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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - East Stroudsburg University redshirt junior Brendan McKeown (174) earned All-America status and will continue through the consolation bracket on Saturday after the first day of action at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

Redshirt junior Braden Turner (157) and freshman Tyson Searer (197) dropped both of their matches on Friday to bow out of the tournament. Turner was a returning All-American and Searer reached the NCAA's in his first season of collegiate competition.

McKeown, the Super Region 1 Outstanding Wrestler and ranked No. 4 in DII at 174, ran his winning streak to 17 matches with a 12-6 decision over Jacob Cramer (Tiffin), a two-time national qualifier, in the opening round.

He ran into No. 8-ranked Blake Sorensen (Upper Iowa) in the quarterfinals, dropping a 10-5 decision, his first loss since an injury default against Pitt-Johnstown on December 4.

McKeown, a returning national qualifier, locked down his first career All-America recognition with a 12-2 major decision over Zach Benzio (Seton Hill), also from Super Region 1, in the second round of consolations.

He will take on Ray Hall (Colorado-Pueblo) the consolation quarterfinals on Saturday morning. He is guaranteed a spot in the top eight in the nation and will enter the final day of the championships with a 22-2 record.

Turner, a returning All-American, lost his opening round match-up with No. 2-ranked Clint Poster (St. Cloud State) by a 4-0 decision.  He lost a 3-2 decision to Chase White (Nebraska-Kearney) in the consolations and finishes the year with a record of 20-8.

Searer had a difficult draw, facing two nationally-ranked wrestlers. He lost a 10-1 major decision to No. 8 Romero Cotton (Nebraska-Kearney) in the opening round, and was pinned in the first period by No. 2 Carl Broghammer (Upper Iowa) in the consolations. Broghammer was the third-place finisher in 2011 but was upset by No. 7 Znick Ferrell (Central Oklahoma) with a 3-1 decision in the first round.

McKeown is ESU's fourth All-American in the Warriors' four years in Division II, following Shane Mallory (184-2010), Turner and Ed Ebewo (197-2012).

The third session on Saturday morning begins at 11 a.m. ET.


157 - Braden Turner (20-8)
1st Round - #2 Clint Poster (St. Cloud State) dec. Turner, 4-0
Cons. 1st Round - Chase White (Nebraska-Kearney) dec. Turner, 3-2

174 - #4 Brendan McKeown (22-2) (All-American)
1st Round - McKeown dec. Jacob Cramer (Tiffin), 12-6
Quarters - #8 Blake Sorensen (Upper Iowa) dec. McKeown, 10-5
Cons. 2nd Round - McKeown maj. dec. Zach Benzio (Seton Hill), 12-2
Cons. Quarters - Ray Hall (Colorado-Pueblo)

197 - Tyson Searer (18-11)
1st Round - #8 Romero Cotton (Nebraska-Kearney) maj. dec. Searer, 10-1
Cons. 1st Round - #2 Carl Broghammer (Upper Iowa) pinned Searer, 1:29