Is this the greatest quarterfinals round in NCAA Championship history? It looks pretty good on paper. We'll see very shortly if the action on the mat lives up to expectations. I'll keep you covered as best I can live updates as the 2018 tournament kicks off Day 2 with thermonuclear session two. 

To check out the bonkers team race, full updated brackets and more, click on over to excellent FloArena.

QUARTERFINALS

The four mats on the inside, 3, 4, 5, and 6, are the championship quarterfinals. They'll be wrestling for guaranteed podium placements on those mats. The exterior four mats, 1, 2, 7 & 8, have the consolations, where everyone is just trying to stay alive for a chance at a podium step. 

125 Pounds

Darian Cruz (Lehigh) vs Ronnie Bresser (Oregon State)

All these matchups are nuts, this being a prime example. Somehow Ronnie Bresser is just the 9 seed. They're scoreless after 3 minutes of wrestling. Cruz rides Bresser out in the second. It's still 0-0 but 2 minutes of RT for Darian. Darian escapes with 1:02 on the RT clock. May not be pretty but Darian Cruz fends off Ronnie Bresser to win 2-0. Cruz is a three-time All-American!

Nick Suriano (Rutgers) vs Louie Hayes (Virginia)

Suriano finishes a single leg and goes to work smothering Hayes on top. Suriano makes it 3-0 by escaping in the second. He gets another quick TD and continues to ride, nearing 2 minutes of RT. Suriano brutally efficient. It's 7-0, RT locked up a while ago. Suriano takes it 8-0 and Rutgers has an All-American!

Spencer Lee (Iowa) vs Nicholas Piccininni (Oklahoma State)

Spencer Lee scores the first points of the quarterfinals, taking Pich down for 2. Lee beasting out on top. Working bar and half and picking up 4 back points. The true frosh is taking it to the returning All-American. Lee with another takedown and 2 more back points and it's 11-1. Lee muscles Pich over and gets the fall! Impressive work from Spencer Lee, who is the first to clinch an All-American status. 

Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) vs Taylor Lamont (Utah Valley)

NaTo gets a takedown and it's 2-1 going into the second. Tomasello winning the takedown battle four to nothing and holds a 9-3 lead in the third. Solid work by NaTo, he moves on to the semis in a workmanlike manner. 

Results

125 Darian Cruz (Lehigh) DEC Ronnie Bresser (Oregon St.), 2-0

125 Nick Suriano (Rutgers) MD Louie Hayes (Virginia), 8-0

125 Spencer Lee (Iowa) F Nicholas Piccininni (Oklahoma St.), 3:58

125 Nathan Tomasello (Ohio St.) MD Taylor Lamont (Utah Valley), 12-4

133 Pounds

Seth Gross (South Dakota State) vs Montorie Bridges (Wyoming) 

Gross has yet to wrestle Bridges, though Gross just won the Big 12s where Bridges took 3rd. Gross with the takedown and rideout in. He has over 2 minutes of RT. Bridges hanging tough and knocked a lot of RT off in the second but it's 5-0 Gross now. He'll cruise into the semis. OR WILL HE? Bridges goes for it and nearly gets a feet to back, but Gross prevails 7-3 and the Jackrabbits will have an All-American. 

Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State) vs Tariq Wilson (NC State)

One of the biggest surprise quarterfinalists, unseeded Tariq Wilson gets the first takedown. Brock gets out but Wilson goes feet to back and picks up 6 more! Brock strikes back and gets a takedown to make it 8-3 after 3 minutes in a wild match. In the second they both go right back to upper body throws. It's a 50/50 position and Wilson gets the the two! No swipes though. TARIQ WILSON CARES NOT FOR YOUR SEEDS. The freshman gets another upset and will be in the semifinals!

Luke Pletcher (Ohio State) vs Scott Parker (Lehigh)

Pletcher strikes first and gets a takedown at the end of the first period. It's 3-1 in the third, RT not a factor in a very measured match. Parker can't solve Pletcher's defenses. Ohio State makes it 2 for 2 in the semis. 

