PARK CITY, Kan. – In the opening session of the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships, Friday morning, the University of Montevallo's No. 1 Gabe Hixenbaugh earned a 20-5 tech fall win.
Hixenbaugh's first-round victory on the national stage punched a ticket to the Quarterfinals set for Friday at 5 p.m., for the first time in program history.
The 133-pounder entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and defeated Ouachita Baptist's No. 14 James Anderson by tech fall, 20-5,.
Hixenbaugh, 28-0 on the year, took a 4-1 lead after the first period. In the second, he added eight points and went ahead 12-3 going into the third and final period. With six seconds left in the final period, Hixenbaugh added his fifth takedown of the match to go up by 15, triggering the tech fall.
In the match, Hixenbaugh recorded five takedowns, a reversal, a near-fall and was awarded one stalling point. The only points scored by Anderson were escapes.
The tech fall is Hixenbaugh's 10
th of the year and 11
th against a ranked opponent.
Hixenbaugh will return to action against No. 14 ranked and No. 8 seed, Thieron Diallo of Frostburg State in the quarterfinals in the second session beginning at 5 p.m., Friday.
CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
WHERE: Park City, Kansas | Hartman Arena
WHAT: NCAA Division II National Championships First Round
BRACKET: 133-Championship Bracket
MATCH INFORMATION: First Round
WHO: No. 1
Gabe Hixenbaugh (28-0), Montevallo vs. No. 14 James Anderson (3-2 Ouachita Baptist
RESULTS: Hixenbaugh 20 | Anderson 5 Tech Fall
UP NEXT
MATCH INFORMATION: Quarterfinal
WHO: No. 1
Gabe Hixenbaugh (28-0), Montevallo vs. No. 9 Thieron Diallo (21-5) Frostburg State
WHERE: Park City, Kansas | Hartman Arena
WHEN: Mar. 15, 5 p.m. | Match 165
WATCH: FloSports.com
LIVE STATS: Track Wrestling
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