CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Castleton University wrestlers James Rodriguez and Cooper Fleming made history for the Spartans on Friday night, becoming the first wrestlers to win two or more matches at a single NCAA National Championship.
 
Rodriguez is through to the top-eight, securing All-America status after going 3-1 on the opening day. After dropping his first match to the No. 2 seed at 141 pounds, Jimmy McAuliffe, Rodriguez rattled off three straight victories. His run began with a 13-11 decision over Javen Estrada following a wild third period. Rodriguez notched five takedowns in the final frame alone to erase a three-point deficit after two periods and claim the decision victory.
 
He followed with an 8-3 decision over Daniel Uribe, again using a strong third period to claim the victory. He got an early takedown for a 4-2 lead, but an escape made it 4-3. He went up 5-3 after a stalling call on Uribe, and notched a takedown with 23 seconds left to seal the victory and move on to the Blood Round.
 
In the Blood Round, Rodriguez came through with a 6-2 decision victory over Johnson & Wales' Hayden Brown. It was the fifth matchup between the two wrestlers this season, with Brown claiming each of the first four bouts head-to-head. Brown took a 1-0 lead into the third period, but Rodriguez again put on a show in the final two minutes. At the midway mark of the final frame, Rodriguez notched a takedown and turned it into a two-point near-fall for a 4-1 lead. After Brown escaped to make it 4-2, Rodriguez sealed his spot in the final eight with one last takedown.
 
Fleming was pinned in his opening match, but rebounded with a 5-2 decision victory against Donovan Palmer. He led 5-1 after two periods, and survived the final period with only an escape after Palmer chose bottom position.
 
In his next bout, Fleming escaped with a 5-3 win over Marco Gaita. Fleming went head-to-head with Gaita twice in the regular season, besting him on both occasions. Friday's result was no different, as Fleming notched a takedown in the first sudden-victory period to earn the win. He was down 3-2 going into the third period, but earned a quick escape to knot the score at 3-3, forcing overtime.
 
In his final bout of the night, Fleming saw his impressive run come to a close, falling via technical fall to Stefan Major, 21-3. Major notched eight early points with a takedown and a pair of near-falls, and piled on in the second period to put the match out of reach before closing it out in the third.
 
Rodriguez and Fleming are just the second and third wrestlers to ever win a bout at the NCAA National Championships for Castleton, joining Zak Hale who went 1-2 at the 2017 NCAA National Championships in Castleton's inaugural season.
 
Rodriguez is guaranteed at least two matches on Saturday. He is set to wrestle McAuliffe once again for a spot in the consolation semifinals. The loser of the match will then wrestle for seventh place.