Red-shirt freshman Pat Rhoads notched the first win of the University of Iowa wrestle-offs Thursday at the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

Rhoads scored six takedowns in a 15-6 win over Jake Kadel at 149 pounds. Rhoads will wrestle former Cedar Falls state champ Mike Kelly, who was the 149-pound starter last season for the Hawkeyes, who finished third in both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in 2012.

Wrestle-offs continue Friday at 4:30 p.m. They conclude Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with doors opening at 7 a.m.

Iowa begins the season next Friday with duals against UT-Chattanooga, Cumberland (Tenn.) and University of Virginia at UTC.

Read the official news release from the UI Sports Information Office:

IOWA WRESTLING

RHOADS OPENS WRESTLE-OFFS WITH 15-6 WIN

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa 149-pound redshirt freshman Patrick Rhoads scored a 15-6 major decision over redshirt freshman Jake Kadel on Thursday in the opening round of the 2012 wrestle-offs.

Rhoads totaled six takedowns, opened the second period with a reversal, and tacked on one point for riding time to earn the major decision. He’ll face sophomore Mike Kelly in the 149-pound semifinals tomorrow inside the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Friday’s competition is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.

2012 WRESTLE-OFFS

THURSDAY

149 – Patrick Rhoads major dec. Jake Kadel, 15-6

FRIDAY (4:30 p.m.)

125 – Matt McDonough vs. Matt Gurule

125 – Cory Clark vs. Thomas Gilman

141 – Mark Ballweg vs. Connor Ryan

141 – Josh Dziewa vs. Ethan Owens

149 – Michael Kelly vs. Patrick Rhoads

149 – Brody Grothus vs. Joe DuCharme

165 – Nick Moore vs. Walt Gilmor

184 – Ethen Lofthouse vs. Alex Meyer

184 – Jeremy Fahler vs. Sammy Brooks

SATURDAY (8:30 a.m.)

125 – McDonough/Gurule vs. Clark/Gilman

133 – Tony Ramos vs. Topher Carton

141 – Dziewa/Owens vs. Ballweg/Ryan

149 – Kelly/Rhoads vs. Grothus/DuCharme

165 – Mike Evans vs. Moore/DuCharme

174 – Grant Gambrall vs. Kris Klapprodt

184 – Lofthouse/Meyer vs. Fahler/Brooks

197 – Tomas Lira vs. Nathan Burak

285 – Bobby Telford vs. Artie Bess