Ohio State sends five wrestlers to semis after controversial quarterfinal round

ST. LOUIS, MO. — Ohio State continued a legitimate march to claiming a first-ever NCAA team championship as five Buckeyes advanced to Friday night’s semifinals after a quarterfinal session that cost a wrestler a victory and perhaps Missouri a team title.

Winning quarterfinal matches for OSU were 125-pound freshman Nathan Tomasello (a technical fall over Edinboro’s Kory Mines); 141-pound senior Logan Stieber who added another technical fall en route to a fourth NCAA title; 165-pound freshman Bo Jordan who pinned Northern Iowa’s Cooper Moore; sophomore Kenny Courts’ come-from-behind overtime win at 184 pounds and freshman Kyle Snyder’s 3-2 victory over Minnesota’s Scott Schiller at 197.

With these victories, the Buckeyes lead the field with 64.5 points, followed closely by Iowa (47.5) and Missouri (45).

Session3-BracketsTeamScores

The Tigers should actually have four more points but lost them when 174-pound John Eblen was disqualified when he head-butted Illinois’ Zach Brunson in a wrestleback loss to the Illini. That led to Missouri losing Eblen’s points, which included a pair of major decisions in the consolation bracket. Eblen was seeded fourth but lost in the first round on Thursday.

Both Iowa and Missouri have three wrestlers in the semis and four remaining in the wrestle backs. Ohio State has no wrestlers in the consolation bracket.

Cornell is in fourth place with 41.5 points; benefitting from a controversial win by Brian Realbuto over Kent State’s Ian Miller in a 157-pound quarterfinal. The Big Red wrestler’s 11-9 sudden victory stood despite the fact that officials missed an escape by Miller, which would have given the Golden Flash the victory.

SEE SCORING ERROR COSTS KENT STATE WRESTLER

Just behind Cornell is Edinboro, which sent three to the semifinals, including 13th seed Victor Avery, who tallied a 14-5 major decision against Oregon State’s Taylor Meeks at 184 pounds

The only other major upset came at 174 pounds where top-seed Robert Kokesh lost for the first time this season at the hands of No. 8-seed Tyler Wilps of Pitt, 3-2.

The semifinal round begins tonight at 7 p.m. CDT in the Scottrade Center.

Paid attendance for Session III at Scottrade Center: 18,486

Total paid attendance for three sessions: 55,283

Top 10 Teams Entering the Semifinals

* — Missouri lost four points when a wrestler was disqualified

Quarterfinal Highlights

125 pounds

#1 Alan Waters (Missouri) dec. US David Terao (American U.), 4-1

The Tiger scored his only takedown in the first period, then added a second period escape and built up his 1:07 riding time advantage before giving up a third-period escape to Terao

#4 Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) won by technical fall over #12 Kory Mines (Edinboro), 16-1 (5:24)

The Buckeye scored his first takedown midway through the first period, which also put the Scot on his back three times in the first period to lead 9-0 entering the second frame. Tomasello scored a second takedown early in the second then put Mines on his back one more time to lead 14-0 with over three minutes of riding time entering the third. The OSU freshman finally ended the match

#6 Thomas Gilman (Iowa) dec. #3 Joey Dance (Va. Tech), 7-5 sv

Trailing by as much as 5-1 in the second period, the Hawkeye battled back to score a takedown with 14 seconds left, which also eliminated Dance’s riding time advantage. That send the bout to overtime where Gilman scored a takedown with 26 seconds left in OT.

US Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) dec. #7 Eddie Klimara (Oklahoma State), 5-2

The unseeded Mountaineer, who beat Oregon State’s Ronnie Rios and defending national runner-up Nahshon Garrett before this bout, continued his strong run by scoring a takedown in the second and third periods.

133 pounds

#1 Chris Dardanes (Minnesota) dec. #8 Kevin Devoy (Drexel), 7-2

The Gophers scored three takedowns — one in each period — and added a 2:42 riding time advantage to reach his first semifinal.

#13 Chris Brewer (Oklahoma) major dec. #12 George DiCamillo (Virginia), 14-5

Brewer scored four takedowns, the first coming 15 seconds into the bout and amassed a 5:12 riding time advantage for his third straight dominating win. The Sooner led 7-1 after the first period when he used a turk to put the Cavalier on his back for three-point nearfall.

#3 Cory Clark (Iowa) dec. #6 Earl Hall (Iowa State), 7-1

The Hawkeye scored the match’s only takedown midway through the first period off a scramble with the Cyclone, then quickly added a three-point nearfall off a milkcan hold. The wrestlers exchanged escapes before Clark added a 2:27 riding time advantage.