Stevan Micic (Michigan) vs Austin Desanto (Drexel)

A rematch of the CKLV match where DeSanto announced his presence and nearly teched the returning All-American Micic. Looks like Micic has other plans this time. He takes DeSanto down and immediately turns him for four. Micic is up big and keeping his distance. It's 10-1. There are still 12 seconds left in the third but Micic is up 12-1. He'll get the victory but not before DeSanto tries some desperation moves. Not sure exactly what went on there, may have been a key lock attempt by DeSanto? But either Micic majors his way into the semifinals. 

Results

133 Seth Gross (South Dakota St.) DEC Montorie Bridges (Wyoming), 7-3

133 Tariq Wilson (NC State) MD Kaid Brock (Oklahoma St.), 13-5

133 Luke Pletcher (Ohio St.) DEC Scott Parker (Lehigh), 3-1

133 Stevan Micic (Michigan) MD Austin Desanto (Drexel), 13-1

141 Pounds

Bryce Meredith (Wyoming) vs Sa`derian Perry (Eastern Michigan)

Meredith gets the first takedown on Perry, who came into the tournament unseeded and with a sub .500 record. And with a bar and half Meredith will end Perry's Cinderella championship hopes with a pinfall!

Joey McKenna (Ohio State) vs Tyler Smith (Bucknell)

McKenna stays hot, getting the first takedown. A couple back points makes it 4-0. McKenna going about his business, taking a 6-1 lead into the third period. McKenna wins 8-3, though he was fighting for more points to get the major until the last second. Ohio State is 3-3 in the quarterfinals here in Cleveland!

Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) vs Dean Heil (Oklahoma State)

One of the marquee matches of the round, we're still 0-0 deep in the first. Heil gets the takedown and rideout in the first. He leads 2-0 going into the second. Heil escapes and is leading 3-0. But Yianni answers with a takedown. He's riding Heil and gets counted for hanging on a ankle for 5 seconds and gets his for stalling. The large Cornell contingent sitting next to me showers the ref with boos. Heil gets an escape on the restart with 9 seconds left on the clock and it's 4-2 going into the 3rd, RT not a factor. Heil riding tough, but Yianni gets a reversal! Yianni can't get an RT point so he cuts Heil. 40 seconds to go, Heil with a 1 point lead. Yianni gets the takedown! He needs to ride Heil out to seal it. A couple mat returns and that's it! Heil's quest for a third title is over! Diakomihalis is an All-American as a true freshman!

Jaydin Eierman (Missouri) vs Brock Zacherl (Clarion)

Zacherl gets the first takedown against the favored Eierman. But Eierman responds with a cradle. He's pinned others in the tournament earlier. And he'll pin Zacherl with it! Eierman an AA once again!

Results

141 Bryce Meredith (Wyoming) F Sa`derian Perry (Eastern Mich.), 1:36

141 Joey Mckenna (Ohio St.) DEC Tyler Smith (Bucknell), 8-3

141 Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) DEC Dean Heil (Oklahoma St.), 6-5

141 Jaydin Eierman (Missouri) F Brock Zacherl (Clarion), 2:04

149 Pounds

Zain Retherford (Penn State) vs Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State)

Zain looking to be Penn State's first semifinalist and get their team points ticking back up again. Zain gets the first takedown of the 149 pound round. Typically now is when the pain begins for his opponents. Bow and arrow for Zain makes it 6-0 over Lewallen with a minute left in the first. Lewallen managed to get a reversal after fighting off his back but it's 12-2 now. Zain with a tech fall. Penn State with a semifinalist and bonus points!

