Tracking Three Marquee Matches in the Round of 16
The second session has come to an end. Upset after upset. Brothers wrestling off for their place in the championship bracket. It’s never a dull moment in March! It’s March Matness!
Dean Peterson (Rutgers) vs. Richard Figueroa (Arizona State)
This match was less than boring. You have three-time NCAA Qualifier Dean Peterson, who faced adversity after injuring his knee in the B1G semis, versus 2024 NCAA Champion Richie Figueroa. Now I was skeptical of Peterson’s knee entering this tournament. He looked sharp against Oklahoma’s Lorenzo. He was on fire against Richie Figs. Figueroa got the first takedown to start the scoring. Peterson escaped before the first period ends. Figs takes bottom to start the second and quickly escapes. Peterson gets the next takedown. Figs get hit with the cautionary start. The takedown took them out of bounds. Peterson chooses bottom in the third and escapes. Figs get the takedown. Peterson quickly hits a switch, reverses, cradles Figs, and gets the FALL! Dean Peterson pins returning NCAA Champion Richie Figueroa!
Peterson (RUT) def. Figueroa (ASU) fall 5:42
Gabe Arnold (Iowa) vs. Chris Foca (Cornell)
Three-time NCAA Qualifier and 2023 All-American Chris Foca is having himself a night. He majored Iowa’s Gabe Arnold 12-1. Foca opens up the match by taking a shot, getting in a brief scramble, and finally getting the takedown. He puts Arnold on his back and racks up near fall all within the first minute of the match. Foca rides him for two minutes in the first. Arnold defers, and Foca chooses down to start the second and gets a quick escape. Foca works for a takedown and gets the leg. Arnold splits to avoid the takedown, taking them out of bounds. They were brought back in and Foca gets the takedown. This results in him racking up another minute of riding time for Foca before the second period ends. He ends the second period with three minutes of riding time. Arnold chose neutral for the third. Both wrestlers had heavy hands throughout the third period. Foca gets hit for stalling for backing out of the circle. They continue to circle hard. Foca was in control of the whole match. He kept the inside control for the entire seven minutes.
Foca (COR) def. Arnold (IOWA) maj. 12-1
Max Stout (Pittsburgh) vs. Luke Stout (Princeton)
This is the first brother match-up in Division 1 Wrestling Championship history. Both wrestlers started the match with heavy hands, both fighting for that inside control. Each took shots and re-shots attempts. Nothing happened, score-wise, in the first period. Mac Stout chooses bottom to start the second. He gets the escape and fires back with a takedown. Luke Stout is back up on his feet to get the escape. Luke Stout chooses bottom to start the third. Mac Stout rides him a bit, but Luke eventually finds his footing for the escape. Mac ends up beating his older brother 4-2. At least they still hugged it out! Can’t expect a crazy scramble-filled match with brothers.
Stout (PITT) def. Stout (PRIN) dec. 4-2
