Feature photo of Alex Marinelli courtesy of Larry Slater.

St. Louis, Mo. – Day one of the 2021 NCAA Championships is in the books with the Iowa Hawkeyes out in front of the team race with eight quarterfinalists. In Session 2B, Iowa punched through No. 1 Alex Marinelli at 165 pounds, No. 1 Michael Kemerer at 174 pounds, No. 5 Jacob Warner at 197 pounds and No. 5 Tony Cassioppi at heavyweight. Marinelli, Kemerer and Cassioppi all earned bonus point victories, with Marinelli claiming a 13-2 major decision over No. 17 Thomas Bullard of NC State, Kemerer earning a 17-1 technical fall over Army’s No. 17 Benjamin Pasiuk and Cassioppi picking up an 11-0 major decision over No. 21 Tate Orndorff of Ohio State. Iowa’s Nelson Brands (184 lbs.) and Kaleb Young (157 lbs.) are both still alive in the consolation bracket.

Penn State is currently slotted at No. 2 in the team race with seven quarterfinalists. In Session 2B No. 3 Carter Starocci (174 lbs.), No. 1 Aaron Brooks (184 lbs.), No. 15 Michael Beard (197 lbs.) and No.9 Greg Kerkvliet (285 lbs.) all secured quarterfinal berths. However, at 165 lbs. Joe Lee was eliminated after falling to Chattanooga’s Andrew Nicholson in the consolation bracket, 10-4.

Hometown favorite Missouri is in third place with four quarterfinalists and six alive in the consolation bracket. Their lone quarterfinalist from Session 2B was No. 6 Keegan O’Toole at 165 pounds. NC State rounds out the top four with five wrestlers in the quarterfinals and three competing in the consolation brackets.

Minnesota heavyweight No. 1 Gable Steveson turned in one of the most dominant performances of the day following up on an opening round pin with a 17-2 technical fall over Air Force’s No. 17 Wyatt Hendrickson. In the quarterfinals Steveson will face Penn State’s No. 9 Greg Kerkvliet, a fellow Minnesotan. Steveson is a two-time Cadet World champion and a 2017 Junior World champion, while Kerkvliet is a 2017 Cadet World champion and a 2018 Cadet World silver medalist.

Wyoming’s Stephen Buchanan, the No. 8 seed at 197 pounds, also had an extremely impressive day, earning two pins including a fall in the round of 16 over No. 9 Noah Adams of West Virginia. It was his fourth win over Adams this season. In the quarterfinals, Buchanan will take on top-seeded Myles Amine of Michigan.

The bottom half of the 197 bracket was busted early as North Dakota State’s No. 31 Owen Pentz pinned No. 2 Eric Schultz of Nebraska in the opening round. Pentz was downed in the round of 16 by Penn State’s No. 15 Michael Beard, 17-8. Beard will take on No. 26 seed Jake Woodley of Oklahoma in the quarterfinals. Woodley took out No. 7 Rocky Elam of Missouri in the opening round, 4-1, and followed it up with 4-3 win over No. 10 Cameron Caffey of Michigan State.

At 174 pounds, Cal Poly’s No. 12 Bernie Truax bested Michigan’s No. 5 Logan Massa, 3-1, in sudden victory. Truax, a 2020 UWW Junior Nationals champion, will take on No. 4 Mikey Labriola of Nebraska in the quarterfinals.

Session 3, which features quarterfinals and consolation action for the 125-157 lbs. brackets begins tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. CST.

2021 NCAA Div. I Championships
At St. Louis, Mo.

Team scores after Session 2 (Top 15 Teams)
1. Iowa 33.5
2. Penn State 28.0
3. Missouri 23.5
4. NC State 21.0
5. Oklahoma State 20.0
6. Arizona State 19.5
7. Minnesota 16.5
8. Michigan 16.0
9. Nebraska 14.5
9. Virginia Tech 14.5
11. Ohio State 13.0
12. Northern Iowa 12.5
12. Northwestern 12.5
12. Pittsburgh 12.5
15. Purdue 12.0
View the rest of the 2021 NCAA Championships team scores

Quarterfinals matchups

125 pounds
No. 1 Spencer Lee (Iowa) vs. No. 9 Devin Schroder (Purdue)
No. 5 Brody Teske (Northern Iowa) vs. No. 4 Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan)
No. 3 Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) vs. No. 6 Jakob Camacho (NC State)
No. 7 Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley) vs. No. 2 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech)

133 pounds
No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 8 Chris Cannon (Northwestern)
No. 5 Micky Phillippi (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 4 Austin DeSanto (Iowa)
No. 3 Korbin Myers (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 6 Matt Schmitt (Missouri)
No. 10 Louie Hayes (Virginia) vs. No. 2 Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State)

