Three Sooners Still Alive at NCAA Championships

NORMAN – Oklahoma wrestling capped off day one of the 2024 NCAA Championships in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, with redshirt senior Josh Heindselman, senior Stephen Buchanan and junior Willie McDougald advancing to day two action on Friday.

The other Sooners competing at the T-Mobile Center were redshirt senior Jace Koelzer (133 pounds) and junior Jared Hill (157 pounds).

Buchanan was the lone Sooner to advance to the quarterfinals in the championship bracket, beginning the day with a win by tech fall over Cleveland State's Benjamin Smith, 18-1 (5:16). In the championship second round, Buchanan picked up a major decision win over Stephen Little of Little Rock, 14-3. The Wyoming transfer will look to solidify his third career All-American honor in tomorrow's early session matchup against top-seed Aaron Brooks (Penn State).

Heindselman, making his fourth NCAA Championships appearance, began the day with a win by decision, 4-2, over Princeton's Matthew Cover. In the championship second round, Heindselman fell to Zach Elam of Missouri via 4-0 decision. Heindselman will get a shot at All-American status by working his way through the consolation bracket.

McDougald was the first to secure a win for the Sooners on the day, scoring a key takedown in the closing seconds of his opening round matchup against Maryland's Ethen Miller to take the 5-4 victory. The Niagra Falls, N.Y., dropped his second bout to West Virginia's Ty Watters, 9-0. Like Heindselman, McDougald stays alive and will compete in wrestlebacks on Friday.

Koelzer and Hill all dropped their respective bouts in the championship first round and consolation first round to finish their weekend.

Koelzer ends his 2023-24 campaign with a 15-12 record, Hill at 13-11.

The third session of the 2024 NCAA Championships will begin Friday at 11 a.m. CT, which will include the championship quarterfinal matches and next two rounds of consolation bouts.

FULL RESULTS

Jace Koelzer (133 pounds)

Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) 24-5 won by major decision over Jace Koelzer (Oklahoma) 19-14 (MD 10-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Tyler Wells (Minnesota) 13-7 won by decision over Jace Koelzer (Oklahoma) 19-14 (Dec 7-3)

Willie McDougald (149 pounds)

Champ. Round 1 - Willie McDougald (Oklahoma) 18-10 won by decision over Ethen Miller (Maryland) 18-8 (Dec 5-4)
Champ. Round 2 - Ty Watters (West Virginia) 27-4 won by major decision over Willie McDougald (Oklahoma) 18-10 (MD 9-0)

Jared Hill (157 pounds)

Champ. Round 1 - Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa) 21-5 won by decision over Jared Hill (Oklahoma) 15-13 (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Lucas Revano (Pennsylvania) 22-10 won by major decision over Jared Hill (Oklahoma) 15-13 (MD 15-2)

Stephen Buchanan (197 pounds)

Champ. Round 1 - Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma) 26-2 won by tech fall over Benjamin Smith (Cleveland State) 23-7 (TF-1.5 5:16 (18-1))
Champ. Round 2 - Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma) 26-2 won by major decision over Stephen Little (Little Rock) 22-3 (MD 14-3)

Josh Heindselman (285 pounds)

Champ. Round 1 - Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma) 23-7 won by decision over Matthew Cover (Princeton) 18-11 (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 2 - Zach Elam (Missouri) 27-2 won by decision over Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma) 23-7 (Dec 4-0)