What happened, what’s next: NCAA Wrestling Championships Session 4

Six Hawkeyes will stand on the podium on Saturday, and it’s up to the fifth and sixth sessions to determine where.

Shivansh Ahuja

Iowa’s 141-pound Max Murin wrestles Nebraska’s Chad Red during the fourth session of the 2019 NCAA D1 Wrestling Championships at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA on Friday, March 22, 2019. Red won by decision, 4-1.

Anna Kayser, Assistant Sports Editor

PITTSBURGH – The Hawkeyes crowned four more All-Americans in the fourth session of NCAAs.

Spencer Lee began the night with a bid to the finals on Saturday, and the rest of the Hawkeyes followed him up with mixed results.

Before the Saturday medal rounds begin at 11 a.m. ET, take a look back at how Iowa got there.

Semifinals

125 – Spencer Lee defeats Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State), 11-4 

Lee avenged his loss to Piccininni from earlier in the year with a dominant win. He took the lead early and never gave it up despite advances from his opponent.

In the finals, Lee will face off against Jack Mueller from Virginia, who is undefeated on the season. 

157 – Tyler Berger (Nebraska) defeats Kaleb Young, 5-3

Young couldn’t get in the attacks he needed against Berger, who collected a match-winning takedown in the second period.

In the consolation semis, Young will face Alex Pantaleo of Michigan.

Consolation Round 4

133 –Austin DeSanto defeats Austin Gomez (Iowa State), Major Decision 16-5

DeSanto scored and scored quickly to overtake Gomez. Pairs of takedowns and four-point near falls in the first period gave him the 12-1 lead he needed to win, and the rest was history.

DeSanto earned All-American honors for the first time in his career after not placing at the 2018 NCAAs.

141 – Chad Red (Nebraska) defeats Max Murin, 4-1

 An early takedown put Red on top in the first, and stalling trouble by Murin extended his lead, 3-0. Murin registered an escape, but his tournament run ended with the loss.

149 – Pat Lugo defeats Thomas Thorn (Minnesota), 4-0

The match was scoreless through the first two periods, then Lugo scored an escape and a takedown in the third for the win with riding time being a factor.

Lugo is a first-time All-American. His last outing at the NCAA Championships was in 2016, where he reached the round of 12.

165 – Alex Marinelli defeats Logan Massa (Michigan), 5-3

Marinelli scored two takedowns and an escape to earn All-American honors for the second time in his career.

Marinelli is a two-time All-American.

197 – Jacob Warner defeats Tom Sleigh (Virginia Tech), 6-2

A second period takedown and an escape gave Warner the lead he needed for the win. He tacked on another takedown and was given a penalty point to finish out the match.

Warner earned All-American honors in his collegiate NCAA debut tournament as a redshirt freshman.

285 – Youssif Hemida (Maryland) defeats Sam Stoll, 7-4

Sleigh got in three takedowns against Warner and he never geared up enough for a comeback. Stoll’s career ends with a narrow miss of the podium.

Consolation Round 5

133 –Austin DeSanto defeats Ethan Lizak (Minnesota) in SV1, 4-2

DeSanto advanced to the consolation semifinals in sudden victory. 38 seconds in he scored a takedown to move on for a chance at making the third-place match.

Next up, DeSanto will face Luke Pletcher from Ohio State.

149 –Mitch Finesilver (Duke) defeats Pat Lugo, 4-3

Lugo took an early lead but was unable to hold it through the second and third periods.

Next, he will compete against Jarrett Degan from Iowa State. Earlier this season, Degan defeated Lugo, 7-4.

165 – Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven) defeats Alex Marinelli, 9-6 

Marinelli bounced back from an early deficit in the second period but couldn’t hold it for long. Marsteller scored on a takedown and an escape in the third period to secure his win.

Marinelli will face off in the seventh-place match against Northern Iowa’s Bryce Steiert.

197 – Josh Hokit (Fresno State) defeats Jacob Warner, 5-4

Like Marinelli, Warner came back from behind in the second period on an escape and a takedown, but a follow up escape by Hokit in the third period was enough to seal the match.

Warner will wrestle Benjamin Honis from Cornell in the seventh-place match.

What’s next: Day 3 

On Saturday, the Hawkeyes will begin their day with the consolation semifinals and medal rounds. In the final session of the tournament, Lee will go for his second consecutive NCAA National Title.