Three Hokies move on to quarterfinals at NCAA Championships

Eight Tech wrestlers are still alive after day one in Cleveland

March 15, 2018

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CLEVELAND - Redshirt sophomore David McFadden, redshirt junior Zack Zavatsky and redshirt senior Jared Haught each advanced to the quarterfinals in their respective weight classes after the first day of the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena.

Five other Virginia Tech wrestlers are still competing in the consolation bracket. In the team race, the Hokies are currently tied for ninth with Lehigh with 14.5 points.

McFadden improved to 33-0 on the season with his 14-3 major decision over Arizona State’s Anthony Valencia in the second round. He’s now 7-3 all-time in his career at nationals.

At 184, Wisconsin’s Ricky Robertson got a takedown and two back points in the third period that flipped a 2-0 deficit to a 4-2 lead. Zavatsky was able to reverse though and pick up four near fall points, a six point move that made it 9-4. That proved to be the deciding factor in a 9-6 win that clinched his spot in the quarters.

Haught immediately followed Zavatsky’s win with a workmanlike 5-3 decision over Iowa’s Cash Wilcke, a match he controlled from the start with two first period takedowns.

In the consolation bracket, redshirt freshman Kyle Norstrem bounced back with a 9-8 decision over Rider’s Geral Wert and classmate Brent Moore returned to form with a 8-0 major decision over CSU Bakersfield’ Russell Rohlfing. Redshirt freshman Andrew Dunn moved on to the second round of wrestlebacks after Buffalo’s Jake Gunning medically forfeited. Redshirt junior Ryan Blees and redshirt senior Dennis Gustafson dropped to the consis after tough first round losses.

Tomorrow’s action begins at 11 a.m. on ESPNU and WatchESPN. The evening session is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. with coverage on ESPN.

125: Kyle Norstrem (1-1)
First Round - #13 Zeke Moisey (West Virginia) dec. Norstrem, 10-7
Consi First Round - Kyle Norstrem dec. Gerald Wert (Rider), 9-8
Consi Second Round - Kyle Norstrem vs. #14 Luke Welch (Purdue)

133: Dennis Gustafson (1-1)
First Round - #9 Dennis Gustafson dec. Charles Tucker (Cornell), 4-1
Second Round - #8 Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) dec. #9 Dennis Gustafson, 4-1
Consi Second Round - #9 Dennis Gustafson vs. Sean Nickell (CSUB)

141: Brent Moore (1-1)
First Round - #12 Tyler Smith (Bucknell) dec. Brent Moore, 7-0
Consi First Round - Brent Moore MD Russell Rohlfing (CSU Bakersfield), 8-0
Consi Second Round - Brent Moore vs. #11 Michael Carr (Illinois)

149: Ryan Blees (1-1)
First Round - #12 Ryan Blees dec. Michael Sprague, 4-3 (TB-2)
Second Round - #5 Te-Shawn Hayes (Ohio State) dec. #12 Ryan Blees, 12-6
Consi Second Round - #12 Ryan Blees vs. Sam Krivus (Virginia)

165: David McFadden (2-0)
First Round - #2 David McFadden dec. Zach Finesilver (Duke), 4-0
Second Round - #2 David McFadden MD #15 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State), 14-3
Quarterfinals - #2 David McFadden vs. #10 Evan Wick (Wisconsin)

174: Hunter Bolen (0-2)
First Round - #10 Ethan Ramos (North Carolain) dec. Hunter Bolen, 7-3
Consi First Round - Ben Harvey (Army) dec. Hunter Bolen, 6-4

184: Zack Zavatsky (2-0)
First Round - #6 Zack Zavatskty dec. Michael Coleman (Navy), 9-2
Second Round - #6 Zack Zavatsky dec. #11 Ricky Robertson (Wisconsin), 9-6
Quarterfinals - #6 Zack Zavatsky vs. #3 Ryan Preisch (Lehigh)

197: Jared Haught (2-0)
First Round - #3 Jared Haught MD Jacob Seely (Northern Colorado), 11-2
Second Round - #3 Jared Haught dec. #14 Cash Wilcke (Iowa), 5-3
Quarterfinals - #3 Jared Haught vs. #6 Willie Miklus (Missouri)

285: Andrew Dunn (1-1)
First Round - #6 Amar Dhesi (Oregon State) dec. Andrew Dunn, 6-1
Consi First Round - Andrew Dunn m. for. Jake Gunning (Buffalo)
Consi Second Round - Andrew Dunn vs. #12 Youssif Hemida (Maryland)

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