/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59053679/Brands_ISU.0.png)
Despite a strong showing in the early session Thursday, only three Hawkeye wrestlers remain on the front side of the bracket — Spencer Lee, Michael Kemerer, and Alex Marinelli. All others remain in the wrestlebacks. Joey Gunther has been eliminated.
After finishing Session I on the top of the leaderboard, a lackluster Thursday evening session hindered the Hawkeyes, who enter today’s action behind Ohio State and Penn State in third place. Grappling begins at 10a, by the way.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10438383/Screen_Shot_2018_03_16_at_9.26.19_AM.png)
As we discussed yesterday, Lee gets NIck Piccininni this morning, followed by Nathan Tomasello if he emerges victorious. Seeing as Buckeye wrestlers went 19-1 yesterday, a victory would be that much sweeter.
The only loser I’ll call out here is Brandon Sorensen. After wrestling really tight, Lock Haven’s Ronald Perry — the 15 seed — stunned him with a third-period takedown. Yes, he can still get to the podium, but with that loss, the senior is perhaps one of the best Hawkeye grapplers to never win a national title. Luckily we level-set your expectations.
Kemerer rattled off victories over a man with two last names, Coleman Hammond, and Paul Fox. Jason Nolf of Penn State looms this morning.
Marinelli picked up a pair of third-period pins and will square off with fourth-seeded Chad Walsh of Rider.
125: Spencer Lee tech fall Alonzo Allen of Chattanooga, 18-0, tech fall Luke Welch of Purdue, 18-0
141: Vince Turk major dec Kyle Shoop of Lock Haven, dec. Cole Weaver of Indiana, 4-3, lost 5-2 to Bryce Meredith of Wyoming
149: Brandon Sorensen dec Jared Prince of Navy, 11-6, lost 3-2 to Ronald Perry of Lock Haven
157: Michael Kemerer pinned Coleman Hammond of CSU Bakersfield in 1:38, pinned Paul Fox of Stanford in 4:52
165: Alex Marinelli pinned Jacob Morrissey of Purdue in 6:20, pinned Nick Wanzek of Minnesota in 6:15
174: Jacobe Smith of Oklahoma State major dec. Joey Gunther, 13-2, Joe Johnson of Harvard knocked out Gunther with a 3-1 decision
184: Mitch Bowman major dec. Canten Marriott of Mizzou, 10-2. Myles Martin of Ohio State major dec. Bowman, 17-5
197: Cash Wilcke dec. Eric Schultz of Nebraska, 4-3. Virginia Tech’s Jared Haught dec. Wilcke, 5-3
HWT: Sam Stoll pinned Antonio Pelushi of Franklin & Marshall in 2:25, lost to Youssif Hemida of Maryland, 7-2