March 20, 2009

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Senior Mike Roberts advanced in the 149-pound consolation bracket and John Hall (197) and Hunter Meys (174) both suffered two losses in the first day of competition at the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, held at the Scottrade Center.

All three Terriers fell in their opening-round matches, but Roberts rebounded with a 6-5 victory over Kellon Ballum (Virginia) in the 149 wrestlebacks and will face Heinrich Barnes of Oregon State in Friday's morning session. In the first round, Roberts came up short in a 4-1 match against 11th-seeded Steven Brown of Central Michigan.

Hall dropped a 6-1 decision to Luke Feist of Stanford in the opening round before being elimnated in a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Patrick Bond of Illinois.

Meys fell victim to Trevor Perry of Indiana via pin in the first period of their opening-round match at 174 and the freshman later fell, 8-5, in the first consolation round to Anthony Trongone of Virginia Tech.

Roberts is making his third straight NCAA appearance, while Hall and Meys were first-time national qualifiers.