Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, March 9
College Park, Md.
10 AM, 5 PM, & 7 PM
Indiana University
vs
Big Ten Championships
Lee and Rooks Clinch Auto Bids After Day One of Big Ten Championships
3/9/2024 11:04:00 PM | Wrestling
COLLEGE PARK, Md. –––– Indiana concluded day one of competition of the 2024 Big Ten Championships on Saturday at the XFINITY Center.
Session II was just as busy as Session I, as the semifinals took place, the consolation brackets progressed, and the extra brackets began for weight classes that have automatic NCAA bids available beyond an eighth spot.
Every Hoosier who entered the tournament competed in Session II. With Brayton Lee (157) reaching the semifinals and with Graham Rooks (149) clinching a top-nine finish in his win in the consolation brackets, both wrestlers clinched automatic bids to the 2024 NCAA Championships in Kansas City.
The punched ticket marks Lee's third NCAA qualification of his career, and first as a Hoosier after transferring from Minnesota.
Lee just narrowly missed an opportunity to compete for a Big Ten title. In the semifinal match against No. 7 Will Lewan (Michigan), each wrestler was tied at 1-1 through the third period. Lee nearly converted on two different late shots, but Lewan fended them off to keep it 1-1.
Lewan ended up scoring on a takedown in Sudden Victory to win 7-1. With the loss, Lee will move to the wrestlebacks and is a guaranteed a finish no lower than sixth place.
It is also Rooks' fourth NCAA qualification of his career, previously qualifying in 2020, 2021, 2023 and now 2024.
Rooks is only the eighth Hoosier in program history to become a four-time NCAA qualifier.
In addition to Lee and Rooks, five other Hoosiers are still eligible for automatic bid opportunities in Blaine Frazier (125), Cayden Rooks (133), Dan Fongaro (141), Tyler Lillard (165) and Nick Willham (285).
Graham and Cayden Rooks, as well as Nick Willham will all compete in their weight class' seventh place match tomorrow. Graham Rooks already clinched his spot, but Cayden and Willham will each need to win their matches tomorrow to earn automatic qualifications to the NCAA Championships as there are only seven spots available at 133 and 285 lbs.
Frazier and Lillard each will need to reach ninth place in order to clinch an automatic bid at 125 and 165 lbs., respectively.
Fongaro will need to wrestle out to a top-11 finish to earn an automatic bid.
The action will resume tomorrow at noon for Session III which will feature the consolation semifinals and the seventh place matches.
TEAM SCORES (THROUGH SESSION II)
FULL RESULTS (THROUGH SESSION II)
125 – No. 14 Blaine Frazier:
-Round 1: No. 3 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) def. No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU): Fall (1:31)
-Consi R1: No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU) def. No. 11 Justin Cardani (Illinois): Dec. 6-0
-Consi R2: No. 5 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) def. No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU): Dec. 8-2
-9th Place R1: No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU) def. No. 11 Justin Cardani (ILL): Dec. 5-0
133 – No. 10 Cayden Rooks:
-Round 1: No. 7 Braxton Brown (Maryland) def. No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU): Dec. 6-5
-Consi R1: No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU) advanced on bye.
-Consi R2: No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU) def. No. 8 Tyler Wells (Minnesota): MFF
-Consi R3: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) def. No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU): Dec. 11-6
141 – No. 9 Dan Fongaro:
-Round 1: No. 8 Jordan Hamdan (MSU) def. No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU): Dec. 4-2
-Consi R1: No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU) advanced on bye.
-Consi R2: No. 7 Mitch Moore (Rutgers) def. No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU): Dec. 10-4
-11th Place R1: No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU) advanced on bye.
149 – No. 8 Graham Rooks:
-Round 1: No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU) def. No. 9 Drew Roberts (MINN): SV-1, 7-4
-Quarterfinal: No. 1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) def. No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU): Fall (3:56)
-Cons. R2: No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU) def. No. 10 Michael Cetta (Rutgers): Dec. 16-10
-Cons. R3: No. 5 Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio State) def. No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU): SV-1, 7-1
157 – No. 3 Brayton Lee:
-Round 1: No. 3 Brayton Lee (IU) def. No. 14 Logan Swaw (ILL): TF, 21-5 (4:21)
-Quarterfinal: No. 3 Brayton Lee (IU) def. No. 6 Chase Saldate (MSU): Dec. 6-5
-Semifinal: No. 7 Will Lewan (MICH) def. No. 3 Brayton Lee (IU): SV-1, 4-1
165 – No. 9 Tyler Lillard:
-Round 1: No. 9 Tyler Lillard (IU) def. No. 8 Bryce Hepner (OSU): Fall (6:56)
-Quarterfinal: No. 1 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) def. No. 9 Tyler Lillard (IU): TF, 17-2 (5:48)
-Cons. R2: No. 7 Stoney Buell (Purdue) def. No. 9 Tyler Lillard (IU): Dec. 2-1
174 – No. 8 DJ Washington:
-Round 1: No. 9 Andrew Sparks (MINN) def. No. 8 DJ Washington (IU): Dec. 10-5
-Consi R1: No. 8 DJ Washington (IU) advanced on bye.