Ke-shawn Hayes (Ohio State) vs Troy Heilmann (North Carolina)

Can Hayes make it 4-4 for the Buckeyes. Heilmann has been having a breakout senior campaign and is trying to make the podium for the first time in his career. 0-0 after 3 minutes of wrestling. Heilmann escapes to make it 1-0 going into the 3rd. Hayes with 55 seconds of RT. Hayes escapes in 2 seconds to knot the score, RT not a factor. No scores so we go to sudden victory. No scores there either so we're on to tie breakers! Crucial review here on an out-of-bounds no takedown call after Heilmann gets the escape, no takedown is confirmed. Hayes goes on bottom. Ridiculous scramble situation late, Hayes tried to pick up the leg, had Heilmann turned around and on his butt, but Heilmann hipped back and no reversal! Ohio State challenging now. The call is confirmed, and Troy Heilmann is an All American.

Grant Leeth (Missouri) vs Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton)

Is Kolodzik ready for Leeth? Did he adequately brace himself? Because Leeth wrestles in a neck brace, you see. Takedown for Leeth and escape for Kolodzik. They go to the second 2-1. Leeth leads 3-2 with a minute left. Leeth has RT as well. Kolodzik with a late takedown and rideout. The Princetonian is an All-American again after a gutsy come from behind victory!

Jason Tsirtsis (Arizona State) vs Ronald Perry (Lock Haven)

Perry shocked Hawkeye nation by upsetting Brandon Sorensen last round. He'll get comeback wrestler of the year Jason Tsirtsis in his attempt to get back on the podium after a long hiatus. Perry strikes first and Tsirtsis quickly escapes. 2-1 Perry. It's 2-2 getting to the end of the second. Perry the #15 seed and Tsirtsis the #10 will means someone is making the podium from outside the top 8 seeds. Perry leads 5-3 with a minute left. Perry will seal the deal with a late takedown! Lock Haven has an All-American!

Results

149 Zain Retherford (Penn St.) TF Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma St.), 20-2 5:00

149 Troy Heilmann (North Carolina) DEC Ke-shawn Hayes (Ohio St.), 2-1 TB2

149 Matthew Kolodzik (Princeton) DEC Grant Leeth (Missouri), 4-3

149 Ronald Perry (Lock Haven) DEC Jason Tsirtis (Arizona St.), 7-4

157 Pounds

Hayden Hidlay (NC State) vs Tyler Berger (Nebraska)

Undefeated redshirt freshman Hidlay gets the first takedown, Berger escapes and it's 2-1. An escape in the second knots the score 2-2, RT not a factor. AN escape for Hidlay in the third gives him a 1 point lead, RT not a factor. And Hidlay fends off the All-American Berger and becomes a semifinalists on his first try!

Alec Pantaleo (Michigan) vs Luke Zilverberg (South Dakota State)

0-0 after 2 minutes here. And Pantaleo gets a takedown as I was typing that. And Zilverberg gets the escapes. 2-1. Zilverberg escapes to tie the score in the second. Pantaleo showing off some speed and gets the go behind for 2 more. A reversal at the buzzer makes it 4-4, Pantaleo with over a minute of RT. Pantelo escapes and gets another takedown, he's in command 7-4 with less than a minute to go. Pantaleo hold on to win 8-5 and the Wolverines get another All-American. 

Jason Nolf (Penn State) vs Michael Kemerer (Iowa)

Hey this is a quarterfinal match. Just by the way. Nolf in on a shot, comes out the backdoor, avoids getting hit with his own signature winn-dixie and collects 2. Kemerer escapes and it's 2-1. Nolf in on a shot but runs out of time. They go to the second 2-1, Nolf on bottom. The escape makes it 3-1 Nolf. Kemerer escapes in the third and its a 1 point match in the third, RT not a factor. Nolf shoots and converts. He rides tough and beats Kemerer yet again. Penn State goes 2 for 2 so far in the quarters!

Micah Jordan (Ohio State) vs John Van Brill (Rutgers)

Van Brill trying to notch his second straight upset. Jordan trying to get another Buckeye semifinalist after Hayes was a rare miss at 149. Micah immediately in on a single and converts for two. JVB with a quick escape. Jordan dominating in neutral, leading now 6-3. Jordan looking for the fall, but Van Brill fights off his back. 14-5 is the score. The matches are ended simultaneously so applause coming from all corners of the arena. Jordan wins by major decision setting up a MONSTER semifinal match with Nolf. 

