Wrestling | 3/10/2017 11:00:00 PM

Junior Evan Ramos won two matches on Friday, including one by major decision, to advance into the championship semifinals of the 197-pound bracket at the 2017 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships being held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Ramos is the first SU wrestler to win both of his matches on the first day of the NCAA Championships since the last Raider All-American did so – Chris Kochinsky in 2011.
 
It sets the stage for a potential All-American Saturday for Ramos, who will begin his day with a tall task against California Baptist's Jacob Waste (30-3) – a returning All-American on a 23-match winning streak who has been the nation's top-ranked wrestler for much of the season.
 
Ramos began his Friday against Central Oklahoma's Greg Wilson and won via major decision, 11-1. A strong first period got Ramos on track, as he recorded a pair of takedowns and affixed a two-point near fall to the latter to lead 6-1 after the opening three minutes.
 
A late second-period takedown made it 8-1, before Ramos scored a reversal in the third period after starting from the bottom. His riding-time advantage finalized the 11-1 win.
 
Ramos' second opponent of the day was Limestone's Matt Rudy, the second-place finisher from Super Region II. Just like his first match, Ramos used a pair of takedowns and attached a two-point near fall to the second to lead 6-1 after the first period.
 
However, Rudy made it a match in the second period. After starting on the bottom, Rudy scored a reversal to make it 6-3. Ramos escaped about 30 seconds later, but another takedown by Rudy made it 7-5 after two periods.
 
Ramos then chose the bottom position to start the third period and eventually escaped, but not before Rudy had established a riding-time advantage. Despite a stalling warning, Ramos was able to gut it out and record an 8-6 victory.
 
Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m. EST. from Birmingham.