Campbellsville University pushed seven of its 11 wrestlers through the preliminary round to open the NAIA National Wrestling Championships at Oklahoma City University's Abe Lemons Arena on Thursday. However, only three remain in the championship bracket as the tournament gets set for the quarterfinals Friday morning.

Three-time national qualifier Bryan Wells won a close, 8-6, decision over Gayllan Bland of Missouri Baptist late Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time. Sophomores Johnny Papesh and Tommy Pretty started the first round of the championship bracket with wins, but CU was unable to advance its other grapplers.

Jeremiah Fennell lost his second match, 4-2, to Orlando Scales of Notre Dame (Ohio), the nation's top ranked team and national tournament leader. Daphilo Succes also lost, 3-1, to Brian Jacob of Southern Oregon.

Spencer Adams and Allen Scruggs both had a bye through the championship prelim, but lost their first matches at 184 pounds.

Returning All-Americans Matt David and James Linker both fell in the preliminary round. David was pinned in 2:57 by returning All-American Eric Graham (25-12) of Missouri Valley, and Linker lost by major decision, 13-3, to freshman Joe Sievert (16-4) of Morningside College (Iowa). Freshmen Connor Young (23-18) and Nick Waldrop (20-10) also fell from the championship bracket in the prelims. Young fell by major decision to Joe Cornejo of Missouri Valley, while Waldrop was unable to overcome a 15-11 decision to Brian Graham of Missouri Valley.

Waldrop is the only Tiger to be eliminated in the first day, getting pinned in 3:13 by Alex Stemer of Simon Fraser in his first consolation match.

The NAIA National Tournament continues Friday with Session Two beginning at 10 a.m. CST and Session Three at 6 p.m. CST. Session Two will include the championship quarterfinals, consolation preliminaries and consolation rounds one to three. Session Three will include the Championship Semifinals, followed by the All-American Round (Consolation Four) and consolation quarterfinals.

The Tournament will conclude Saturday.

For updated info on CU's wrestlers through the day, click here.