No. 1 Wrestling Advances to National Duals Finals with 20-16 Win over Minnesota

BINGHAMTON, N.Y.—The No. 5 Cornell wrestling team defeated No. 24 Binghamton in a 22-21 nail biter that came down to criteria for the win. The dual was tied at 21-21 after 10 matches with each team winning five bouts apiece. Each team also had a pin and a technical fall, but Cornell came away with the win after scoring more points in individual matches than Binghamton. The Big Red remains undefeated with a 5-0 record. Kyle Dake won by fall after moving up to 165 pounds, while Cam Simazpicked up a win by technical fall.At 125 pounds, Frank Perrelliled 4-0 after the first period after notching a takedown and two back points. Steeley started the second period down on the mat and Perrelli let him up looking to score. The Big Red wrestler increased his lead to 8-4 before the end of the period. Perrelli chose neutral to start the third and grabbed another takedown. He cut Steeley loose and would score one more takedown. With 3:52 in riding time, Perrelli won a 13-6 decision.Freshman Nick Pena faced Patrick Hunter at 133 pounds. Hunter earned a quick takedown early in the first and caught Pena nearly pinning him. Pena worked relentlessly to move back to the mat, and succeeded, only allowing Hunter three nearfall points. Pena’s hard work paid off helping Cornell to win the dual on criteria. The two wrestlers traded reversals in the second period to bring the score to 7-3. Pena started the third period down. He would escape, but Hunter would take him back down. Pena reversed his opponent and racked up 1:01 in riding time. Pena let his opponent up looking to score, but time ran out and Hunter came away with a 10-7 decision.

At 141 pounds, No. 15 Mike Nevinger and Joe Bonaldi were scoreless after the first period. Nevinger escaped from his opening down position in the second and added two more points with a takedown. Bondaldi chose to start the third from neutral. Nevinger used a front headlock and spun around to score a takedown. He would earn three points with a nearfall. With 1:19 in riding time, Nevinger won a 9-2 decision.

At 149 pounds, No. 4 Donnie Vinson racked up takedowns and nearfalls on his way to a 15-0 technical fall over Chris Villalonga.
Craig Eifert took on No. 8 Justin Lister at 157 pounds. Lister earned a takedown and added two quick back points before Eifert returned to the mat. Lister turned the Big Red wrestler again and won by fall in 2:48.

At 165 pounds, No. 1 ranked Kyle Dake moved up from his usual 157 pounds. Dake faced Binghamton’s Joe Charnish. Dake worked relentlessly to try and turn his opponent, but he could not get Charnish up off the mat. Charnish would be hit with numerous stalling calls before Dake was able to turn him and win by fall in 6:23.

At 174 pounds, Matt Kaylor defeated Cornell’s Marshall Peppelman, 8-4.

No. 3 Steve Bosak hit the mat at 184 pounds, knowing he needed to score bonus points for Cornell. Heading into the bout, the Big Red was behind 17-12. Bosak muscled his way to an 8-0 major decision to bring Cornell within a point.

At 197 pounds, No. 1 Cam Simaz demonstrated numerous ways to take down an opponent on his way to a 23-8 technical fall. Simaz was able to notch the five vital team points after scoring a nearfall towards the end of the third period.

Senior Maciej Jochym took on No. 20 Nick Gwiazdowski at heavyweight. Gwiazdowski defeated Jochym by a 14-3 major decision to tie the team score at 21-21.

Cornell ended up with the victory after scoring 80 points in individual matches to Binghamton’s 71.

Cornell will return home next weekend to continue Ivy action. The Big Red will take on Harvard on Friday, before facing off against Brown on Saturday afternoon. Cornell will also play host to the New York State Intercollegiate championships on Saturday and Sunday.

No. 5 Cornell 22, No. 24 Binghamton 21
125: Frank Perrelli (Cornell) dec. Derek Steeley, 13-6 (Cornell, 3-0)
133: Patrick Hunter (Binghamton) dec. Nick Pena, 10-7 (Tied, 3-3)
141: No. 15 Mike Nevinger (Cornell) dec. Joe Bonaldi, 9-2, (Cornell, 6-3)
149: Donnie Vinson (Binghamton) tech fall Chris Villalonga, 15-0, (Binghamton 8-6)
157: No. 8 Justin Lister (Binghamton) win by fall Craig Eifert, 1:48, (Binghamton, 14-6)
165: No. 1 Kyle Dake (Cornell) win by fall Joe Charnish, 6:23, (Binghamton, 14-12)
174: Matt Kaylor (Binghamton) dec. Marshall Peppelman, 8-4, (Binghamton, 17-12)
184: No. 3 Steve Bosak (Cornell) maj. dec. Nate Schiedel, 8-0 (Binghamton, 17-16)
197: No. 1 Cam Simaz (Cornell) tech fall Cody Reed, 23-8 (Cornell, 21-17)
HWT: No. 20 Nick Gwiazdowski (Binghamton) maj. dec. Maciej Jochym, 15-3 (Cornell, 21-21)

Source:  Cornell Wrestling