-Cons. R2: No. 7 Max Maylor (Wisconsin) def. No. 8 DJ Washington (IU): MD, 8-0
184 – No. 10 Roman Rogotzke:
-Round 1: No. 10 Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. No. 7 Shane Liegel (Wisconsin): Dec. 2-0
-Quarterfinal: No. 2 Lenny Pinto (NEB) def. No. 10 Roman Rogotzke (IU): Dec. 14-7
-Cons. R2: No. 8 Brian Soldano (Rutgers) def. No. 10 Roman Rogotzke (IU): Dec. 9-3
197 – No. 10 Gabe Sollars:
-Round 1: No. 7 John Poznanski (RUT) def. No. 10 Gabe Sollars (IU): Dec. 6-2
-Consi R1: No. 10 Gabe Sollars (IU) advanced on bye.
-Cons. R2: No. 8 Evan Bates (Northwestern) def. No. 10 Gabe Sollars (IU): Dec. 8-3
285 – No. 6 Nick Willham:
-Round 1: No. 6 Nick Willham (IU) def. No. 11 Jack Jessen (NU): Dec. 4-2
-Quarterfinal: No. 3 Lucas Davison (MICH) def. No. 6 Nick Willham (IU): Dec. 4-0
-Cons. R2: No. 6 Nick Willham (IU) def. No. 12 Gannon Rosenfeld (WIS): Dec. 11-4
-Cons. R3: No. 7 Bradley Hill (Iowa) def. No. 6 Nick Willham (IU): Dec. 4-1
Session II was just as busy as Session I, as the semifinals took place, the consolation brackets progressed, and the extra brackets began for weight classes that have automatic NCAA bids available beyond an eighth spot.
Every Hoosier who entered the tournament competed in Session II. With Brayton Lee (157) reaching the semifinals and with Graham Rooks (149) clinching a top-nine finish in his win in the consolation brackets, both wrestlers clinched automatic bids to the 2024 NCAA Championships in Kansas City.
The punched ticket marks Lee's third NCAA qualification of his career, and first as a Hoosier after transferring from Minnesota.
Lee just narrowly missed an opportunity to compete for a Big Ten title. In the semifinal match against No. 7 Will Lewan (Michigan), each wrestler was tied at 1-1 through the third period. Lee nearly converted on two different late shots, but Lewan fended them off to keep it 1-1.
Lewan ended up scoring on a takedown in Sudden Victory to win 7-1. With the loss, Lee will move to the wrestlebacks and is a guaranteed a finish no lower than sixth place.
It is also Rooks' fourth NCAA qualification of his career, previously qualifying in 2020, 2021, 2023 and now 2024.
Rooks is only the eighth Hoosier in program history to become a four-time NCAA qualifier.
In addition to Lee and Rooks, five other Hoosiers are still eligible for automatic bid opportunities in Blaine Frazier (125), Cayden Rooks (133), Dan Fongaro (141), Tyler Lillard (165) and Nick Willham (285).
Graham and Cayden Rooks, as well as Nick Willham will all compete in their weight class' seventh place match tomorrow. Graham Rooks already clinched his spot, but Cayden and Willham will each need to win their matches tomorrow to earn automatic qualifications to the NCAA Championships as there are only seven spots available at 133 and 285 lbs.
Frazier and Lillard each will need to reach ninth place in order to clinch an automatic bid at 125 and 165 lbs., respectively.
Fongaro will need to wrestle out to a top-11 finish to earn an automatic bid.
The action will resume tomorrow at noon for Session III which will feature the consolation semifinals and the seventh place matches.
