LA CROSSE, Wis. – Cornell sophomore 157-pounder Gabriel Smith posted a big comeback win in the consolation round Friday night and earned a spot on the all-America podium at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships inside the La Crosse Center.
 
Junior teammate Cael McLaren was one match short of a top-eight finish at 184 in his NCAA debut.
 
First-time qualifier Smith (27-9) advances to Saturday morning's Session III, which begins at 10 a.m. With a 2-1 opening day, Smith became Cornell's first NCAA all-American wrestler since 2018.
 
Smith charged back from an early 7-1 deficit to defeat Alvernia's Jason Rezac, 14-10, in the first round of consolations, which ultimately punched his ticket to Day 2. Smith scored two takedowns in each of the final two periods to complete the comeback.
 
Smith secured all-America status with a medical forfeit win over Millikin's No. 6 seed Nathan Callaway in the blood round. Smith recovered from a 14-6 first-round loss Friday morning to Stevens' No. 4 seed Ryan Smith.
 
Smith, who can still finish as high as third, resumes his path Saturday against Luther's No. 7 seed Clayton McDonough.
 
McLaren (22-9) upset two seeded opponents on the consolation side before falling 12-3 to No. 8 seed Jack Ryan of Oneonta State in an elimination match.
 
McLaren knocked out Wabash's No. 2 seed Charles Baczek, 4-1. He then survived an overtime battle with No. 7 seed Marcus Orlandoni of UW-La Crosse, scoring a takedown in the final seconds for a 4-1 sudden victory.
 
McLaren lost a preliminary round bout to Stevens' Joel Martsinovsky, 10-2.