Best Round 2 Matches Of The 2017 NCAA Tournament

The best round 2 matches at the 2017 NCAA wrestling tournament

Mar 16, 2017 by Wrestling Nomad

Best Round 2 Matches Of The 2017 NCAA Tournament

NCAA Brackets | Live Updates | Team Race | Results Page | Archived NCAA Matches

seeds in parentheses

125: (8) Nick Piccininni, Oklahoma St vs (9) Josh Rodriguez, ND State

This one is fun not only because it is a rematch of the Big 12 finals, but also because it factors in big for the team race. Piccininni won that one 7-5 in the second sudden victory period, and could find himself in a rematch with top seed Thomas Gilman if he can replicate his conference finals win over Rodriguez.

125: (5) Tim Lambert, Nebraska vs (12) Sean Fausz, NC St

These two split matches last year, with Fausz taking a 5-4 win in the dual, while Lambert returned the favor by knocking Fausz out of last year’s NCAAs with a 7-2 win. With two very game opponents in Jose Rodriguez and Christian Moody waiting on the backside, this one could be the type of match that decides who is an All American.

133: (8) Zane Richard, Illinois vs (9) Scotty Parker, Lehigh

Richards is one of the best leg attackers in the country, and Parker appears fully healthy from his injury at the Scuffle. We didn’t get to see Richards first round match because he got a medical forfeit, but Parker picked up a major.

133: (3) Kaid Brock, Oklahoma St vs (14) Mitch McKee, Minnesota

After an extremely entertaining series of freestyle matches, Brock has taken both matches this season. He started off with a 10-2 win in the dual, but then McKee was one scramble away from winning the rematch at the Scuffle. There is more than enough history between these two, as well as Okie St team race implications, to turn the channel when this one comes on.

141: (1) Dean Heil, Oklahoma St vs (16) Jared Prince, Navy

Heil eked out a 6-5 win in the first round, and will have an even tougher foe in Prince this evening. The Navy coaches have been high on Prince all year and believe he is peaking at the right time, but it remains to be seen if he will be able to out-scramble the undefeated returning champ.

165: (8) Dylan Cottrell, West Virginia vs (9) Chandler Rogers, Oklahoma St

Another Big 12 rematch, Cottrell won somewhat controversially on a no-takedown call at the end of the match, which was later confirmed on review. Rogers already started his day with a pin, so Cottrell will need to stay on the offensive to make tomorrow morning's quarters.

174: (8) Ethan Ramos, UNC vs (9) Myles Amine, Michigan

Expectedly, 8/9 matchups made up the majority of this article. Arizona State fans may be rooting for Amine, since Ramos has kept it close with Zahid Valencia twice this year. Amine is a Logan Mass-lite, putting up points in bunches this year and emerging as a potential All American. With the amount of injuries the Wolverines have had, they may need a morale boost heading into Thursday evening.