#7 James Gulibon (Penn State) dec. #2 Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin), 9-4

The Nittany Lion jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period off a takedown and tilt for a two-point nearfall. The Badger cut the lead to 6-4 on a takedown midway through the second period before Gulibon clinched the bout on a third-period takedown.

141 pounds

#1 Logan Stieber (Ohio State) won by technical fall over #9 Anthony Abidin (Nebraska), 16-1 (5:31)

The Buckeye ended a third straight match early when he built up an 11-0 lead in the first period when he put the Husker on his back three times off a tough bar arm, tight waist hold. Stieber ended the second period with another takedown and used that to add a two-point nearfall. The final point came when Stieber scored an escape with 1:30 left in the third. He also amassed a 2:44 riding time advantage.

US Kevin Jack (NC State) dec. #4 Devin Carter (Virginia Tech), 10-8

The unseeded Wolfpacker scored the deciding takedown with 30 seconds left to beat his conference rival and 2014 national runner-up. Jack, who earlier beat #5 Josh Dziewa (Iowa) and #12 Joey Ward (UNC), jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the first period when scored a takedown and three-point nearfall with 50 seconds left in the first. Carter battled back with takedowns in the second and third periods.

#11 Chris Mecate (Old Dominion) dec. #14 Dean Heil (Oklahoma State), 4-3

A 1:49 riding time advantage by the Monarch providing the winning margin after he gave up a stalling point with one second that temporarily tied the bout 3-3. The only takedown by Mecate came 20 seconds into the match.

#2 Mitchell Port (Edinboro) dec. #7 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers), 9-4

The Scot led 4-3 after one period off a takedown and reversal, then added a second-period takedown and a 3:32 riding time advantage.

149 pounds

#1 Drake Houdashelt (Missouri) major dec. #8 Alex Richardson (Old Dominion), 10-0

The Tiger earned his second straight shutout when scored eight of his points in the first period on a takedown and a pair of three-point nearfalls. The second set of backpoints came on a cradle with a minute left in the frame. Houdashelt, forced to take an injury timeout, added second-period escape and 2:37 riding time.

#5 Chris Villalonga (Cornell) dec. #13 C.J. Cobb (Penn), 4-1

Moments after being warned for stalling, the Big Red senior scored the match’s only takedown with 1:15 left, then added a 1:08 riding time advantage.

#3 David Habat (Edinboro) major dec. #11 Twyan Claxton, 10-0

The Scot was leading just 3-0 entering the third period when he used a leg turk to score a pair of three-point nearfalls and added a 3:21 riding time advantage for the major decision.

#2 Jason Tsirtsis (Northwestern) dec. #7 Sal Mastriani (Va. Tech), 2-0

The Wildcat used a second-period escape and 1:54 riding time advantage — built on riding the Hokie the entire third period — for the shutout.

157 pounds

#1 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) dec. US Nick Brascetta (Va. Tech), 10-4

Eighth of the Illini’s points came off four takedowns, including two in the final period after Brascetta cut the margin to 5-3 with a third escape. Martinez added a 2:21 riding time advantage as the freshman built up 1:17 of that in the first period.

#4 James Green (Nebraska) major dec. #12 Mitch Minotti (Lehigh), 12-4

The Husker scored two of his four takedowns in the first period to lead 4-1, then added another with 30 seconds left in the second and 42 ticks left in the third period. Green clinched the major when he added the 2:07 riding time advantage.

#3 Dylan Ness (Minnesota) dec. #11 Brian Murphy (Michigan), 4-3

A 1:51 riding time advantage by the Gopher provided the winning margin after the Wolverine tied the bout of an escape and takedown in the final frame.

#2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell) dec. #7 Ian Miller (Kent State), 11-9

The Big Red wrestler was awarded the victory after he appeared to force overtime on takedown with six seconds left, then added another 15 seconds into sudden victory. Officials missed a late escape by Miller, which would have given the Golden Flash — who enjoyed a 1:33 riding time advantage — the victory.

165 pounds

#1 Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State) major dec. #9 Jackson Morse (Illinois), 18-6

The defending national champion scored 10 of his points in the first period off two takedowns and a pair of three-point nearfalls. Dieringer, who did give up a late takedown, added four more takedowns and 2:34 riding time for the major.

#5 Bo Jordan (Ohio State) pinned #13 Cooper Moore (Northern Iowa), 2:56

The Buckeye freshman was leading 5-1 – off a pair of takedowns — when turned and flattened the Panther, who entered the bout with a fall against No. 4 seed Nick Sulzer of Virginia.

