DETROIT, Mich. — Clay Carlson’s quest to earn All-America honors for the second year in a row came up one win short Friday night at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Little Caesars Arena.
A junior 141-pounder who placed eighth in the weight class last season, Carlson advanced to the so-called “Blood Round” with a pair of overtime victories earlier in the day. The native of Willmar, Minnesota, avenged a pair of losses earlier in the season to Missouri’s Allan Hart by pulling out a 7-5 victory in his first match of the day, followed by a 2-1 sudden victory against North Carolina State’s Ryan Jack to close out the morning session.
Carlson trailed Hart, 3-1, entering the third period, but managed to tie the match at 5-all with a takedown late in regulation. Carlson then came up with the decisive takedown midway through the extra session for the win.
Against Jack, the two wrestlers traded escapes in the second and third periods for the only scoring during regulation. Carlson was awarded the tie-breaking point in overtime on a stalling call after a takedown attempt by the Jackrabbit wrestler.
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