Kokesh, Storley still alive for NCAA national title

DES MOINES, Iowa — Two South Dakota natives are still alive for an NCAA national wrestling championship.

Wagner native Robert Kokesh and Webster native Logan Storley both won two matches Thursday in the 174-pound weight class on the first day at the NCAA Division I national wrestling tournament. The tournament continues today and concludes Saturday.

Kokesh, a three-time state high school champion, won his first match over Pennsylvania’s Ian Korb with a 4-minute, 8-second pin. He defeated Ohio’s Cody Walters on an 8-3 decision in the second round.

Storley, a six-time state high school champion, won his first match 3-1 over Cal-State Bakersfield Bryce Hammond, and then won his second-round match 9-1 by major decision over Matt Mougin , of Northern Illinois.

Today, in the quarterfinals, Kokesh wrestles Josh Asper, of Maryland. Asper is 23-1 on the year, while Kokesh improved his record to 35-3. The two have not wrestled this season.

Storley, who holds a 26-3 record, wrestles Iowa’s Michael Evans (21-4) in the quarterfinals. Storley has defeated Evans twice this year, both coming by decision.

A win in the quarterfinals guarantees a wrestler All-American status, or top-eight finish in his weight class.

Cody Pack, SDSU’s lone wrestler who qualified for nationals, lost his first-round match at 157 pounds Thursday. Pack (15-15) lost to Virginia’s Jedd Moore 6-0 in his first-round match.

Tags: sports, wagner, wrestling, updates