Iowa fifth after opening session of NCAA Wrestling Championships

 ST. LOUIS, Mo. — the University of Iowa was tied for fifth place after the opening session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

The Hawkeyes went 6-4 in the opening round Thursday at the Scottrade Center, tallying 10 points and trailing early leader Ohio State by 3 1/2.

Iowa's Thomas Gilman (125), Brandon Sorensen (149), Sammy Brooks at 184 and 197-pounder Nathan Burak each posted major decisions to lead the way. The Hawkeyes' Cory Clark (133) and Mike Evans at 174 also remained on the championship side of the bracket.

'You have 10 alive,' Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'That's what you have to go forward with, 10 guys. Four are on the back side and six are on the back side.'

Iowa did lose two seeded wrestlers. Seniors Josh Dziewa and Bobby Telford fell in their first match. Dziewa seeded fifth at 141 and Telford was third at heavyweight.

'It's one match tonight and then you go from there,' Brands said. 'I think there are four tomorrow … you just go one match at a time. That's what you do.'

Iowa State and University of Northern Iowa both advanced two wrestlers into the second round.

Iowa State All-Americans Earl Hall (133) and 197-pounder Kyven Gadson were the only Cyclones to earn wins in seven bouts. Hall, seeded sixth, recorded a decision. Third-seeded Gadson dominated UNI's Basil Minto, 19-4. Unfortunately for the Cyclones, second-seeded and two-time All-American Michael Moreno feel by two to Nebraska's Austin Wilson, and Gabe Moreno, seeded ninth at 149, and Tanner Weatherman, the No. 13 seed at 174, fell in their first-round matches.

'It's a roller coaster,' Iowa State Coach Kevin Jackson said. 'We're on the downward part of that roller coaster, so we have to pick it up and wrestle well tonight.

See Also: Pinning Combination NCAA Tourney Podcast: Upsets a common theme on day one

The Cyclones have five alive in the consolation bracket. They will look to rebound.

'There's a lot of tournament left,' Jackson said. 'We have to come back with wins.'

The Panthers received a pin from 13th-seeded 165-pounder Cooper Moore and a decision from seventh-seeded Blaize Cabell. UNI still has All-American Dylan Peters (125) and Minto alive in consolation action. Peters, the ninth seed, suffered a two-point loss in the opening match to American's David Terao.

Penn State went 7-0 in the opening session and was in second with 11 1/2 points. Cornell and host Missouri were tied for third with 11. The Tigers received a boost from former Iowa preps Mikey England and Willie Miklus. England had two wins to open at 165, beating Old Dominion's No. 11 seed Tristan Warner, 6-2. Miklus pinned Penn's No. 10 seed Lorenzo Thomas at 184.

l Comments: (319) 368-8679; kj.pilcher@thegazette.com