#6 Taylor Walsh (Indiana) dec. #3 Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin), 4-3

The Hoosier earned his first All-America honor when he scored a first-period takedown and added a pair of escapes in the second and third periods. The first escape came after Jordan opened the second period with a reversal that tied the score 2-2. Jordan’s final point came off a stalling call against the Hoosier.

#15 Ethan Ramos (North Carolina) won by injury default over #7 Pierce Harger (Northwestern)

Ramos was leading 8-3 when he scored a takedown with 1:08 left when the Wildcat was forced to default.

174 pounds

#8 Tyler Wilps (Pitt) dec. #1 Robert Kokesh (Nebraska), 3-2

The Panther scored the match’s only takedown with 35 seconds left in the first period then held off three legitimate takedown attempts by the undefeated Husker, who grabbed a leg but was unable to pull Wilps back on the mat.

#12 Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) dec. US Joe Latham (Oregon State), 5-2

After a scoreless first period, the Cowboy scored the first of two takedown in the second period after Latham tallied an escape.

#3 Mike Evans (Iowa) dec. #6 Logan Storley (Minnesota), 2-1 tb

The Hawkeye, who scored an escape in the first-half of the tiebreaker phase, won the match when he did not allow an escape by the Gopher in the final 30 seconds of overtime.

#3 Matt Brown (Penn State) dec. #7 Zach Epperly (Va. Tech), 2-1

A 1:45 riding time advantage by the Nittany Lion — most of which he earned with a strong ride in the third period — provided the winning margin for Brown.

184 pounds

#1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) dec. #9 Sam Brooks (Iowa), 3-2

Shortly after the Big Red sophomore was warned for stalling, he scored the match’s only takedown with 43 seconds left to clinch the win.

#13 Victor Avery (Edinboro) major dec. #5 Kenny Meeks (Oregon State), 14-5

The Scot led 6-2 after one period off three takedowns, then two more takedowns, including the fourth with five seconds left in the second period, before adding an additional point for a 1:49 riding time advantage.

US Kenny Courts (Ohio State) dec. #14 Matt McCutcheon (Penn State), 7-5 sv

The unseeded Buckeye clinched the bout on a strong double with 34 seconds left in sudden victory. The Nittany Lion used a first-period takedown and two escapes to lead 4-2 before the Buckeye force OT with a late takedown.

#7 Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) dec. #2 Max Thomusseit (Pitt), 7-4

The Mountain Hawk scored four of his points in the first period off a pair of takedowns, then added a 2:52 riding time advantage for his final point. The Panther cut the margin to 4-3 on a reversal with 40 seconds left in the second period and added a third-period takedown.

197 pounds

#1 J’den Cox (Missouri) dec. #8 Max Huntley (Michigan), 3-2

The Tiger scored all his points in the second period with an escape and takedown at the 1:10 mark.

#4 Kyle Snyder (Ohio State) dec. #5 Scott Schiller (Minnesota), 3-2

The Buckeye freshman scored the match’s only takedown with 1:47 left in the first period, then fought off the Gopher who scored a pair of escapes.

#3 Kyven Gadson (Iowa State) major dec. #6 Nathan Burak (Iowa), 12-2

The Cyclone scored a takedown in each period — the second coming with one second left in the second frame — then put the Hawkeye on his back for a three-point nearfall with 28 seconds left in the match.

#10 Conner Hartmann (Duke) dec. #2 Morgan McIntosh (Penn State), 3-2

The Blue Devil earned his second straight All-American honor when he scored a takedown at the 1:16 mark in the second period an overcame a pair of escapes by McIntosh and a video challenge by PSU as the bout ended.

Heavyweight

#1 Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State) major dec. #8 James Lawson (Penn State), 11-3

The first of three takedowns by the defending national champ came in the first period and also led to a two-point nearfall by the Wolfpack junior, who closed out the scoring with a 3:52 riding time advantage.

#5 Connor Medbery (Wisconsin) dec. #4 Austin Marsden (Oklahoma State), 5-3 sv2

The Badger clinched the overtime win when officials used video review that Medbery had indeed scored a takedown halfway through the second sudden victory phase. Marsden actually took a 3-1 lead in the first set of tiebreakers with a reversal before Medbery forced a second overtime with two escapes.

#6 Adam Coon (Michigan) dec. US Spencer Myers (Maryland), 2-1

A 1:32 riding time advantage gave the Wolverine sophomore the victory after both wrestlers exchanged escapes.

#2 Mike McMullan (Northwestern) dec. #7 Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa), 6-3

The Wildcat clinched a fourth All-American honor when he scored first- and second-period escapes and added a 2:24 riding time advantage.

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