INDIANAPOLIS – Pairings and seedings for the upcoming NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships were announced Wednesday, with three of South Dakota State’s four qualifiers earning top-12 seeds.
Redshirt freshman Tanner Sloan is the highest-seed for the Jackrabbits, earning the 11th seed in the 197-pound weight class. A native of Alburnett, Iowa, Sloan has compiled a 21-6 record this season, including turning in a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Wrestling Championship last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His first-round opponent is No. 22 Jake Jakobsen, 16-9 overall, from Lehigh.
Seeded 12th are a pair of seniors, 149-pounder Henry Pohlmeyer and 184-pounder Zach Carlson. Pohlmeyer, from Johnston, Iowa, will be making his third appearance in the national tournament after compiling a 22-5 record and finishing as runner-up at the Big 12 meet. He is slated to meet No. 21 Alec Hagan of Ohio, 31-11 overall, in first-round action. The two did not wrestle in the teams’ dual earlier this season.
A native of Murdock, Minnesota, Carlson brings a 25-6 record into his first NCAA appearance. The Big 12 runner-up at 184 pounds, Carlson is set to square off against Billy Janzer of Rutgers, 21-10 overall, in the first round.
Also making a trip to nationals is freshman Tanner Cook, who is seeded 22nd in the 165-pound weight class following a third-place finish at the Big 12 Wrestling Championship. The Ilion, New York, native has compiled a 21-4 record, winning 14 of his matches by fall. His 12 pins against Division I opponents rank fourth among D-I wrestlers entering the NCAA Championships. Cook’s first-round opponent is 11th-seeded Jake Wentzel of Pitt (18-7 overall).
In addition, SDSU 125-pounder Danny Vega has been selected as an alternate for the national meet. A junior from Tucson, Arizona, Vega has posted a 22-10 record in his first season in the Jackrabbit lineup.
NCAA Wrestling Championships Brackets
Also on Wednesday, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced that due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, NCAA championship events will be conducted with only essential staff and limited family attendance. Information regarding ticket refunds and further updates can be found at ncaa.com.
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