Image courtesy Nic Ryder IAwrestle

*Images courtesy Nic Ryder IAwrestle

NDSU #21 seed Cam Sykora came close, but wasn’t able to score an upset victory over Wyoming’s Montorie Bridges in the first round of the NCAA championships.  Bridges edged Sykora 3-2 on the strength of a first period takedown.  Sykora defended Bridges’s initial takedown attempt shortly after the opening whistle in the first period, but the Bison was unable to defend the second attack and went behind 2-0.  Sykora was up and out quickly to cut the lead to 2-1 after the first period.  Sykora chose the bottom position in the second period and against was up and out with easy to knot the score.  Neither wrestler found the legs the remainder if the first period.  Bridges selected down in the third and got away for the last point of the match and a 3-2 victory.

Sykora drops to tonight’s consolation round, where he will wrestle Tim Rooney of Kent State.  Sykora and Rooney have not met this season.