Results

157 Hayden Hidlay (NC State) DEC Tyler Berger (Nebraska), 3-2

157 Alec Pantaleo (Michigan) DEC Luke Zilverberg (South Dakota St.), 8-5

157 Jason Nolf (Penn St.) DEC Michael Kemerer (Iowa), 6-2

157 Micah Jordan (Ohio St.) MD John Van brill (Rutgers), 17-5

165 Pounds

Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) vs Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven)

These are all too ridiculous to even try to hype. You all know these guys are rad. I'll just stick to the updates. IMar gets the first takedown, it's 2-1. IMar so persistent in his go behinds, wins another scramble and it's 4-1. IMar runs it to 7-1. IMar majors his way into the semis. He will be a four time All-American at the least. 

Alex Marinelli (Iowa) vs Chad Walsh (Rider)

Chad Walsh gets the first TD on a slide by. Then after an escape goes headlock! He gets two and two ride on the edge of the mat. It's 4-1, RT ticking up for Walsh. They trade escapes and its 5-2 with a minute left in the second, RT not a factor. Now Marinelli answers with a TD, its 5-4, Walsh with the lead. Marinelli rides out the period and starts the 3rd on bottom. He escapes and it's tied up, RT not a factor. Walsh on the attack but the Bull holds him at bay. Marinelli makes the semifinals at his first NCAA tournament. 

Vincenzo Joseph (Penn St.) vs Isaiah White (Nebraska)

No scores after three minutes of wrestling. Cenzo granbies out fo an escape 3 seconds into the second period. 1-1 with 30 seconds to go. Sudden victory time. Cenzo with a body lock but somehow doesn't score. Or does he? PSU will challenge. Denied, we go back to neutral. No scores and we go to tiebreakers. An escape in 8 seconds for Cenzo in the first period. An escape in 12 seconds in the second. Nebraska challenges when the escape was awarded to make sure RT is correct. It is correct. We're in sudden victory two. Cenzo gets behind White. He finally hauls him to the ground and collects the victory! White slams the mat in frustration and Penn State fans start an WE ARE chant. 

Evan Wick (Wisconsin) vs David Mcfadden (Virginia Tech)

0-0 on the board after the first period. McFadden with the first offensive points, it's 2-0 as McFadden starts to ride. McFadden will try to ride out to win. Wick escapes but it's not enough. With RT McFadden stays undefeated. The Hokies with a semifinalist. 

Results

165 Isaiah Martinez (Illinois) MD Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven), 10-1

165 Alex Marinelli (Iowa) DEC Chad Walsh (Rider), 7-6

165 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn St.) DEC Isaiah White (Nebraska), 4-2

165 David Mcfadden (Virginia Tech) DEC Evan Wick (Wisconsin), 3-0

174 Pounds

Zahid Valencia (Arizona St.) vs Jadaen Bernstein (Navy)

Zahid with the quickess. He's on the board in 10 seconds. And a pinfall with a tilt! Zahid barely breaks a sweat and is in the semis! 

Myles Amine (Michigan) vs Jordan Kutler (Lehigh)

Amine in on a double and after a long struggle gets the takedown. Kutler escapes to cut the lead to one. Amine escapes to make it 3-1 in the second. Kutler starts the 3rd down by the same score. Kutler escapes to make it 3-2, RT not a factor with a minute left. Amine gets revenge from the dual meet, Amine is an All-American again with a 3-2 win. 

Daniel Lewis (Missouri) vs Bo Jordan (Ohio St.)

No scores after 2 and a half minutes. Lewis escapes in the second to draw first blood. And Lewis gets a takedown in short time. He puts Jordan in a 3-0 hle going into the third. Which will start in neutral. Jordan can't get on his offense. Lewis gets his with a stall point but the Tigers have a semifinalist. Lewis wins 3-1. 

