NEW YORK CITY – Following a 12-4 major decision over Oklahoma State's Gary Wayne Harding on Thursday evening at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Utah Valley University senior Jade Rauser advances to day two of the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships for the second straight season.
 
"It was a great match. As long as Jade is moving, good things are going to happen," head coach Greg Williams said." Hopefully he will continue tomorrow. If Jade goes out and wrestles the way that he is capable of, he can have another good round on Friday."
 
Following an opening round loss to the two-time All-American and second-seeded Cory Clark of Iowa during Thursday's opening session, Rauser (21-7) avoided elimination with his second dominant victory over Oklahoma State's Harding (15-13) in as many weeks.
 
With UVU's first-ever four-time NCAA qualifier holding to a 3-2 lead after the first period, Rauser got things going with a six-point move to take a 9-4 lead after two. Midway through the second stanza, Rauser got Harding in a body lock and slammed the 18th-ranked Cowboy to the mat square on his back for a takedown. The 17-ranked Wolverine then looked for the fall, but Harding somehow managed to avoid it as Rauser settled for a four-point nearfall instead to take a big lead. Rauser then locked up the victory in the third with an escape couple with another takedown to take the bout by major decision. The victory marked Rauser's second straight over Harding, as the UVU senior pinned Harding just two week's ago in the third-place bout at the Big 12 Championship.
 
With the victory, Rauser will now face-off against Campbell's 16th-ranked Nathan Kraisser (35-7) on Friday morning.
 
Wrestling with an injured knee, senior Chasen Tolbert (18-9) had his 2016 NCAA Championship run and collegiate career come to a close on Thursday evening with a 7-4 setback to North Carolina State's Sean Fausz. Tolbert gave a valiant effort at his second straight appearance at nationals on Thursday, but had his 2016 tournament run end with a 1-2 record.
 
After going 1-1 on Thursday morning with a 6-1 decision over Old Dominion's Brandon Jeske and a 18-5 major decision loss to three-time All-American and third-seeded Nico Megaludis of Penn State during Thursday's opening session, Tolbert ended his career with a three-point setback to NC State's Fausz (17-10). The bout stayed close in the early stages as Fausz held a 4-3 advantage at the end of the first period. After riding Tolbert out during the second stanza, Fausz then picked up a quick reversal in the third along with a riding time point to seal the contest.
 
Tolbert, who was nationally ranked for his entire senior season, closes his career with a 65-36 record at UVU to rank him in the top-10 in all-time victories at Utah Valley.
 
"We're happy that Chasen was able to come and compete. Unfortunately he was out here competing with a pretty banged up knee," added Williams. "He did his best. He's been a true leader in our room. It's unfortunate that he couldn't be 100 percent and get a win in that last one."
 
Rauser will return to action on Friday morning at 11 a.m. ET/9 a.m. MT. Friday morning's third session of the NCAA Championships will once again be televised live on ESPNU. The tournament's fourth session will then follow on Friday evening at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT.
 
UVU's 2016 NCAA Championship Results
133 - Jade Rauser (1-1)
Champ. Round 1 - #2 Cory Clark (Iowa) over Jade Rauser (UVU), MD 8-0
Cons. Round 1 - Jade Rauser (UVU) over Gary Wayne Harding (OK State), MD 12-4
 
125 - Chasen Tolbert (1-2)
Champ. Prelims - Chasen Tolbert (UVU) over Brandon Jeske (ODU), Dec. 6-1
Champ. Round 1 - #3 Nico Megaludis (PSU) over Chasen Tolbert (UVU), MD 18-5
Cons. Round 1 - Sean Fausz (NC State) over Chasen Tolbert (UVU), Dec. 7-4
 
Session II Attendance – 17,805