LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The No. 19 Oklahoma wrestling team had an impressive Day 1 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, held at Westgate Hotel Paradise Event Center. Four athletes advanced to Saturday’s matches, with Carter Schubert and Brian Soldano reaching the semifinals.
At 174 pounds, Schubert, seeded seventh, built on his recent dual win, dominating his matches with three decision victories. He only allowed two points across all three bouts and will face sixth-seeded Moses-Espinoza Owens from South Dakota State in the semifinals.
Soldano, seeded fifth at 184 pounds, started off strong with a first-round bye. He won his first match 9-6 against the No. 12 seed, James Rowley from Purdue, then pulled off a quick pin in the quarterfinals against No. 4 seed Eddie Neitenbach from Wyoming. This victory marked his 30th career pin and secures his spot in the semifinals.
This marks the first time Oklahoma has had semifinalists at this event since 2021, when Jake Woodley made it to the final four at 197 pounds.
In the consolation bracket, junior Tyler Wells and senior DJ Parker remain contenders for podium finishes. Wells bounced back from an initial loss with three consecutive wins, while Parker, now 7-2 this season, only lost in the quarterfinals to fourth-seeded Justin Rademacher from Oregon State.
Oklahoma currently sits in seventh place in the team standings with 47 points. Iowa State leads with 107.5 points, followed by Stanford and West Virginia.
Day two begins Saturday at 12 p.m. CT, featuring the semifinals and matches for fifth and seventh places. The finals are scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, with all action streaming live on FloWrestling.
This year’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational continues to show the depth of talent in collegiate wrestling. Recent statistics reveal a growing audience for the sport, with wrestling at the college level witnessing a 4% increase in participation across the U.S. over the past five years, according to the NCAA.
Experts note that events like these not only spotlight talent but also influence recruiting, as high school athletes look for programs that compete at this level. As fans and analysts alike keep an eye on promising wrestlers, the electric atmosphere of Las Vegas offers an exciting glimpse into the future of wrestling.
For the latest updates and match results, check out [NCAA Wrestling](https://www.ncaa.com/sports/wrestling).
