SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Getting slotted with one of the toughest first-round opponents in the field, Newman wrestler Dustin Reed fell in a close match to start the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships Friday morning.

Reed went up against Indianapolis' Joshua Kieffer in the first round of the 125-pound bracket, dropping a 5-4 decision to the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the nation. The loss drops Reed to the consolation bracket, where he'll look to bounce back for a medal beginning with a match against Upper Iowa's Maleek Williams tonight back at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Kieffer, who fell 3-1 in sudden victory to Reed earlier this season at the Maryville Kaufman/Brand Open in November, got out to a quick lead in Friday's bout, grabbing the first takedown less than 15 seconds in. Reed escaped just over a minute later and countered a Kieffer shot for a takedown of his own with less than a minute left in the opening period to even the score at 3-3.

Kieffer escaped quickly to start the second period, and Reed got out early in the third to make it a 4-4 match, but Reed wasn't able to break through his takedown defense, and the UIndy grappler held on to grab the riding time point and seal up the win to move to the quarterfinals.

Reed takes on Williams in the first round of consolations tonight, which begins at 6 p.m. Should he win there, he'll face the loser of the quarterfinal between Pitt-Johnstown's Evan Link and Wisconsin-Parkside's Ronzel Darling later in the same session. If the junior wins both matches tonight, he secures All-America placement in the top eight and will be back in action Saturday morning.