PHILADELPHIA — West Virginia University fifth-year senior and Oak Glen High School graduate Peyton Hall lived up to his second-seed billing as he recorded two technical falls against Big Ten opponents on Thursday in the opening rounds of the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships at the Wells Fargo Center.

In the first round, the Big 12 165-pound champion scored a 19-1 technical fall over Wisconsin’s Cody Goebel, the 31st seed. In the second round, Hall continued with a 20-4 technical fall over Northwestern’s Maxx Mayfield.

Against Goebel (13-10), Hall had two takedowns and a nearfall to open up a 10-1 lead in the first period. He cruised from there.

It was more of the same against Mayfield (19-11). Hall had three takedowns in the first period to build a 9-2 advantage. Hall added two more takedowns in the second period to extend his lead to 17-3. The match was stopped at the 5:36 mark.

Hall is now 32-1 on the season with 14 technical falls. His overall West Virginia school best career record moved to 132-28.

Hall will meet No. 7 seed Hunter Garvin (21-6) of Stanford in the quarterfinal. The two faced off on Dec. 6 with Hall winning a 12-7 decision at the Cliff Keen Invitational.

The winner of that quarterfinal will meet the winner of Iowa No. 3 seed Mike Caliendo and Michigan No. 6 seed Beau Mantanona in the semifinal on Friday evening.

On the top half of the bracket, overwhelming favorite Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State will take on Oklahoma State No. 8 seed Cameron Amine. The winner of that match will meet the winner of Nebraska No. 12 seed Christopher Minto and Utah Valley No. 4 seed Terrell Barraclough in the other 165-pound semifinal.

Outside of Garvin, Hall has also faced Amine and Barraclough this season with Barraclough giving Hall his only loss.

Hall is chasing West Virginia’s first national championship since 2005.