Taylor Lujan (UNI) vs Mark Hall (Penn St.)

Mark Hall looking for a homerun. Gets two. Then gets two more to make it 4-0. 5-1 in favor of Hall in neutral in the second. Hall quietly wins the match 6-3 and gives Penn State another semifinalist. 

Results

174 Zahid Valencia (Arizona St.) F Jadaen Bernstein (Navy), 0:38

174 Myles Amine (Michigan) DEC Jordan Kutler (Lehigh), 3-2

174 Daniel Lewis (Missouri) DEC Bo Jordan (Ohio St.), 3-1

174 Mark Hall (Penn St.) DEC Taylor Lujan (Uni), 6-2

184 Pounds

Bo Nickal (Penn St.) vs Maxwell Dean (Cornell)

Not a rematch of last year's finals by the way. That was Max's brother Gabe. Bo drops to an ankle, collects the second leg and gets the takedown. An escape and another Nickal TD makes it 4-1. 6-3, Nickal in the lead in the second. They're reviewing to see if Nickal did an illegal cutback, leaving his feet from rear standing to bring Dean back to the mat. Dean making this a match. It was 9-7 with Dean on top. But after cutting Nickal he gets taken down, and Nickal wins 13-7 and is back in his third straight semifinals.

Domenic Abounader (Michigan) vs Pete Renda (NC State)

No scores after 3 minutes. It doesn't stay scoreless long though. Abounader gets the reversal and two back points right off the whistle. Renda escapes and it's 4-1 now in favor of Abounader in the second period. Renda coming back through. It's 7-6 after a reversal, Renda in the lead. And now another reversal makes it 8-7 for Abounander. Abounader with locked hands! It's 8-8, but first the obligatory momentum killing review. The call is confirmed so we go into sudden victory. Abounader leads 9-8 now and that's how the first tiebreaker ends, Renda on bottom now. Out of bounds with 5 to go, Renda still on bottom. But Renda turns and faces to tie it up, with the NC State senior having six seconds of advantage time. They spend pretty much all of the second sudden victory in a collar tie, so back to tiebreakers. Renda will start on bottom, caution Abounader. Michigan man riding tough, keeping the leg, following well and Abounader has a huge advantage, 22 seconds of RT. Abounader turns and faces, single leg position and Renda gets hit for stalling. Renda cuts him and needs a takedown an turn to win. Abounader is an All American and continues the streak for St. Ed's. Sweet vindication for Abounader as this is his fourth trip to the NCAAs and it will be first time on the podium. 

Ryan Preisch (Lehigh) vs Zachary Zavatsky (Virginia Tech)

Another scoreless first period. An escape from Zavatsky makes it 1-0. Then more cautious wrestling in neutral. 1-1 as we end regulation. We'll go to sudden victory. A scramble, Preisch was close but Zavatsky wins the scramble. He is an All-American after falling short form the #5 seed the last two tournaments in a row!

Chip Ness (North Carolina) vs Myles Martin (Ohio St.)

Myles Martin counters with a blast double and almost knocks Chip Ness into the next mat. 3-1 in favor of Martin now in the second. There was a review, which I missed, and something about locked hands, and it's 5-2 now in favor of Martin. Martin winning 9-5 now. Martin quietly wins 10-6 and the Buckeye is a three time All-American. 

Results

184 Bo Nickal (Penn St.) DEC Maxwell Dean (Cornell), 13-7

184 Domenic Abounader (Michigan) DEC Pete Renda (NC State), 11-9

184 Zachary Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) DEC Ryan Preisch (Lehigh), 3-1 SV

184 Myles Martin (Ohio St.) DEC Chip Ness (North Carolina), 10-6

197 Pounds

Kollin Moore (Ohio St.) vs Kyle Conel (Kent St.)

INSANE UPSET CITY ALERT. KYLE CONEL GOES UPPER BODY AND SENDS MOORE TO HIS BACK. THE UNSEEDED CONEL PINS THE #1 SEED KOLLIN MOORE. The arena is going nuts. Kent State has an All-American. Kyle Conel is in the semifinals!

