 Rocco Welsh (Ohio State)

No. 7 Lennox Wolak (Columbia) vs. No. 2 Cade DeVos (South Dakota State)

184 pounds

No. 1 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 25 David Key (Navy)

No. 5 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska) vs. No. 4 Trey Munoz (Oregon State)

No. 3 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 6 Bernie Truax (Penn State)

No. 7 Thomas Stewart Jr (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 2 Isaiah Salazar (Minnesota)

197 pounds

No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs. No. 8 Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma)

No. 12 Rocky Elam (Missouri) vs. No. 4 Michael Beard (Lehigh)

No. 3 Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State) vs. No. 6 Lou Deprez (Binghamton)

No. 10 Silas Allred (Nebraska) vs. No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NC State)

285 pounds

No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) vs. No. 9 Nick Feldman (Ohio State)

No. 5 Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) vs. No. 5 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State)

No. 3 Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force) vs. No. 6 Zach Elam (Missouri)

No. 10 Lucas Davison (Michigan) vs. No. 2 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State)

Number of Quarterfinalists by Team

8 – Penn State

7 – Nebraska

5 – Iowa State, Michigan, NC State,

4 – Arizona State, Iowa, Virginia Tech,

3 – Cornell, Lehigh, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma State

2 – Minnesota, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Wisconsin,

1 – Air Force, Binghamton, Cal Poly, Columbia, Illinois, Little Rock, Lock Haven, Navy, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Purdue, Rutgers, Stanford,West Virginia

Team Standings after session two

1 Penn State 34.5

2 Iowa 24.5

2 Iowa State 24.5

4 Michigan 22.0

4 NC State 22.0

6 Nebraska 21.0

7 Ohio State 20.5

8 Cornell 18.5

9 Virginia Tech 17.5

10 Missouri 14.0

10 Oklahoma State 14.0

12 Arizona State 13.0

12 South Dakota State 13.0

12 Wisconsin 13.0

15 Pittsburgh 12.5

Penn State extends lead to 10 points at NCAA Div. I Championships, as Friday morning’s quarterfinals are set

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