March 21, 2013
Updated Brackets
Friday Links: Watch (ESPN3) | Live Results
NCAA Wrestling Profiles: D. Harlowe | K. Innis | N. Taffur
DES MOINES, Iowa - Both Boston University freshman Dane Harlowe and junior Nestor Taffur were victorious in their first career NCAA Wrestling Championships while junior Kevin Innis picked up his second career win on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Arena. All three men earned a split in their two respective matches and will look to avoid elimination on Friday in the second round of the wrestlebacks.
Competing in the 133-pound division with the fewest amount of matches wrestled of all the NCAA qualifiers, Dane Harlowe opened the event with a 9-7 stunning upset over Virginia's No. 11-seed and reigning ACC champion George DiCamillo. He started the match with a takedown and three-point near fall to grab a 5-0 lead late in the first period.
DiCamillo escaped to begin the second and got the takedown, but Harlowe was able to escape in return to take a 6-3 lead early in the third period. The Cavalier added two more takedowns, but Harlowe escaped each time and recorded an extra point due to riding time from nearly holding DiCamillo for the entire second period.
Advancing to the championship second round, Harlowe dropped an 11-1 major decision to Missouri's Nathan McCormick, who entered the competition as the Big 12 runner-up. Harlowe will next face No. 12 seed Jordan Conaway from Penn State in the second round of the wrestlebacks.
The reigning CAA champion at 157, Nestor Taffur drew a tough opening round matchup against Northwestern's Big 10 champion and top-seeded Jason Welch. Taffur dropped an 8-6 decision to Welch earlier in the season and jumped out in the rematch with a 4-0 lead.
However, Welch quickly escaped and added a takedown to cut Taffur's lead to 4-3 entering the second period. After earning a reversal and three-point near fall, Welch went on to claim the 11-5 decision. Placed in the wrestlebacks, Taffur rebounded with a 12-6 decision against Wyoming's Andy McCulley.
After recording two takedowns in the first period, he started the second with a four-point move to grab an 8-3 lead. Ahead 9-6 with under a minute left in the third, he added a takedown and extra point from riding time to earn a matchup with Air Force's Joshua Kreimier on Friday.
Winner of the heavyweight title at the CAA Championships, Kevin Innis was making his second NCAA appearance after posting a 1-2 record as a sophomore in 2012. Seeded fourth after winning the Pac-12 title, Oregon State's Chad Hanke pinned Innis 42 seconds into the match.
Innis was not fazed by the loss, as he moved to the wrestlebacks against Rutgers' William Smith. In a tightly-contested match, neither wrestler scored in the first period. Smith escaped to start the second but was given two stalling warnings. Awarded a point, Innis escaped to begin the third period to earn a 2-1 lead. He prevented Smith from getting a takedown to hold on for the thrilling victory.
The second day of competition will begin at 11 a.m. ET with ESPNU and ESPN3 providing coverage.
Dane Harlowe (133)
1st Rd.: Defeated #11 George DiCamillo (Virginia), 9-7
2nd Rd.: Lost by major decision to Nathan McCormick (Missouri), 11-1
Friday's Consolation 2nd Rd. vs. #12 Jordan Conaway (Penn State)
Nestor Taffur (157)
1st Rd.: Lost by decision to #1 Jason Welch (Northwestern), 11-5
Consolation 1st Rd.: Defeated Andy McCulley (Wyoming), 12-6
Friday's Consolation 2nd Rd. vs. Joshua Kreimier (Air Force)
Kevin Innis (285)
1st Rd.: Pinned by #4 Chad Hanke (Oregon St.), 0:42
Consolation 1st Rd.: Defeated William Smith (Rutgers), 2-1
Friday's Consolation 2nd Rd. vs. Jeremy Johnson (Ohio)
