NEW YORK - The Ohio wrestling wrapped up action at the NCAA Championships Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Following the first two rounds of competition the Bobcats still have four wrestlers in active competition.

Ohio is currently in 18th place of 72 teams at the championships with eight team points.

“We had a lot of tough matches today but I thought we wrestled tough overall,” said head coach Joel Greenlee. 

Redshirt senior Cody Walters (Macedonia, Ohio) advanced to the quarterfinals with his win over Michael Ottinger of Central Michigan. Walters landed a single leg takedown and a one-point escape while only surrendering two points due to escapes.

“Cody making it into the quarterfinals is a huge step in the right direction and it puts him one step closer to reaching his goal of becoming a national champion,” said Greenlee.

Walters faces Lelund Weahterspoon from Iowa State in the quarterfinal round on Friday morning. Weatherspoon upset No. 2 Cornell’s Brian Realbuto in his opening match and knocked off No. 15 Brian Harvey of Army in the second round.

Redshirt senior Spartak Chino (Wheaton, Ill.) picked up a win over Virginia’s Andrew Atkinson by decision 2-1 on a near fall. Chino then beat Army’s Russell Parsons by pinfall in just 28-seconds to stay alive and advance to face American’s John Boyle in Friday’s morning session.

Freshman Cameron Kelly (Bellbrook, Ohio) dropped his second round matchup to Oklahoma’s Cody Brewer by major decision, 14-4. Brewer is the defending national champion. Kelly picked up his four points on escapes but was unable to land a takedown. Kelly continues action on Friday morning facing off against Oregon State’s Joey Palmer.

Redshirt senior Andrew Romanchik (Independence, Ohio) picked up a 3-2 decision win over Dane Pestano of Iowa State. Romanchik landed an escape and a takedown in third and was able to stave off a late scramble from Pestano to take the win. Romanchik will face No. 6 overall seed Blake Stauffer from Arizona State on Friday morning.

Redshirt senior Phil Wellington (Euclid, Ohio) picked up a win in the pigtail of the consolation bracket over Lehigh’s John Bolich by decision 4-2. Wellington earned his points on a takedown and a reversal against Bolich. In his next match, Sam Wheeler from Cleveland State managed to pick up a 6-1 decision over Wellington ending his tournament run. Wheeler was able to land a takedown and an escape and tacked on another takedown late in the third.

Freshman Shakur Laney (Canal Winchester, Ohio) got started out well in his match against Wyoming’s Drew Templeman landing a takedown and near fall to take a 6-0 lead. In the third, Templeman landed his own takedown and near fall after picking up a point on the opening position escape. Laney earned the escape to even the match at 7-7. In sudden victory, Templeman landed a takedown ending Laney’s tournament run.

Redshirt freshman Austin Reese (Urbana, Ohio) dropped a razor thin decision loss to Duke’s Jake Faust, 2-0. Faust scored his only two points of the match on an escape and riding time ending Reese’s season.

Action on Friday morning will begin at 11 a.m. and all mats will be broadcast on ESPN3.com.

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