CLEVELAND — David Evans advanced to the round of 16 with his first win at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships on Thursday afternoon at Rocket Arena. Caleb Uhlenhopp also picked up a win in the opening session for the Wolverines. Session 2 begins at 7 p.m. ET (5 p.m. MT).

Evans, the No. 9 seed, recorded a takedown in each of the three periods in an 11-5 decision over No. 24 Andrew Clark of Rutgers. In the first period, Evans scored a takedown, but Clark responded with a reversal. A locked-hands call following a Rutgers coach's challenge, along with an escape, gave Clark a 4-3 lead. Evans regained control with a takedown and rideout to end the second period. He sealed the match in the third with an escape and takedown to build a 10-4 lead and added riding time.

Evans will face Big 12 champion and No. 8 seed Casey Swiderski of Oklahoma State in the round of 16 on Thursday night.

At 184 pounds, No. 32 seed Uhlenhopp defeated No. 33 Sam Goin of Indiana, 4-1, in a pigtail match. Uhlenhopp led 1-0 after two periods with an escape, then finished a scramble with a takedown in the third to take a 4-0 lead on his way to the win.

With the victory, Uhlenhopp advanced to the round of 32, where he lost to No. 1 seed Rocco Welsh of Penn State by technical fall, 19-4 (6:32). Uhlenhopp will wrestle No. 17 Ian Bush of West Virginia on Thursday night.

No. 19 seed Haiden Drury opened his tournament against No. 14 Braeden Davis of Penn State. Davis rode out Drury for the entire second period and added an escape in the third for a 2-0 win. Drury will face the winner of Matthew Martino (Princeton) and Dario Lemus (Maryland), who meet in the consolation preliminary round Thursday before facing Drury later in Session 2.

Kael Bennie, the No. 31 seed, faced No. 2 seed and Big 12 champion Rocky Elam of Iowa State in his opening match. Elam led 3-1 after one period and added a reversal in the second. Bennie recorded a reversal in the third, but Elam secured a 9-3 decision. Bennie will face No. 18 Andrew Reall of Brown on Thursday night.

Jack Forbes, the No. 30 seed, faced Big Ten champion and No. 3 seed Taye Ghadiali of Michigan, who won by technical fall, 17-2 (5:59). Forbes will face No. 33 Mason Rebuck of Bloomsburg in a consolation preliminary match early in Thursday's second session.

Session 1 Results
141 | vs (14) Braden Davis (PSU) over (19) Haiden Drury, dec. 2-0
149 | (9) David Evans over (24) Andrew Clark (RUT), dec. 11-5
184 | (32) Caleb Uhlenhopp over (33) Sam Goin (IND), dec. 4-1
184 | (1) Rocco Welsh (PSU) over (32) Caleb Uhlenhopp, TF 19-4 (6:32)
197 | (2) Rocky Elam (ISU) over (31) Kael Bennie, dec. 9-3
285 | (3) Taye Ghadiali (MICH) over (30) Jack Forbes, TF 17-2 (5:59)