Kluever falls at NCAA Championships as wrestling season comes to an end

The wrestling season came to an end for Keaton Kluever and the Hofstra University wrestling team on Thursday, March 22, on day one of the NCAA Championships. Kluever entered the tournament as the No. 24 seed after placing eighth in the 285-pound weight class at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships on Saturday, March 9.

In the first round, Kluever faced No. 9 Nick Feldman of Ohio State University who beat Kluever with a technical fall, 20-5, when Hofstra hosted Ohio State. Feldman got a quick takedown before letting Kluever up and taking him down again in the first minute of the match. Kluever got another escape before once again being taken down by Feldman. After resetting in the center Feldman pulled Kluever onto his back, pinning him at around 2 and a half minutes in.

Moving to the consolation round did not make things easier for Kluever when he faced No. 8 seed Owen Trephan from North Carolina State University in a rematch. The first time the two athletes met on the mat, Trephan triumphed 11-3 via major decision when Hofstra hosted the Wolfpack. After a scoreless first period, Trephan took the bottom and got an escape, followed by a quick takedown. Kluever earned an escape and took a shot shortly after. Going into the third period, Kluever was down 4-1 and selected neutral. Trephan earned another takedown before letting Kluever up and working for another takedown on the edge of the mat. After resetting in the center, Trephan got one final takedown to win the match by a major decision of 10-2.

Kluever ended his season with a 15-7 record, leading the team in pins with seven.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman