CLEVELAND, Ohio – Three members of the Cleveland State wrestling team are ready to make their NCAA Championship debuts this week, as the trio of Marcus Robinson, DeAndre Nassar and Ben Smith are set for opening round action on Thursday, March 18.
The NCAA Championships, which are being hosted in St. Louis, Missouri, begin Thursday, March 18 and continue through Saturday, March 20 with two rounds each day. The opening session begins at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday with the second session starting at 5:00 p.m.
All rounds of the NCAA Championships will be available on ESPN3, while select matches will also be broadcasted on ESPNU and ESPN2 throughout the entire three-day tournament.
INDIVIDUAL MAT ESPN3 COVERAGE | 2021 NCAA BRACKETS | NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Marcus Robinson | 149 pounds
Robinson, wrestling at 149 pounds, will make his NCAA Championship debut in a first round matchup against Brock Mauller of Missouri. Robinson enters the tournament as the No. 30 seed, while Mauller will be competing as the No. 3 seed in the 149 pound weight class.
Through the shortened 2020-21 campaign, Robinson owns an 8-4 record, including a trio of wins at the MAC Championship last time out.
Thursday's match will be the second meeting between Robinson and Mauller this season, as the two faced each other in the MAC championship match, with Mauller posting a 6-0 decision.
DeAndre Nassar | 184 pounds
Nassar, wrestling at 184 pounds, will make his NCAA Championship debut against Northern Illinois' Brit Wilson in a first round matchup. Nassar will be competing as the No. 26 seed, while Wilson enters the tournament as the No. 7 seed at 184 pounds.
So far this season, Nassar has combined for a 9-3 record, including a 4-1 mark at the MAC Championships last month. Earlier this season, Nassar appeared in the NCAA Coaches Rankings for the first time in his collegiate career, as he checked in at No. 33 at 184 pounds on February 12.
Thursday's match will be the second meeting between Nassar and Wilson this season, as the two faced each other in a semifinal contest at the MAC Championships last month. Wilson earned a 12-3 major decision in this matchup.
Ben Smith | 197 pounds
Smith, wrestling at 197 pounds, will make his NCAA Championships debut in a first round matchup against Noah Adams of West Virginia. Smith enters the tournament as the No. 24 seed – Cleveland State's highest seeded wrestler at the 2021 NCAA Championships – while Adams will be competing as the No. 9 seed in the 197 pound weight class.
During the shortened 2020-21 season, Smith has posted a 5-4 record, including a 2-1 mark that came at the MAC Championships.
Thursday's first round matchup will be the second time that Smith and Adams will face each other this season, as Adams posted an 8-2 decision during regular season action.
The 2021 NCAA Championships mark the first time since 2007 that Cleveland State has had three qualifiers in the same season, while the trio will be the 140th, 141st and 142nd NCAA selections in program history.
Robinson and Smith secured their berths to the NCAA's following their runner-up performances at the MAC Championships last month, while Nassar earned his trip to St. Louis after winning his third-place match in the MAC Championships.