141 pounds
No. 1 Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) vs. No. 9 Dresden Simon (Central Michigan)
No. 21 Real Woods (Stanford) vs. No. 4 Tariq Wilson (NC State)
No. 3 Sebastian Rivera (Northwestern) vs. No. 6 Allan Hart (Missouri)
No. 2 Nick Lee (Penn State) vs. No. 10 Zach Sherman (UNC)

149 pounds
No. 1 Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) No. 25 Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
No. 12 Max Murin (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State)
No. 3 Brock Mauller (Missouri) vs. No. 6 Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech)
No. 7 Jonathan Millner (App State) vs. No. 2 Austin O’Connor (North Carolina)

157 pounds
No. 1 Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) vs. No. 8 Jared Franek (North Dakota State)
No. 12 Brady Berge (Penn State) vs. No. 4 Jesse Dellavecchia (Rider)
No. 3 David Carr (Iowa State) vs. No. 6 Brayton Lee (Minnesota)
No. 23 Jacob Wright (Wyoming) vs. No. 2 Hayden Hidlay (NC State)

165 pounds
No. 1 Alex Marinelli (Iowa) vs. No. 8 Shane Griffith (Stanford)
No. 5 Zach Hartman (Bucknell) vs. No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech)
No. 3 Jake Wentzel (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 6 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri)
No. 7 Ethan Smith (Ohio State) vs. No. 2 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State)

174 pounds
No. 1 Michael Kemerer (Iowa) vs. No. 8 Daniel Bullard
No. 12 Bernie Truax (Cal Poly) vs. No. 4 Mikey Labriola (Nebraska)
No. 3 Carter Starocci (Penn State) vs. No. 6 Andrew McNally (Kent State)
No. 7 Kaleb Romero (Ohio State) vs. No. 2 Demetrius Romero (Utah Valley)

184 pounds
No. 1 Aaron Brooks (Penn State) vs. No. 8 Taylor Venz (Nebraska)
No. 5 Hunter Bolen (Virginia Tech) vs. No. 4 Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa)
No. 3 Lou Deprez (Binghamton) vs. No. 6 John Poznanski (Rutgers)
No. 7 Brit Wilson (Northern Illinois) vs. No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NC State)

197 pounds
No. 1 Myles Amine (Michigan) vs. No. 8 Stephen Buchanan (Wyoming)
No. 5 Jacob Warner (Iowa) vs. No. 4 AJ Ferrari (Oklahoma State)
No. 3 Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State) vs. No. 6 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh)
No. 26 Jake Woodley (Oklahoma) vs. No. 15 Michael Beard (Penn State)

285 pounds
No. 1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota) vs. No. 9 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State)
No. 5 Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State)
No. 4 Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) vs. No. 6 Gannon Gremmel (Iowa State)
No. 7 Ethan Laird (Rider) vs. No. 2 Mason Parris (Michigan)

Round of 16 results

125
Spencer Lee (Iowa) maj. dec. Killian Cardinale (West Virginia), 15-5

Devin Schroder (Purdue) dec. RayVon Foley (Michigan State), 2-1

Brody Teske (Northern Iowa) dec. Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern), 2-0

Drew Hildebrandt (Central Michigan) dec. Liam Cronin (Nebraska), 2-1

Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) dec. Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), 9-7

Jakob Camacho (NC State) dec. Dylan Ragusin (Michigan), 10-8

Taylor LaMont (Utah Valley) dec. Robert Howard (Penn State), 2-1

Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) dec. Patrick McKee (Minnesota), 3-1

133

Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) pin Malyke Hines (Lehigh), 3:40

Chris Cannon (Northwestern) pin Michael McGee (Arizona State), 3:00

Micky Phillippi (Pittsburgh) dec. Jarrett Trombley (NC State), 6-1

Austin DeSanto (Iowa) pin Ryan Sullivan (West Virginia), 1:36

Korbin Myers (Virginia Tech) dec. Zach Price (South Dakota State), 6-4

Matt Schmitt (Missouri) maj. dec. Mario Guillen (Ohio), 9-0

Louie Hayes (Virginia) dec. over Lucas Byrd (Illinois), SV-1 6-4

Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) maj. dec. Kyle Burwick (Wisconsin), 11-3

141

Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) dec. Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh), 5-3

Dresden Simon (Central Michigan) dec. Chad Red (Nebraska), 6-3

Real Woods (Stanford) dec. Dom Demas (Oklahoma), SV-1 5-1

Tariq Wilson (NC State) dec. Brian Courtney (Virginia), 7-3

Sebastian Rivera (Rutgers) dec. Dylan Duncan (Illinois), 10-4

Allan Hart (Missouri) dec. Cody Trybus (Navy), 4-1

Zachary Sherman (North Carolina) maj. dec. Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern), 14-1

Nick Lee (Penn State) maj. dec. Clay Carlson (South Dakota State), 14-3

149

Sammy Sasso (Ohio State) dec. Kyle Parco (Fresno State), 11-10

Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) dec. Legend Lamer (Cal Poly), 10-4

