Sioux Falls, S.D. – Adams State will send four wrestlers to day two of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships with two advancing through the championship bracket and two battling through the consolation side.
Aaden Valdez moved swiftly through the bracket, opening with a 5-0 decision over Griffin Lundeen of Northern State. Valdez got on the board early in the third period with an escape just 10 seconds in before adding a takedown and a riding time point to seal the win. He followed that performance with a fall in 4:40 over Owen Cline of Colorado Mesa to secure his spot on day two. Valdez will face Joel Jesuroga of St. Cloud State to begin the second day of competition.
Isaiah Gamez, the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 125 pounds, opened his tournament with a 5-0 decision over Cole Hunt of Montevallo. Gamez scored an escape and a takedown in the second period before adding a riding time point for the victory. In the second round, Gamez controlled the match for an 11-2 major decision over Logan Sallot of Gannon. Sallot managed only an escape and a stalling point, while Gamez piled up three takedowns and an escape. Gamez will face Shane Corrigan of Wisconsin-Parkside on day two.
Jakob Romero will also move on to day two on the consolation side of the 133-pound bracket. Romero opened with a 5-1 decision over Logan Robinson of UNC Pembroke after recording an escape, a takedown and riding time. After falling in the second round by a 10-6 decision, Romero rebounded with a 5-3 win over Zachary Ourada of Nebraska-Kearney to stay alive in the tournament. Romero will face Tanner Halling of Frostburg State to open day two.
Angel Flores at 149 pounds also advanced through the consolation bracket to reach day two. Flores began the tournament with an 8-3 decision over Isham Peace of Lander. After dropping his second-round match by an 8-3 decision, Flores responded with back-to-back wins — a 2-1 tiebreaker decision followed by a 7-5 decision — to keep his tournament run alive. Flores will face Rudy Lopez of Northern State to start day two.
Two Adams State wrestlers saw their collegiate careers come to an end Friday as Kieran Thompson and Ben Tonnessen each dropped their final matches of the tournament.
Thompson opened the tournament with a 9-0 major decision before earning a 4-1 decision over Ethan Hardy of Glenville State. He later dropped his final two matches by scores of 8-3 and 3-2.
Tonnessen claimed a 12-5 sudden victory over Tyson Meyer of St. Cloud State in his opening match before falling in his next two bouts by scores of 6-3 and 19-4 (technical fall).
Day two of the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships will begin at 9 a.m. MT Saturday morning.
