COUNCIL BLUFFS - Six Iowa Central wrestlers have advanced to the quarterfinals at the NJCAA Championships inside the Mid-America Center.
The Tritons have scored 42 points through the first three rounds of action to hold the early lead, with another set of consolation matches to take place to close out the first session.
Earning spots in the quarters, which will take place later this evening, from Iowa Central were Bret Minor, Phil Smith Jr., Andrew Gamble, Keaton Geerts, Jose Rodriguez and Jorden Pryor.
Minor earned a third period fall over Mott's Brody Kemper, pinning him at 6:16. He also earned bonus points with his major decision in the first round.
Up next for Minor will be top-ranked and defending national champion Blake Gonzalez of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at 141 pounds.
Smith, the No. 3 seed who is ranked fifth at 149 pounds, secured his spot in the quarters with a technical fall over Morgan Potts from Neosho. In the first round, Smith pinned Joe Carpenter of Mott in just 29 seconds.
Cowley's Malik Johnson will be his opponent this evening.
Gamble, a returning national qualifier, advanced to the quarterfinals with a fall over Cole Watkins from Triton. The sixth-ranked 174-pounder pinned Watkins at 2:48 and will face Pratt's Dayton Porsch next.
Geerts, rated sixth, added to the run of bonus points with his pin of No. 8 ranked Julian Jimenez from Mukegon at 165 pounds. Geerts, who earned a technical fall in his first match, will take on fourth-ranked Jake Richardson from Clackamas.
Rodriguez, who previously earned All-American honors for the Tritons, moved into the 174-pound quarterfinals with a fall in 5:30 over Jaycen Crissostomo of Southwestern Oregon. The top-seed and third-ranked Rodriguez will take on Labette's Jeremiah Voliva next.
Pryor followed up his quick first match with another pin in the opening round vs. Wyatt Kearn of Western Wyoming. In a meeting of ranked heavyweights, Pryor took Kearn down twice before finishing the match at 2:20.
Aidan Harris kept his tournament run alive with a consolation round victory as Yoseph Yilma was knocked out of the championship side with a loss in the round of 16.
Hugo Harp suffered a loss and will compete in the consolations this evening after winning his first match by fall.
Jesus Gutierrez had his tournament run come to an end following a tough 5-3 setback to Dean Elder of Henry Ford at 184 pounds.
Wrestling begins again at 6:15 p.m. with the championships quarters along with the third and fourth rounds of consolations.
-By Dana Becker