Finesilver Splits on Opening Day at NCAA Wrestling Championships

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Thursday, March 18

St. Louis, Mo.

All Day

Duke University

Day One at NCAA Championships

Josh Finesilver competed Thursday at the NCAA Wrestling Championships

Finesilver Splits on Opening Day at NCAA Wrestling Championships

3/18/2021 11:44:00 PM | Wrestling

DURHAM, N.C. – Redshirt junior Josh Finesilver earned his first NCAA Wrestling Championship victory Thursday during the opening day of the national tournament.

The Greenwood Village, Colo., native fell in his opening bout to No. 6 Bryce Andonian of Virginia Tech, but defeated No. 22 Jimmy Hoffman of Lehigh in a wrestleback match to stay alive in postseason action.

Finesilver (7-4) started his day against a familiar foe in Andonian (9-2) as the two had already met earlier this season in an ACC dual. Despite a strong start by Finesilver, Andonian earned back-to-back takedowns to record an early 6-1 lead. The 149-pounder tried to rally with an escape and takedown of his own but couldn't overcome the deficit as Andonian went on to register a fall 3:17 into the match.

After shifting into the wrestleback bracket following the loss, Finesilver matched up against Hoffman (4-7) of Lehigh. The two wrestlers battled it out early with Hoffman earning the first takedown. Finesilver responded and in the end secured a 13-7 decision to earn his first career NCAA Championship win. The victory marked his first win over a top-25 opponent this season and second all-time.

Finesilver will continue his wrestleback campaign on Friday at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT) against No. 5 Ridge Lovett (10-3) of Nebraska. Lovett earned an opening round victory before falling by a 5-3 decision to No. 12 Max Murin of Iowa.

Wrestleback Bracket
No. 27 Josh Finesilver (Duke, 7-4) vs. No. 5 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska, 10-3) – Friday at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT)

#GoDuke