KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Cleveland State completed the first day of the 2024 NCAA Championships on Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Daniel Bucknavich, making his debut at the event, went 1-1 to advance to the second day of competition. The redshirt junior started the day with a 4-2 loss to No. 13 Yaraslau Slavikouski of Rutgers before bouncing back to defeat No. 29 Nash Hutmacher of Nebraska in sudden-victory, 5-2.

Ben Smith, making his third appearance at the championships dropped both of his matches. The graduate student and two-time MAC Champion lost his first match by tech fall and second by major decision.

Bucknavich will look to continue battling his way back in the consolation brackets tomorrow afternoon against No. 19 Dorian Crosby of Bucknell.

Ben Smith – 197 Pounds
Champ Round 1: No. 8 Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma) TF No. 25 Smith (CSU), 18-1
Cons Round 1: No. 24 Cole Urbas (PENN) MD No. 25 Smith (CSU), 12-3

Daniel Bucknavich – 285 Pounds
Champ Round 1: No. 13 Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) DEC No. 20 Bucknavich (CSU), 4-2
Cons Round 1: No. 20 Bucknavich (CSU) DEC No. 29 Nash Hutmacher (Nebraska), 5-2 SV
Cons Round 2: No. 19 Dorian Crosby (Bucknell)