Graham Rooks
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Indiana University wrestler Graham Rooks won his first-round match Thursday at the NCAA Championships.
The 17th-seeded Rooks, a sixth-year senior from Columbus East, beat 16th-seeded Kelvin Griffin of Lehigh by a 12-5 decision at 149 pounds. Griffin led 3-0 early before Rooks scored three takedowns and a reversal to take control of the match.
Rooks then had to wrestle No. 1-seeded Ridge Lovett of Nebraska and dropped an 11-4 decision. Rooks was within 7-4 before Lovett scored an escape and takedown in the closing seconds.
Cayden Rooks
Rooks’ brother, fifth-year senior Cayden Rooks, the No. 33 seed at 133 pounds, dropped a 9-5 preliminary-round decision to 32nd-seeded Dyson Dunham of Virginia Military Institute.
Cayden Rooks bounced back with a win against 19th-seeded Julian Farber of Northern Iowa in the consolation round. Rooks was leading 16-3 when Farber injury defaulted.
Graham Rooks will compete in the consolation round against Finn Solomon of Pitt on Friday. Cayden Rooks will wrestle against 13th-seeded Kurt Phipps of Bucknell in the consolation round.
