PHILADELPHIA—Bloomsburg University wrestlers Frank Hickman (Castle Hayne, NC/E.A. Laney) and Mike Dessino (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) both advanced to day two of the NCAA Division I national championships being held in Philadelphia.

Hickman, wrestling at 157 pounds, faced sixth-seeded Derek St. John of Iowa losing 11-7 in his first match of the day. St. John scored a takedown 30 seconds into the bout to go up 2-0 and controlled action for much of the first two minutes and 10 seconds. On a restart with 40 seconds to go Hickman worked an escape to cut the gap to 2-1 before St. John scored another takedown with 28 seconds left in the period.

Starting the second period neutral Hickman went for a leg early on, but St. John was able to work out of the move keeping the score 2-1. St. John then got a takedown with 1:10 left in the period before Hickman escaped making it 6-2 at the end of two periods.

With Hickman taking down to start, the Huskies red-shirt sophomore escaped making it 6-3 with 1:48 left in the match. St. John though scored a takedown on the edge of the mat with 1:19 left to make it 8-3. After a Hickman escape made it 8-4, he then came back with his first takedown pulling to within two points at 8-6 with less than a minute to go. St. John, though, came back with another takedown for a 10-6 lead. Hickman did escape with 17 seconds to go, but St. John held on for the win and with riding time won 11-7. Hickman then dropped down to the consolation round to face Vince Salminen of North Dakota State in round one of the consolation bracket.

In his match with Salminen, Hickman dominated from start to finish winning 17-3. Hickman began the match with a takedown then worked a two-point near fall to lead 4-0. Salminen escaped then scored a takedown to close to within 4-3. Those would be the final points for the North Dakota State wrestler.

Hickman escaped, scored a takedown and got a three-point near fall to lead 10-3 after three minutes. In the second period Hickman chose bottom and escaped with no further scoring. In the third period Hickman got another takedown and near fall and with riding time won by major decision with a score of 17-6.

Next up for Hickman on Friday morning will be Colton Salazar of Purdue in round two of consolations.

At 174 Dessino lost to fourth-seeded Colby Covington of Oregon State in his first match of the day, 18-6. Covington, 21-1 on the season, scored four first period takedowns as he jumped out to an 8-3 lead after one period. In the second period Covington had an escape and two takedowns as he moved out to a 13-4 lead through the end of two periods. In the third period, Covington had two more escapes and a point for riding time in getting the 18-6 win.

Dessino then took on Mark Fullowan of Franklin and Marshall in the first round of consolations. After a first period with no scoring, Dessino chose bottom to start and was able to escape to get the first point of the match.

After the remainder of the second period was scoreless, Fullowan chose bottom to start. However, Dessino was able to keep Fullowan from getting the escape despite several attempts by the wrestler from F & M to stand up and break the hold. Dessino went on to add one point for riding time in winning 2-0.

Dessino will face now Nick Heflin of Ohio State in round two of consolations on Friday.