TEAM SCORES (THROUGH SESSION II)
- Penn State (136.0)
- Michigan (105.5)
- Nebraska (89.0)
- Iowa (88.5)
- Ohio State (78.5)
- Rutgers (71.5)
- Minnesota (66.0)
- Wisconsin (43.0)
- Purdue (36.0)
- Maryland (31.0)
- Indiana (29.0)
- Illinois (28.0)
- Michigan State (19.5)
- Northwestern (14.5)
FULL RESULTS (THROUGH SESSION II)
125 – No. 14 Blaine Frazier:
-Round 1: No. 3 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) def. No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU): Fall (1:31)
-Consi R1: No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU) def. No. 11 Justin Cardani (Illinois): Dec. 6-0
-Consi R2: No. 5 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) def. No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU): Dec. 8-2
-9th Place R1: No. 14 Blaine Frazier (IU) def. No. 11 Justin Cardani (ILL): Dec. 5-0
133 – No. 10 Cayden Rooks:
-Round 1: No. 7 Braxton Brown (Maryland) def. No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU): Dec. 6-5
-Consi R1: No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU) advanced on bye.
-Consi R2: No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU) def. No. 8 Tyler Wells (Minnesota): MFF
-Consi R3: No. 4 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) def. No. 10 Cayden Rooks (IU): Dec. 11-6
141 – No. 9 Dan Fongaro:
-Round 1: No. 8 Jordan Hamdan (MSU) def. No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU): Dec. 4-2
-Consi R1: No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU) advanced on bye.
-Consi R2: No. 7 Mitch Moore (Rutgers) def. No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU): Dec. 10-4
-11th Place R1: No. 9 Dan Fongaro (IU) advanced on bye.
149 – No. 8 Graham Rooks:
-Round 1: No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU) def. No. 9 Drew Roberts (MINN): SV-1, 7-4
-Quarterfinal: No. 1 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) def. No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU): Fall (3:56)
-Cons. R2: No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU) def. No. 10 Michael Cetta (Rutgers): Dec. 16-10
-Cons. R3: No. 5 Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio State) def. No. 8 Graham Rooks (IU): SV-1, 7-1
157 – No. 3 Brayton Lee:
-Round 1: No. 3 Brayton Lee (IU) def. No. 14 Logan Swaw (ILL): TF, 21-5 (4:21)
-Quarterfinal: No. 3 Brayton Lee (IU) def. No. 6 Chase Saldate (MSU): Dec. 6-5
-Semifinal: No. 7 Will Lewan (MICH) def. No. 3 Brayton Lee (IU): SV-1, 4-1
165 – No. 9 Tyler Lillard:
-Round 1: No. 9 Tyler Lillard (IU) def. No. 8 Bryce Hepner (OSU): Fall (6:56)
-Quarterfinal: No. 1 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) def. No. 9 Tyler Lillard (IU): TF, 17-2 (5:48)
-Cons. R2: No. 7 Stoney Buell (Purdue) def. No. 9 Tyler Lillard (IU): Dec. 2-1
174 – No. 8 DJ Washington:
-Round 1: No. 9 Andrew Sparks (MINN) def. No. 8 DJ Washington (IU): Dec. 10-5
-Consi R1: No. 8 DJ Washington (IU) advanced on bye.
-Cons. R2: No. 7 Max Maylor (Wisconsin) def. No. 8 DJ Washington (IU): MD, 8-0
184 – No. 10 Roman Rogotzke:
-Round 1: No. 10 Roman Rogotzke (IU) def. No. 7 Shane Liegel (Wisconsin): Dec. 2-0
-Quarterfinal: No. 2 Lenny Pinto (NEB) def. No. 10 Roman Rogotzke (IU): Dec. 14-7
-Cons. R2: No. 8 Brian Soldano (Rutgers) def. No. 10 Roman Rogotzke (IU): Dec. 9-3
197 – No. 10 Gabe Sollars:
-Round 1: No. 7 John Poznanski (RUT) def. No. 10 Gabe Sollars (IU): Dec. 6-2
-Consi R1: No. 10 Gabe Sollars (IU) advanced on bye.
-Cons. R2: No. 8 Evan Bates (Northwestern) def. No. 10 Gabe Sollars (IU): Dec. 8-3
285 – No. 6 Nick Willham:
-Round 1: No. 6 Nick Willham (IU) def. No. 11 Jack Jessen (NU): Dec. 4-2
-Quarterfinal: No. 3 Lucas Davison (MICH) def. No. 6 Nick Willham (IU): Dec. 4-0
-Cons. R2: No. 6 Nick Willham (IU) def. No. 12 Gannon Rosenfeld (WIS): Dec. 11-4
-Cons. R3: No. 7 Bradley Hill (Iowa) def. No. 6 Nick Willham (IU): Dec. 4-1
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