Shakur Rasheed (Penn St.) vs Michael Macchiavello (NC State)

Shakur needed to put a skull cap on his hair before he was allowed to begin (don't ask me for the official rule on that) but he gets it and they're underway. Rasheed with the first takedown and leads 2-1 after the first period. Macch ties it up, gets RT down and cuts Rasheed. Macch in on a shot, he converts! He'll ride out for the win. NC State has another semifinalist! Both Penn State and Ohio State's 197 pounders go down.

Jared Haught (Virginia Tech) vs William Miklus (Missouri)

Jared Haught looking for revenge against Willie Miklus after getting pinned in their dual meet. Haught leads 2-1 in the in the second. Haught quietly avenges his loss and moves on to the semis. This is in contrast for the insanity going off on the other three mats. 

Ben Darmstadt (Cornell) vs Chris Weiler (Lehigh)

Not a ton of action but Darmstadt leads 3-2 deep in the third. Darmstadt getting medical attention now. Unsure what for.  We're back in action and Weiler is hanging tough. He trails by one with 20 seconds to. Darmstadt drops to a leg and runs out the clock. Cornell has another true freshman semifinalist!

Results

197 Kyle Conel (Kent St.) F Kollin Moore (Ohio St.), 1:30

197 Michael Macchiavello (NC State) DEC Shakur Rasheed (Penn St.), 5-4

197 Jared Haught (Virginia Tech) DEC William Miklus (Missouri), 3-1

197 Ben Darmstadt (Cornell) DEC Chris Weiler (Lehigh), 5-4

285 Pounds

Kyle Snyder (Ohio St.) vs Derek White (Oklahoma St.)

We're up to the big guys. White and Snyder are both bulked up 197 pounders. Must be nice for both not to try and move the big 285 pounders around for a change. 2-1 in favor of Snyder in the second. White gets dinged for stalling, but then gets a takedown on the Olympic champ. A quick escape makes it 3-3. A takedown for Snyder makes it 5-3 and Snyder rides out the period. And Snyder wins it 6-3 and is an All-American for the fourth time!

Youssif Hemida (Maryland) vs Jacob Kasper (Duke)

Kasper and Hemida go round and round in dueling body locks. It's Kasper that wins this exchange, scoring 2 in short time. Kasper makes it 4-1 in the second, RT over a minute. The takedowns by Kasper in the first period were enough. He wins 7-2 and is in the semifinals for the second straight year. 

Nick Nevills (Penn St.) vs Amar Dhesi (Oregon St.)

No scores in the first. Nevills leads by 1 in the second. Dhesi close to a TD. Oregon State wants a review. The challenge is denied and it stays 1-0 in favor of Nevills. Locked hands ties it up, Dhesi still on bottom. A stall point and reversal for Dhesi makes it 4-1. Nevills escapes. He's in on a low shot, but Dhesi sprawls and scrambles and holds on for the win! Oregon State has their second semifinalist. Their bookends at 125 and 285 will be All-Americans.

Nathan Butler (Stanford) vs Adam Coon (Michigan)

Coon powers Butler down to the mat. Coon up 3-0 now in the third. Coon dominates 7-0 and gives Michigan yet another semifinalist!

Results

285 Kyle Snyder (Ohio St.) DEC Derek White (Oklahoma St.), 6-3

285 Jacob Kasper (Duke) DEC Youssif Hemida (Maryland), 7-2

285 Amar Dhesi (Oregon St.) DEC Nick Nevills (Penn St.), 4-2

285 Adam Coon (Michigan) DEC Nathan Butler (Stanford), 7-0

Well that flew by, didn't it? Attendance just announced at another 18,680, so a full house, and yet again I didn't see very many empty seats. Folks, these next 3 sessions are going to be a party.

But that will do it fo now until 8:00PM ET, when we'll wrestle the semis and bloodround. Ever so sorry for all the typos. Thanks for joining us and we'll see you tonight!