Updated Brackets

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Fighting Illini wrestling team began the 2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships with a solid first session. With its full lineup competing, Illinois finished the opening round with six wins. Isaiah Martinez and Zane Richards scored bonus points for the team, while Jesse Delgado, Jackson Morse, Zac Brunson and Jeff Koepke remain alive in the championship bracket.

Despite being the two-time defending NCAA champion at 125 pounds, Delgado entered the weekend without a seed. He didn't let that bother him as he came out and took a 3-2 decision from No. 8 Tyler Cox (WYO), 3-2, in his first match. Delgado is slated to face David Terao (AMER), another unseeded grappler, in the second round.

No. 5 Richards got the Illini off to a 2-0 start, using a late third-period flurry to grab a 12-2 major decision over Jack Hathaway (ORST) in his opening bout at 133 pounds. Richards will battle George DiCamillo (UVA) in session two.

No. 1 Martinez opened his run toward the 157-pound national title with an 18-2 technical fall over Russell Parsons (ARMY). The technical fall is the 11th of the season for Martinez, tops in NCAA Division I. He will face Spartak Chino (OHIO) in the second round.

No. 9 Morse began his weekend with a 5-3 decision over Connor Brennan (RID) in the 165-pound weight class. He will take on No. 8 Peyton Walsh (NAVY) when action resumes this evening.

No. 11 Brunson gave the Illini their fifth win of the opening session, upending Ryan Wolfe (RID) at 174 pounds. He will face Logan Storley (MINN) this evening. He will be seeking his first win against Storley after falling to him twice earlier this season.

Koepke gave Illinois its sixth and final win of the first session when he took down No. 16 Elliot Riddick (LEH) in the 197-pound opener. Koepke has a tall task this evening as he is scheduled to face No. 1 J'Den Cox (MIZZ), the defending champion at 197 pounds, when action resumes this evening.

Steven Rodrigues, Kyle Langenderger, Nikko Reyes and Brooks Black each entered the tournament unseeded, and each of them fell to a seeded wrestler in the opening session. They will compete in wrestlebacks this evening with eyes on a run to the podium.

After the opening session, the Illini are 10th in the team standings with 8.5 points. Session II of the NCAA Wrestling Championships will begin this evening at 6 p.m. CT. All 10 Illini will wrestle in the session.