NEW YORK CITY—Arizona State wrestling’s senior 149-pounder Matt Kraus earned his 80th career victory as he and five more Sun Devils opened competition on Thursday at the 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships at Madison Square Garden.
Kraus, along with Dalton Brady (133), Blake Stauffer (184), Josh DaSilveira (197), and heavyweight Tanner Hall will advance to Friday’s competition. Action in the third session is slated to begin at 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. MT.
Friday’s fourth session is slated for a 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET start. All the action will stream on ESPN3.
The 80th win of his career, No. 13-seeded Kraus edged Buffalo’s Colt Cotten, 2-1, in the opening round before he fell in an equally close match to No. 4 Matthew Cimato of Drexel, 3-2. On Friday, Kraus will open the day against Oklahoma’s Davion Jeffries. Earlier this year, Kraus majored Jeffries, 13-2, in the consolation semifinals at the Las Vegas Invite (Dec. 5).
Brady opened the day with a loss to the No. 6 seed, George DiCamillo of Virginia, 8-4, but bounced back with a 7-4 decision over Dominick Malone in the first round of the wrestle backs. On Friday, Brady will open against Wisconsin’s Ryan Taylor, the No. 12 seed.
A returning All American, No. 6 seeded Stauffer opened with a 3-2 decision win over Ohio State’s Kenny Courts, another returning All American. Stauffer then fell to Penn’s Lorenzo Thomas in a 10-1 major decision, the first time in his career that Stauffer has given up bonus points. Stauffer will face Andrew Romanchik of Ohio on Friday morning.
DaSilveira faced a pair of hard-fought contests at 197, falling to No. 7 Brett Harner of Princeton in his opening match. After tying things up with a late takedown to end regulation at 7-7, Harner posted a takedown and four back points for the SV 13-7 decision. In the wrestle backs, DaSilveira bounced back with a 4-3 decision win over Army’s Bryce Barnes. Up next, DaSilveira will face UNI’s Shawn Scott.
Hall dropped to the wrestle backs after falling in a rematch with No. 3 Ty Walz of Virginia Tech, 5-2, and advanced to Friday’s competition when UNI’s No. 14 Blaize Cabell forfeited. Up next. Hall will face Edinboro’s William Miller.
At 141 pounds, sophomore Robbie Mathers wrapped his first season with the Sun Devils with a pair of opening day losses. Mathers finished at 22-13 on the year, including 11 bonus-point victories, 10 of which came in the form of major decisions.
As a team, the Sun Devils have 7.5 points and sit in a tie for 19th with Pac-12 fellows CSU Bakersfield and Oregon State. Penn State holds the lead with 27.5 points, while Ohio State and Oklahoma State are tied for second with 24 points.
133: Dalton Brady (1-1)
First Round: No. 6 George DiCamillo (UVA) def. Dalton Brady (ASU): Dec 8-4
First Conso: Dalton Brady (ASU) def. Dominick Malone (Northwestern): Dec 7-4
Friday Morning: Dalton Brady (ASU) vs. No. 12 Ryan Taylor (Wisconsin)
141: Robbie Mathers (0-2)
First Round: No. 14 Bryce Meredith (WYO) def. Robbie Mathers (ASU): Maj 16-3
First Conso: Danny Sabatello (Purdue) def. Robbie Mathers (ASU): Fall 6:52
149: No. 13 Matt Kraus^ (1*-1)
First Round: No. 13 Matt Kraus (ASU) def. Colt Cotten (Buffalo): Dec 2-1
Second Round: No. 4 Matthew Cimato (Drexel) def. No. 13 Matt Kraus (ASU): Dec 3-2
Friday Morning: No. 13 Matt Kraus (ASU) vs. Davion Jeffries (Oklahoma)
*80th career victory
^ Per Seckman Wrestling, Matt Kraus is known to be first wrestler from Seckman HS to win a Division I NCAA Tournament bout
184: No. 6 Blake Stauffer (1-1)
First Round: No. 6 Blake Stauffer (ASU) def. Kenny Courts (OSU): Dec 3-2
Second Round: No. 11 Lorenzo Thomas (Penn) def. No. 6 Blake Stauffer (ASU): Maj 10-1
Friday Morning: No. 6 Blake Stauffer (ASU) vs. Andrew Romanchik (Ohio)
197: Josh DaSilveira (1-1)
First Round: No. 7 Brett Harner (Princeton) def. Josh DaSilveira (ASU): SV 13-7
First Conso: Josh DaSilveira (ASU) def. Bryce Barnes (Army): Dec 4-3
Friday Morning: Josh DaSIlveira (ASU) vs. Shawn Scott (NIU)
HWT: Tanner Hall (1-1
First Round: No. 3 Ty Walz (VT) def. Tanner Hall (ASU): Dec 5-2
First Conso: Tanner Hall (ASU) def. No. 14 Blaize Cabell (UNI): Forf.
Friday Morning: Tanner Hall (ASU) vs. William Miller (Edinboro)