UNI Wrestling: Holschlag Earns Spot on NCAA Podium

No. 15 UNI wrestling at 2018 NCAA Championships
March 15-17, 2018
Quicken Loans Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
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SATURDAY (CT)
10 a.m. Session 5 (three mats / wrestleback semifinals and 3^rd-5^th-7^th medal rounds)

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7 p.m. Session 6 (one mat / finals and awards)

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Trophy presentation: http://es.pn/2oIw1yU
Trackwrestling: http://on.ncaa.com/2018WR

ATTENDANCE OF SESSION I: 18,660
ATTENDANCE OF SESSION II: 18,680
ATTENDANCE OF SESSION III: 18,680
ATTENDANCE OF SESSION IV: 18,680

CLEVELAND, Ohio – UNI wrestling's Jacob Holschlag avenged a loss that sent him to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship consolations to keep him in the running for a third-place finish at 197 pounds.

"I'm a pretty good backside wrestler," Holschlag said. "You know, a lot of guys they don't want to be here anymore. I'm like 'I don't have anything to lose now,' so my best wrestling comes out."

After losing his first match to No. 6 Willie Miklus of Missouri, Jacob Holschlag fought his way back to earn All-America honors and would face Miklus again for the chance to advance to the bronze medal match.

Holschlag was UNI wrestling's only unseeded wrestler and the only one to earn a spot on the NCAA podium.

"It's not just me that's going to be up on that podium," Holschlag said. "I have to thank my teammates and my coaches, my parents and all the people who helped me along the way. It's a whole collection of people who put their time and energy into me. I can't thank those people enough.

He opened the day avenging a loss from earlier in the season to No. 17 Danny Chaid of North Carolina with a 10-5 decision. Chaid beat Holschlag in his first dual of the season, 5-3.

Next, he secured a riding time point to take down No. 29 Eric Schultz of Nebraska, 3-2. And in similar fashion, Holschlag earned his first national honor with a 3-2 decision over No. 21 Chris Weiler of Lehigh.

"Hog (Holschlag) is winning, because he's gritty and tough," said head coach Doug Schwab. "A lot of the times, that's what it comes down to, especially when you get into these wrestlebacks. There's some skill to it, don't get me wrong. But some of it is just plain being mad-dog, mean tough."

His night ended with another shot at Miklus. It was the third meeting of the year for the duo, and Miklus and won the first two matches that included the opening round of the tournament. Holschlag kept attacking to earn a 7-5 decision and his fifth top-20 win of the year.

"There's something deep inside him that makes him fight," Schwab said. "That's just how he was raised. He was raised in a tough family. His brother is the same way. He's put a little bit more in every single day, not just once in a while. That's a great lesson for all of our guys."

Holschlag will face No. 25 Kyle Conel of Kent State, who he beat 1-0 in a January dual. The winner will advance to the bronze medal match. The loser will wrestle for fifth place.

Max Thomsen (149 pounds) grabbed his second major decision victory of the tournament with a 14-4 win over No. 25 Frank Garcia of Binghamton. He followed it up with an 11-8 decision over Lehigh's No. 20 Cortlandt Schuyler.

"Max is hitting some incredible attacks," Schwab said. "That was some of the best attacks I've seen him hit."

However, it all came to end for Thomsen with a 3-2 loss to No. 3 Grant Leeth of Missouri.

Taylor Lujan fell to the 174-pound consolation bracket with a 6-2 loss to No. 2 Mark Hall of Penn State and was unable to grab the win that would secure him a spot on the podium. He lost 10-8 to No. 11 Jacobe Smith of Oklahoma State.

Drew Foster (184 pounds) was bumped from the tournament after a 13-10 loss to No. 8 Emory Parker of Illinois.

"This team has a lot to come yet," said Foster. "It was a tough tournament for us, but we have a lot to build on."

RESULTS

149 - #11 Max Thomsen (9 seed) - DNP

W – #26 Khristian Olivas (Fresno State), 13-5 (MD)
L - #10 Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State), 10-6

DAY 2

W - #25 Frank Garcia (Binghamton), 14-4 (MD)
W - #20 Cortlandt Schuyler (Lehigh), 11-8
L - #3 Grant Leeth (Missouri), 3-2

174 - #7 Taylor Lujan (7 seed) - DNP

W – Will Schany (Virginia), 5-3
W – #12 Ethan Ramos (North Carolina), 16-12

DAY 2

L - #2 Mark Hall (Penn State), 6-2
L – #11 Jacobe Smith (Oklahoma State), 10-8

184 - #10 Drew Foster (8 seed) - DNP

W - #26 Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State), 6-1
L - #11 Max Dean (Cornell), 6-0

DAY 2

L - #8 Emory Parker (Illinois), 13-10

197 - #15 Jacob Holschlag (unseeded)

L - #6 Willie Miklus (Missouri), 7-3
W - #31 Randall Diabe (Appalachian State), 16-0 TF (4:43)

DAY 2

W - #17 Danny Chaid (North Carolina), 10-5
W - #29 Eric Schultz (Nebraska), 3-2
W - #21 Chris Weiler (Lehigh), 3-2
W - #6 Willie Miklus (Missouri), 7-5
NEXT - #25 Kyle Conel (Kent State)

FROM DAY 1:

125 - #17 Jay Schwarm (16 seed) - DNP

L - #16 Drew Mattin (Michigan), 3:50 F
L - #23 Sergio Mendez (CSU-Bakersfield), 6:23 F

141 - #9 Josh Alber (9 seed) – DNP

L – #32 Sa'Derian Perry (Eastern Michigan), 11-5
L - #7 Nick Lee (Penn State), 7-3

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