Blood time: UNI's Wolfensperger gets cut in opener

DES MOINES - University of Northern Iowa's Levi Wolfensperger spent more time taking care of a wound than taking care of his opponent.

Wolfensperger suffered a cut on the top of his head at the start of his first-round match of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena. Wolfensperger rebounded from the wound to deck Davidson's Anthony Elias in 1:39 at 133 pounds.

The match was stopped after six seconds to tend to Wolfensperger.

“That's the quickest I've ever seen someone get cut open like that,” UNI Coach Doug Schwab said. “We thought the other guy was bleeding, because he had blood.”

Wolfensperger reacted to a snapdown attempt by Elias, whose teeth slammed into the top of the Panther's head. Schwab said Wolfensperger was not happy, spending more time with trainers than with Elias.

“I think it pissed him off a little bit,” Schwab said. "It took like 10 minutes to figure out how to wrap it. Then he went out there and took it to the guy and got a pin.”

The cut needed five staples in between sessions, according to Schwab. Wrestlers have to deal with situations like the one involving Wolfensperger.

“Hey,” Schwab said, “it's wrestling.”