KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The first appearance at the NCAA Wrestling Championships for junior Maximilian Leete has concluded, with Leete putting up a strong effort but falling in his opening two bouts to be eliminated at 133 pounds. Leete was the No. 31 seed, and fell to the No. 2 and No. 18 seeds on day one.

Notable

• Leete wrestled the No. 2 seed Ryan Crookham as tightly as possible, very nearly handing Crookham his first loss of the season. 
• The first point on the board was a second-period escape for Leete, but Crookham later scored the only takedown of the bout.
• Leete posted two more penalty points from stalling by Crookham, but in the end it was Crookham to win by 4-3 decision.
• In the second session, Leete came up against No. 18 seed Derrick Cardinal of SDSU.
• Cardinal got the first takedown early, but a late first-period reversal had Leete within a point heading to the second.
• With an escape, a third-period takedown and riding time, Cardinal pulled away for the 8-2 decision to advance in the consolation bracket.

133

• Rd. of 32: No. 2 Ryan Crookham (Lehigh) dec. No. 31 Maximilian Leete (AU), 4-3 
• Cons. Rd. of 16: No. 18 Derrick Cardinal (SDSU) dec. No. 31 Maximilian Leete (AU), 8-2 

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