Nurrideen Ahmad-Statts Stuns #2 Seed to Advance to Round of 8 at NCWA Nationals
Williamson qualified five wresters for the 2025 National Collegiate Wrestling Association National championships and it proved to be a very good opening day for them all, as all five wrestlers advanced to the Round of 32, three advanced to the Round of 16 and one advanced to the Round of 8 on the day.
Liam Kernan, Michael Kling, Nurrideen Ahmad-Statts and Vincent Piermatteo all one their opening matches, while Harry Asencio received a bye. Kernan and Ahmad-Statts then won their next matches to advance to the Round of 16. Kling lost his second match but came back to win his Consolation round match to be able to continue wrestling tomorrow. Piermatteo unfortunately lost his next two matches and was eliminated from the tournament. Asencio lost his Round of 32 match but remains alive to wrestle on Friday.
Kernan ran into the #3 seed in the Round of 16 and lost, but he too remains alive to wrestle again on Friday.
The highlight of the day was Ahmad-Statts Round of 16 match, as he took on the #2 seeded wrestler in the 174 pound weight class, Cole Hunter from Life University. If he was intimidated, he didn't show it at all, as he wrestled a text-book match to defeat his opponent 8-3 in a match that wasn't as close as the score would indicate. He will wrestle in the Round of 8 tomorrow morning.
As far as the team standings go, despite only having five wrestlers in the tournament while many of the teams had 10 or more, Williamson stands at an astounding 28th place out of 87 schools after Day 1.
Congratulations to the Williamson coaching staff and wrestlers for a great first day!
