So after the first session we were in a 17 way tie for 33rd place with 1 point, I believe. After the evening session we are in a 5 way tie for 30th place with 4 points. We are basically wrestling to seed, except for Simcox losing in the first round and Hepner knocking off the #8 seed. Simcox’s loss cost us a half point that could have put us in a 2 way tie for 29th place. That said, Hepner’ win in the #8 vs #9 match scored an extra point. So what is the path forward?
Hepner needs to win 1 more match to reach AA status. His first match tomorrow will be against the #1 seed, Mesenbrink from PSU. Obviously this is a tough ask, but pull it off and he is automatically finishing top 6 in the weight. Lose, and he goes to the blood round. Win that first consolation match, and he is top 8 and an AA. The top seed competing to meet him in this slot is #11 Downey from UNI. He has already
The other 3 still in have to win 3 matches to make AA/top 8. For Terukina that likely requires beating the #13 seed, and then the #12 seed (Robinson from state) to get to the blood round. There he would have to beat a quarter final loser to make AA. Simcox has a similar path needing to beat the #11 and #14 seed to get a match against the quarter final loser for AA status. Dailey likely has to beat a #16 and then a #9 seed to wrestle against the quarter final loser for AA status.
There are no easy paths to AA, but they only have to string together 3 wins (1 for Hepner). You never know what can/will happen in the ncaa.