CLEVELAND, Ohio – Mizzou Wrestling advanced four wrestlers to the round of 16 in the first session of the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Thursday afternoon. Winning first round bouts for the Tigers was redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Jaydin Eierman (Columbia, Mo.), redshirt junior 149-pounder Grant Leeth (Kearney, Mo.), redshirt junior 174-pounder Daniel Lewis (Blue Springs, Mo.) and redshirt senior 197-pounder Willie Miklus (Altoona, Iowa).
TEAM SCORES
In the team race, Mizzou sits in 14th-place with six points following the first session. Iowa sits atop the team race with 18.5 points, followed by Ohio State (17.0 points), Penn State (16.0 points), Michigan (13.0 points) and NC State (12.0 points).
NOTABLE TIGERS
Eierman was the first to put Mizzou on the scoreboard in his opening match against North Carolina's Austin Headlee, as the Tiger sophomore scored quickly with a takedown in the first 30 seconds of the match. Headlee mounted a comeback in the second period, but a set of back points in the final period secured the match, 11-6, for Eierman. He will wrestle Wisconsin's Eli Stickey in the second round.
Making his NCAA debut, Leeth scored an 11-7 win over Minnesota's Steve Bleise. Leeth held a 9-1 advantage going into the third period, and was able to hold on for his first win at the NCAA Championships. Leeth will wrestle North Carolina State's No. 14-seeded Beau Donahue in the second round.
Lewis made quick work of his first opponent, as he scored a fall at 1:02 in the first round over Rider's Dean Sherry. The fall was Lewis' 17th of the season, which ranks sixth all-time in program history. The Tiger junior will wrestle Oklahoma's No. 14-seeded Yoanse Mejias in his second round matchup.
After missing last year's NCAA Championships following a season-ending injury, Miklus made his return to the NCAA Championships with an 11-7 win over Northern Iowa's Jacob Holschlag. The match was close going into the third period, as Miklus held a 3-1 lead, but a full-set of back points in the final period gave Miklus the win. In the second round, Miklus will wrestle Stanford's Nathan Traxler.
UP NEXT
Mizzou will continue with the NCAA Championships later this evening, as the second session is slated to begin at 7 p.m. (ET)/6 p.m. (CT). The Tigers will have four wrestlers seeking a spot in Friday morning's quarterfinals, as well as five wrestlers looking to stay alive on the backside.
For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
125: Barlow McGhee
First Round: No. 8 Ethan Lizak (MINN) major dec. Barlow McGhee (MIZ): 11-0
133: No. 5 John Erneste
First Round: Tariq Wilson (NCST) dec. No. 5 John Erneste (MIZ): 8-3
141: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman
First Round: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman (MIZ) dec. (MIZ) Austin Headlee (UNC): 11-6
149: No. 3 Grant Leeth
First Round: No. 3 Grant Leeth (MIZ) dec. Steve Bleise (MINN): 11-7
157: No. 2 Joey Lavallee
First Round: Kennedy Monday (UNC) dec. No. 2 Joey Lavallee (MIZ): 8-6
165: Connor Flynn
First Round: No. 14 Branson Ashworth (WYO) dec. Connor Flynn (MIZ): 5-2
174: No. 3 Daniel Lewis
First Round: No. 3 Daniel Lewis (MIZ) fall Dean Sherry (RID): 1:02
184: No. 15 Canten Marriott
First Round: Mitchell Bowman (IOWA) major dec. No. 15 Canten Marriott (MIZ): 10-2
197: No. 6 Willie Miklus
First Round: No. 6 Willie Miklus (MIZ) dec. Jacob Holschlag (UNI): 7-3
SESSION 2 MATCHUPS
125: Barlow McGhee
Consolation First Round: Barlow McGhee (MIZ) vs. Elijah Oliver (IND)
133: No. 5 John Erneste
Consolation First Round: No. 5 John Erneste (MIZ) vs. No. 12 Josh Terao (AMER)
141: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman
Second Round: No. 2 Jaydin Eierman (MIZ) vs. Eli Stickey (WISC)
149: No. 3 Grant Leeth
Second Round: No. 3 Grant Leeth (MIZ) vs. No. 14 Beau Donahue (NCST)
157: No. 2 Joey Lavallee
Consolation First Round: No. 2 Joey Lavallee (MIZ) vs. Alex Klucker (LH)
165: Connor Flynn
Consolation First Round: Connor Flynn (MIZ) vs. Jonathan Schleifer (PRIN)
174: No. 3 Daniel Lewis
Second Round: No. 3 Daniel Lewis (MIZ) vs. No. 14 Yoanse Mejias (OU)
184: No. 15 Canten Marriott
Consolation First Round: No. 15 Canten Marriott (MIZ) vs. Bryce Gorman (NIU)
197: No. 6 Willie Miklus
Second Round: No. 6 Willie Miklus (MIZ) vs. Nathan Traxler (STAN)
