Sueflohn, Kokesh Advance to Quarterfinals

Des Moines, Iowa – Jake Sueflohn (149) and Robert Kokesh (174) led the Nebraska wrestling team on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena by advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships.

The Huskers are in eighth place with 13.5 points. Penn State leads the team competition with 32.5 points over second-place Oklahoma State’s 29-point total. 

No. 9-seed Sueflohn defeated No. 8-seed Nick Brascetta of Virginia Tech by a 4-2 decision to advance to the quarterfinals. In Session I, Sueflohn won a 16-3 major decision over Pittsburgh’s Ronnie Garbinsky. Sueflohn, a sophomore, is one win shy of the 50th of his career. He will face undefeated No. 1-seed Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State on Friday.

Kokesh, the No. 4 seed, won an 8-3 decision over Ohio’s Cody Walters in the second round following a first-round victory over Penn’s Ian Korb. Kokesh pinned Korb in 4:08 to earn his ninth fall of the season. The Husker sophomore improves to 35-3 and moves into the top 20 of the Nebraska season victories list. He will wrestle No. 5-seed Josh Asper of Maryland in the quarterfinals.

Senior Josh Ihnen (184) won his first match of the day but lost in the second round to Pittsburgh’s Max Thomusseit by a 3-1 decision. Ihnen, the No. 8 seed, is two wins away from the 100th of his career. The Sheldon, Iowa native will take on Virginia’s Stephen Doty in the wrestleback second round on Friday.

Austin Wilson (165) lost his opening match but reeled off two victories in Session II to stay in the hunt. In the consolation pigtail round, he won a 6-2 decision over Central Michigan’s Mike Ottinger. In the consolation first round, Wilson pinned Buffalo’s Mark Lewandowski in 2:01.

No. 4-seed James Green (157) and Caleb Kolb (197) each suffered first-round losses but bounced back in the wrestleback brackets to finish the day at 1-1. Green won by technical fall over Navy’s Bobby Barnhisel, 21-6, after an overtime loss in the first round. Kolb won a 3-1 sudden victory over Northwestern’s Alex Polizzi in the consolation bracket.

Senior Ridge Kiley (141) was eliminated on Thursday following two decision losses. The Eagle Grove, Iowa native fell to Lockhead’s Daniel Neff, 8-5, after a 2-0 loss to No. 10-seed Charles Cobb of Penn in the first round. Kiley finishes his season with a 14-13 record and completes his career at 71-54.

Session III starts on Friday at 10 a.m., and will be on ESPNU and ESPN3. ESPN3 can be accessed at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/sport/wrestling. ESPNU will also broadcast Session IV, which is set for Friday at 6 p.m.

NCAA Championships
March 21-23, 2013
Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa

Results
First Round
141: #10 Charles Cobb (PENN) by dec. over Ridge Kiley (NEB), 2-0
149: #9 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) by major dec. over Ronnie Garbinsky (PITT), 16-3
157: Kyle Bradley (MIZZ) by tiebreaker-2 over #4 James Green (NEB), 6-5
165: Zach Toal (MIZZ) by dec. over Austin Wilson (NEB), 6-2
174: #4 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by pin over Ian Korb (PENN), 4:08
184: #8 Josh Ihnen (NEB) by dec. over MacKain Stoll (NDSU), 6-0
197: #4 Alfonso Hernandez (WYO) by major dec. over Caleb Kolb (NEB), 15-5

Consolation Bracket Pigtail Round
165: Austin Wilson (NEB) by dec. over Mike Ottinger (CMU), 6-2

Championship Bracket Second Round
149: #9 Jake Sueflohn (NEB) by dec. over #8 Nick Brascetta (VT), 4-2
174: #4 Robert Kokesh (NEB) by dec. over Cody Walters (OHIO), 8-3
184: Max Thomusseit (PITT) by dec. over #8 Josh Ihnen (NEB), 3-1

Consolation Bracket First Round
141: Daniel Neff (LOCK) by dec. over Ridge Kiley (NEB), 8-5
157: #4 James Green (NEB) by tech. fall over Bobby Barnhisel (NAVY), 21-6
165: Austin Wilson (NEB) by pin over Mark Lewandowski (BUFF), 2:01
197: Caleb Kolb (NEB) by sudden victory over Alex Polizzi (NW), 3-1