Max Murin (Iowa) dec. Ridge Lovett (Nebraska), 5-3

Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State) dec. Joshua Heil (Campbell), TB-1 7-6

Brock Mauller (Missouri) dec. Michael Blockhus (Minnesota), 4-2

Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech) dec. Kanen Storr (Michigan), 10-7

Jonathan Millner (Appalachian State) dec. Triston Lara (Northern Iowa), 9-8

Austin O`Connor (North Carolina) dec. Griffin Parriott (Purdue), 8-3

157

Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) dec. Requir van der Merwe (Stanford), 4-2

Jared Franek (North Dakota State) inj. dft. Kendall Coleman (Purdue), 6:30

Brady Berge (Penn State) dec. Kaleb Young (Iowa), 3-2

Jesse Dellavecchia (Rider) Hunter Willits (Oregon State), 4-2

David Carr (Iowa State) maj. dec. Will Lewan (Michigan), 10-2

Brayton Lee (Minnesota) dec. Jacori Teemer (Arizona State), 4-3

Jacob Wright (Wyoming) dec. Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan), TB-1 2-1

Hayden Hidlay (NC State) tech. fall Cade DeVos (South Dakota State) 20-3, 5:59

165

Alex Marinelli (Iowa) maj. dec. Thomas Bullard (NC State), 13-2

Shane Griffith (Stanford) dec. Luke Weber (North Dakota State), 7-5

Zach Hartman (Bucknell) dec. Peyton Hall (West Virginia), 6-0

Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) dec. Tanner Skidgel (Navy), 3-2

Jake Wentzel (Pittsburgh) dec. Peyton Robb (Nebraska), 8-1

Keegan O`Toole (Missouri) dec. Cameron Amine (Michigan), 5-2

Ethan Smith (Ohio State) dec. Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State), 4-3

Anthony Valencia (Arizona State) dec. Izzak Olejnik (Northern Illinois), SV-1 6-4

174

Michael Kemerer (Iowa) tech. fall Benjamin Pasiuk (Army West Point), 17-1, 5:06

Daniel Bullard (NC State) dec. Donnell Washington (Indiana), 6-4

Bernie Truax (Cal Poly) dec. Logan Massa (Michigan), SV-1 3-1

Mikey Labriola (Nebraska) dec. Trenton Munoz (Arizona State), 5-3

Carter Starocci (Penn State) dec. Hayden Hastings (Wyoming), 8-2

Andrew McNally (Kent State) dec. Austin Murphy (Campbell), SV-1 6-4

Kaleb Romero (Ohio State) dec. Peyton Mocco (Missouri), 5-1

Demetrius Romero (Utah Valley) dec. Dustin Plott (Oklahoma State), 11-5

184

Aaron Brooks (Penn State) dec. Owen Webster (Minnesota), 5-0

Taylor Venz (Nebraska) dec. Jeremiah Kent (Missouri), 10-4

Hunter Bolen (Virginia Tech) dec. Nelson Brands (Iowa), 6-2

Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) maj. dec. David Key (Navy), 16-5

Lou Deprez (Binghamton) dec. Caleb Hopkins (Campbell), 4-1

John Poznanski (Rutgers) dec. Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State), 7-3

Brit Wilson (Northern Illinois) dec. Charles Small (Hofstra), 5-2

Trent Hidlay (NC State) tech. fall Alan Clothier (Northern Colorado), 20-5, 7:00

197

Myles Amine (Michigan) dec. Jake Jakobsen (Lehigh), 4-2

Stephen Buchanan (Wyoming) pin Noah Adams (West Virginia), 1:59

Jacob Warner (Iowa) dec. Lucas Davison (Northwestern), 3-0

AJ Ferrari (Oklahoma State) dec. Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State), 5-0

Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State) dec. Thomas Penola (Purdue), 8-4

Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh) maj. dec. Jay Aiello (Virginia), 13-3

Jake Woodley (Oklahoma) dec. Cameron Caffey (Michigan State), 4-3

Michael Beard (Penn State) maj. dec. Owen Pentz (North Dakota State), 17-8

285

Gable Steveson (Minnesota) tech. fall Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force), 17-2, 6:41

Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) maj. dec. Jordan Wood (Lehigh), 12-2

Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) maj. dec. Tate Orndorff (Ohio State), 11-0

Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) disq. over Brian Andrews (Wyoming)

Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) dec. Matt Stencel (Central Michigan), 2-1

Gannon Gremmel (Iowa State) dec. Zach Elam (Missouri), 3-1

Ethan Laird (Rider) dec. Deonte Wilson (NC State), 7-2

Mason Parris (Michigan) tech. fall Carter Isley (Northern Iowa), 17-1, 5:27

Iowa leads team race with eight quarterfinalists after Day 1 of NCAA Championships

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