Thursday, March 16
St. Louis, MO
12 pm
Indiana University
vs
Session I
Hoosiers Open Weekend at NCAA Championships
3/16/2017 3:11:00 PM | Wrestling
Jackson enters tantalizing Round of 16 matchup with Dechow
ST. LOUIS – The Indiana wrestling team set off in the first round of the NCAA Championships on Thursday afternoon in front of 18,157 fans at the Scottrade Center. The Hoosiers emerged with a 1-3 team record after the first session, led by Nate Jackson's (184) first round bonus point win.
Jackson took the mat with the No. 9 seed, his career high at the NCAA Championships, for a bout with Drexel senior Alex DeCiantis. He led 6-2 with a barrage of takedowns in the first period, and pushed to an 8-3 lead in the second after building 2:30 in ride time. Jackson rode out the third period with two takedowns for the 13-4 major decision win.
The victory is Jackson's third career bonus point win at the NCAA Championships. It's also the fourth match in which he didn't concede a takedown to his opponent.
Elijah Oliver kicked off the action in the 125 lbs. bracket against No. 8 Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State), who won the Big 12 Championship two weeks ago. Oliver sprung to a 2-0 lead with the first takedown, but Piccininni flipped a reversal and eventually scored the win by fall over Oliver in 1:44.
Jake Danishek (174) opened his weekend with a tough first round draw, Iowa's second-seeded Michael Kemerer. Danishek was within striking distance, trailing by two entering the final two minutes, but Kemerer turned on the afterburners in the third period. Kemerer won the major decision, 14-4, to send Danishek into the consolation bracket.
Devin Skatzka (174) faced a similar fate in his bracket, drawing a two-time All-American in No. 2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell). It was Skatzka who caught Realbuto in the first compromising position, scoring the first takedown and working for a turn, but Realbuto flipped the script. The Cornell senior tied the bout before turning a series of back points. Realbuto took the win by technical fall, 19-4, in the second period.
Up Next: Session II of the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Thursday, March 16 • 7:00 p.m. ET • Live on ESPN • WatchESPN • Track
Scottrade Center • St. Louis
The pressure is on for all four Hoosiers in Thursday's Session II action. Jackson, eyeing a shot at the NCAA Championship, faces an airtight matchup in the round of 16 against Jack Dechow (Old Dominion). For Oliver, Danishek, and Skatzka, it's do-or-die time in the first consolation round.
Here are the upcoming matchups for #IUWR in the second session:
Championship Round of 16
Bout 238 – (9) Nate Jackson (184) vs. (8) Jack Dechow (Old Dominion)
Consolation First Round
Bout 262 – Elijah Oliver (125) vs. Johnny Jimenez (Wisconsin)
Bout 300 – Jake Danishek (157) vs. (15) Archie Colgan (Wyoming)
Bout 316 – Devin Skatzka (174) vs, Jonathan Schleifer (Princeton)
Jackson took the mat with the No. 9 seed, his career high at the NCAA Championships, for a bout with Drexel senior Alex DeCiantis. He led 6-2 with a barrage of takedowns in the first period, and pushed to an 8-3 lead in the second after building 2:30 in ride time. Jackson rode out the third period with two takedowns for the 13-4 major decision win.
The victory is Jackson's third career bonus point win at the NCAA Championships. It's also the fourth match in which he didn't concede a takedown to his opponent.
Elijah Oliver kicked off the action in the 125 lbs. bracket against No. 8 Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State), who won the Big 12 Championship two weeks ago. Oliver sprung to a 2-0 lead with the first takedown, but Piccininni flipped a reversal and eventually scored the win by fall over Oliver in 1:44.
Jake Danishek (174) opened his weekend with a tough first round draw, Iowa's second-seeded Michael Kemerer. Danishek was within striking distance, trailing by two entering the final two minutes, but Kemerer turned on the afterburners in the third period. Kemerer won the major decision, 14-4, to send Danishek into the consolation bracket.
Devin Skatzka (174) faced a similar fate in his bracket, drawing a two-time All-American in No. 2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell). It was Skatzka who caught Realbuto in the first compromising position, scoring the first takedown and working for a turn, but Realbuto flipped the script. The Cornell senior tied the bout before turning a series of back points. Realbuto took the win by technical fall, 19-4, in the second period.
Up Next: Session II of the NCAA Wrestling Championships
Thursday, March 16 • 7:00 p.m. ET • Live on ESPN • WatchESPN • Track
Scottrade Center • St. Louis
The pressure is on for all four Hoosiers in Thursday's Session II action. Jackson, eyeing a shot at the NCAA Championship, faces an airtight matchup in the round of 16 against Jack Dechow (Old Dominion). For Oliver, Danishek, and Skatzka, it's do-or-die time in the first consolation round.
Here are the upcoming matchups for #IUWR in the second session:
Championship Round of 16
Bout 238 – (9) Nate Jackson (184) vs. (8) Jack Dechow (Old Dominion)
Consolation First Round
Bout 262 – Elijah Oliver (125) vs. Johnny Jimenez (Wisconsin)
Bout 300 – Jake Danishek (157) vs. (15) Archie Colgan (Wyoming)
Bout 316 – Devin Skatzka (174) vs, Jonathan Schleifer (Princeton)
Players Mentioned
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FB: Roman Hemby Media Availability (9/9/25)
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