Bresser and Dhesi Advance to Quarterfinals of NCAAs

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Two of the four wrestlers representing Oregon State University at the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships survived day one and advanced to the championship quarterfinals on Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

The Beavers are in 31st place with 6 points heading into the second day of action. OSU went 2-2 in each session on day one. Ohio State leads the team race with 36 team points.

125-pounder Ronnie Bresser was the first to punch his ticket to the quarterfinals, the first time of his career. The Klamath Falls native won a 5-4 decision over Elijah Oliver of Indiana in the opening round.

In the second round, Bresser defeated the 2017 NCAA runner-up at 125 pounds in Ethan Lizak. Bresser held a 2-0 lead with under a minute to wrestle, but a second stall call and a ride time point sent the match to sudden victory. Bresser hit a single-leg takedown 15-seconds into the first period of overtime, for the 4-2 decision.

Heavyweight Amarveer Dhesi pushed his win streak to 13 with a 2-0 day in Cleveland. This is Dhesi's first time back at the NCAAs since his 5th place finish in 2016.

Dhesi earned a 6-1 decision over Andrew Dunn (21-14) from Virginia Tech to open the tournament. He earned his spot in the quarterfinals with a pin, 3:37, over Mike Hughes (35-4) from Hoftstra, his fifth of the season.

True freshman Hunter Willits had a tough draw at 157 pounds in his opening match facing Archie Colgan (Wyoming) who got the better of Willits earlier this year. The Pueblo, Colo. native wrestled smart forcing overtime, but fell by decision 3-1. He lost his consolation match to Joseph Belliquette (Penn) by decision, end his tournament hopes.

197-pounder Corey Griego ends his run at this year's tournament 0-2. Griego dropped a 9-3 decision to Nathan Traxler (Stanford) to open the tournament, and fell 8-4 to Randall Diabe from Appalachian State in the consolation bracket.

Bresser faces top-seeded, and defending national champion in Lehigh's Darian Cruz. Dhesi will face No. 3-seed Nick Nevills from Penn State.

WHERE TO WATCH
Friday Third Round (Quarterfinals) 8–11 a.m. | ESPNU & http://es.pn/2ox0vEX
Friday Fourth Round (Semifinals) 5-8 p.m. | ESPN & http://es.pn/2CSdFR7
Saturday Fifth Session (Medal Round) 8-11 a.m. | ESPNU & http://es.pn/2F4h0CF
Saturday Sixth Session (Championship Finals) 5-8 p.m. | ESPN2 & http://es.pn/2F4KWi6
*All Times Pacific

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RESULTS
125 – Ronnie Bresser (2-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State) 21-4 won by decision over Elijah Oliver (Indiana) 18-13 (Dec 5-4)
Champ. Round 2 - Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State) 21-4 won in sudden victory - 1 over Ethan Lizak (Minnesota) 27-6 (SV-1 4-2)
157 – Hunter Willits (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 - Archie Colgan (Wyoming) 33-8 won in sudden victory - 1 over Hunter Willits (Oregon State) 18-16 (SV-1 3-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Joseph Velliquette (Pennsylvania) 18-15 won by decision over Hunter Willits (Oregon State) 18-16 (Dec 6-1)
197 – Corey Griego (0-2)
Prelim - Randall Diabe (Appalachian State) 20-8 won by decision over Corey Griego (Oregon State) 21-7 (Dec 8-4)
Champ. Round 1 - Nathan Traxler (Stanford) 18-11 won by decision over Corey Griego (Oregon State) 21-7 (Dec 9-3)
285 – Amarveer Dhesi (2-0)
Champ. Round 1 - Amar Dhesi (Oregon State) 22-2 won by decision over Andrew Dunn (Virginia Tech) 21-14 (Dec 6-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Amar Dhesi (Oregon State) 22-2 won by fall over Mike Hughes (Hofstra) 35-4 (Fall 3:37)

Players Mentioned

Ronnie Bresser

Amar Dhesi

Corey Griego

Hunter Willits

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