ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ohio State carried the momentum of a strong start to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships into the evening session Thursday.
Ohio State leads the team points with 23, followed by Iowa (21), Oklahoma State (19.5), Penn State (18.5), Missouri (18) and Nebraska (18).
The Buckeyes went 5-2 in the second round in front of 18,414 at Scottrade Center and 6-4 for the entire session.
Iowa heads up a log jam of teams chasing Ohio State. Seven teams are within 5.5 points of first.
“We’ve got a lot of wrestling to do,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said. “There’s some good and there’s some bad. You’re wrestling 20 matches today or whatever so there’s a lot going through your mind right now. Really what we’re doing is getting ready to go tomorrow.”
Thomas Gilman (125) got Iowa going in the second round with an overtime win. Cory Clark (133) followed with a major decision.
The Hawkeyes’ heavies capped a strong round. Mike Evans (174) and Sammy Brooks got decisions and Nathan Burak got a major decision.
Iowa State is in 12th with 13 points. Five of the seven Cyclone qualifiers will wrestle to be All-Americans Friday. Two are in the championship quarterfinals. Second-ranked Michael Moreno came back from a first-round upset to win in consolation action Thursday in the
Iowa State’s Earl Hall built on a solid performance in the first session and picked up an 11-5 decision over Purdue’s Danny Sabatello, earning a spot in the 133-pound quarterfinals. Kyven Gadson also punched his ticket to the 197-pound quarterfinals. He defeated Anthony Abro of Eastern Michigan by fall in 4:55.
Northern Iowa’s Cooper Moore went on a pinning spree, knocking off the fourth seed at the NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships Thursday, to join Blaize Cabell in the hunt for a national title. Moore and Cabell are in Friday’s quarterfinals at 165 and 285, respectively.
Three of four UNI wrestlers won their first bouts. Basil Minto started out with a pigtail match at 197 pounds and advanced, beating Nathan Rotert of South Dakota State, 8-2. Minto fell to Gadson of Iowa State. Gadson’s riding time was the point Gadson needed for the 19-4 tech fall. A loss to Phillip Wellington of Ohio ended the senior’s run.
At 125, UNI’s Dylan Peters bowed out on the first day.