NCAA Wrestling Championships: Day 2 live updates and analysis for Iowa, Iowa State, UNI

Eli McKown, Des Moines Register

KANSAS CITY — It just may be the best day of the college wrestling calendar.

On Day 2 of the NCAA Championships, 80 wrestlers will punch their tickets to the podium and earn the coveted All-American status. By the end of the day, we will know the finalists in each of the 10 weight classes.

Refresh this story throughout the day for the latest updates and analysis from Kansas City.

1:15: Michael Caliendo is Iowa's second semifinalist

With a dominant 9-4 decision over No. 3 Julian Ramirez of Cornell, Iowa has its second All-American of the season and its second semifinalist. He got to his offense and controlled from start to finish. After falling to guys like David Carr, Penn State's Mitchell Messenbrink and Wisconsin's Dean Hamiti in big losses, this is Caliendo's marquee win of the season. He'll now get Messenbrink for the third time this year, losing by technical fall the last time they wrestled.

"I know I'm up there with those guys," Caliendo said. "Some of my matches got taken away from me, even though the point differential was a bit bigger. I can hang with anybody and that match proves it."

1:00: Keegan O'Toole vs. David Carr Part V to go down on Friday night

With Carr securing his fifth All-American bid of his career in a 5-0 victory over Wisconsin's Dean Hamiti, he'll now face Keegan O'Toole for a fifth time in the last two season. O'Toole has pinned all three of his opponents thus far at the NCAAs, displaying just how well the reigning national champion is wrestling right now.

"I'm excited, that's a match I've been looking forward to," Carr said.

12:45: Jared Franek drops bout to Arizona State's Teemer in final moments

Franek was in on a single-leg shot on Temmer late in the third period, but as Teemer lifted above Franek's head and his knee twisted, referees blew the action dead for a potentially dangerous call. Teemer then scored a takedown from a neutral position to secure a 5-2 win.

Franek will need to win in the blood round later tonight to earn All-American status for the second time of his career. This also dropped Iowa to 2-3 during the third session to this point and 1-2 in the quarterfinals.

UNI's Ryder Downey stayed alive in consolations, defeating No. 22 DJ McGee in a dominant 15-0 technical fall.

12:25: Casey Swiderski drops to consolations, Rathjen falls to Ohio State's D'Emilio

Swiderski wasn't able to get much going in his quarterfinal bout against No.1 Ridge Lovett of Nebraska, losing in a 14-4 major decision loss. He'll now wrestle in the blood round to try and get that elusive All-American honor.

Iowa's Caleb Rathjen tournament came to an end after his 7-2 loss to Dylan D'Emilio of Ohio State. He was 1-2 here in Kansas City and is the first Hawkeye to be eliminated from the tourney.

12:00: Real Woods drops to Lachlan McNeil, Echemendia reaches semifinals

Woods had a rematch with North Carolina's McNeil, who Woods beat convincingly at the Soldier Salute. This time, Woods and McNeil locked up for a tight match, tied at one with under a minute remaining. The two entered a mad scramble, but McNeil eventually fought his way on top as time expired.

With that, Ayala sits as Iowa's best chance to expand on the NCAA finalist streak that dates back to 1989.

For Iowa State, Anthony Echemendia secured a convincing 5-3 result over No. 4 Ryan Jack of North Carolina State. Not only is that huge for Echemendia to earn All-American status, it also is a big victory in the team race as NC State sits narrowly behind Iowa State in the standings.

He'll now face No. 1 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State for a spot in the finals. You can hear his press conference with reporters below, where he discusses his emotions following the win as well as his parents watching all the way from Cuba.

Northern Iowa's Cael Happel won another tough bout in the consolations, this time winning by major decision over Michigan's Sergio Lemley. He's won win away from the blood round.

11:45: Evan Frost drops tight bout with Daton Fix, Teske remains alive

Frost was tied with Fix at one entering overtime. Sitting at 0-2 on the year against Fix, Frost was much more prepared this time around to drag this one on. In tiebreakers, Frost had Fix on his back, but referees called a stalemate and Frost's time ran out after Fix got an escape for the 2-1 sudden victory.

Iowa's Brody Teske advanced in the consolations, winning by major decision (14-6) over Maryland's Braxton Brown.

11:30: Chaos at 125 pounds, Ayala highest-seeded remaining wrestler

In overtime, Ayala was in a dogfight once again with Troy Spratley. Tied at one, Ayala drug Spratley back to the center of the mat on a single-leg shot and brought him down for a takedown to achieve All-American status for the first time of his career.

On the mats surrounding Drake Ayala, No. 1 Braeden Davis of Penn State fell to No. 8 Richard Figueroa of Arizona State and No. 4 Matt Ramos of Purdue dropped as well. Now, Ayala (No. 3) is the highest-seeded wrestler remaining the 125-pound field and will face Wisconsin's Eric Barnett, a former All-American, in the semifinal round. These two faced in the consolations of the Big Ten Championships, with Ayala securing an 8-1 victory.

"I know what I'm capable of," Ayala said. "My teammates, my family, my coaches, they all know what I'm capable of. It's March, and I gotta go prove it."

Iowa State's Kysen Terukina had his career come to an end in the first consolation round of the day, losing by fall to North Carolina State's Jakob Camacho. He was 1-2 at the NCAAs.

11:00: Wrestling is underway in Kansas City, Ayala kicks things off

First whistles have been blown here in the T-Mobile Center, with Iowa's Drake Ayala taking on No. 6 Troy Spratley of Oklahoma State in one of the first matches of the day. Last time these two wrestled, it went down to overtime where Ayala got the takedown and back points to defeat Spratley. Let's see how close it is this time around as they square off for All-American status.

NCAA Championships quarterfinal matchups

Iowa

  • 125 pounds - No. 3 Drake Ayala vs. No. 6 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State)

  • 141 pounds - No. 3 Real Woods vs. No. 6 Lachlan McNeil (North Carolina State)

  • 157 pounds - No. 10 Jared Franek vs. No. 2 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State)

  • 165 pounds - No. 6 Michael Caliendo vs. No. 3 Julian Ramirez (Cornell)

Iowa State

  • 133 pounds - No. 8 Evan Frost vs. No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State)

  • 141 pounds - No. 5 Anthony Echemendia vs. No. 4 Ryan Jack (North Carolina State)

  • 149 pounds - No. 8 Casey Swiderski vs. No. 1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska)

  • 165 pounds - No. 4 David Carr vs. No. 5 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin)

  • 285 pounds - No. 2 Yonger Bastida vs. No. 10 Lucas Davison (Michigan)

Northern Iowa

  • 174 pounds - No. 28 Jared Simma vs. No. 4 Shane Griffith (Michigan)

  • 184 pounds - No. 1 Parker Keckeisen vs. No. 25 David Key (Navy)

Team scores from day one of the NCAA Championships

  • 1st - Penn State (34.5 points)

  • T2nd - Iowa and Iowa State (24.5 points)

  • T4th - Michigan and North Carolina State (22 points)

  • 6th - Nebraska (21 points)

  • 7th - Ohio State (20.5 points)

  • 8th - Cornell (18.5 points)

  • 9th - Virginia Tech (17.5 points)

  • T10th - Missouri and Oklahoma State (14 team points)

  • 16th - Northern Iowa (12 points)

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: NCAA Wrestling: Day 2 live updates, analysis for Iowa, Iowa State, UNI

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