Scott Casber
Founder/Host
Takedown Wrestling Radio and TV
USA Wrestling Weekly
515-707-8657

Scott Casber
Founder/Host
Takedown Wrestling Radio and TV
USA Wrestling Weekly
515-707-8657

ITHACA, N.Y.—The No. 5 Big Red wrestling team won seven out of 10 bouts en route to a 24-12 victory over No. 8 Lehigh on Sunday afternoon in Newman Arena. In the premier match of the day at 184 pounds, No. 4 Steve Bosakdefeated No. 1 ranked Robert Hamlin, 2-1. Cornell’s 12 point margin of victory was its largest over Lehigh since 1930 when the Big Red defeated the Mountain Hawks, 20-6. Cornell improves to 2-0 (1-0 EIWA) in dual action this season, while Lehigh moves to 5-4 (1-1 EIWA).

The dual began at 125 pounds where freshman Bricker Dixon took on Alex Abreu. Dixon wasted no time putting points on the board with a takedown with only three seconds off the clock. The Big Red freshman rode his opponent out for the remainder of the period. Dixon chose to start the second period down on the mat and quickly escaped. With 45 seconds left in the period, Dixon added another takedown. Dixon later chose an optional start looking to score more points, but Abreu evaded him. Abreu chose to start the third period at neutral and neither wrestler scored again. With 3:06 in riding time, Dixon won a 6-1 decision in his first dual for the Big Red.

At 133 pounds, senior Frank Perrelli moved up a weight class to face Mason Beckman. Sixth-ranked at 125 pounds, Perrelli quickly took the lead with a takedown with 12 seconds off the clock. The Big Red wrestler notched 1:01 in riding time before Beckman escaped. Beckman grabbed a takedown of his own 12 seconds later to take a 3-2 lead. Perrelli immediately escaped from his opening down position to start the second period, tying the bout at 3-3. Beckman notched another takedown, from which Perrelli would escape before the period was over. Beckman chose to start the third period at neutral. Perrelli had a little less than a minute of riding time before action resumed. With 1:27 left on the clock, Perrelli grabbed the lead with a takedown. Beckman would escape, but with 1:30 in riding time, Perrelli won a 7-6 decision.

In the dual’s first faceoff of two nationally ranked wrestlers, No. 19 Mike Nevinger took on No. 13 Steve Dutton at 141 pounds. With 1:16 left in the first period, Nevinger took a 2-0 lead with a takedown and rode his opponent out for the remainder of the first period. Nevinger chose top to start the second period. He worked the entire two minutes for back points, but was unable to secure the tilt. After failing to escape Nevinger for over three minutes of riding time, Dutton chose neutral to start the third period. With 33 seconds left in the bout, Dutton tied the match with a takedown. Nevinger nearly had a reversal at the end of the bout, but settled for a one point escape. With 2:42 in riding time, Nevinger won a 4-2 decision.

At 149 pounds, Chris Villalonga faced Anthony Salupo. Salupo held a 2-1 lead after the first period with a takedown, from which Villalonga escaped. Salupo chose to start the second period at neutral, but neither wrestler was able to score. Villalonga got a quick escape from his opening down position to start the third, tying the bout at 2-2. With neither wrestler having a determining riding time advantage, the match looked to be heading to sudden victory. But with 17 seconds left in the bout, Villalonga notched a takedown to win a 4-2 decision.

Top ranked Kyle Dake squared off against Brian Tanen at 157 pounds. Dake held a 13-0 lead after the first period with a takedown and four nearfalls. Tanen chose top to start the second period. Dake quickly escaped and with one more takedown, the two-time NCAA champion won 16-0 by technical fall in 3:45.

Cornell held a 17-0 lead heading into the half-time break.

At 165 pounds, Marshall Peppelman and Sean Bilodeau were scoreless after the first period. Bilodeau chose to start the second period down and earned the only point with an escape. Peppelman quickly escaped from his opening down position to start the third period to tie the bout at 1-1. Neither wrestler scored again in regulation to send the match into sudden victory. With only two seconds left in sudden victory, Bilodeau earned a takedown to win a 3-1 decision.

Freshman Billy George and Nate Brown were scoreless after the first period at 174 pounds. George chose down to start the second period, but he was unable to escape. Brown chose down to start the third period, but he was unable to escape as well. With a 0-0 deadlock after seven minutes, the bout went into sudden victory. With six seconds left in sudden victory, Brown notched a takedown to win a 2-0 decision.

In the highly anticipated bout at 184 pounds, junior Bosak and Hamlin were scoreless after the first period. Hamlin chose to start the second down, but was unable to escape until there were only 10 seconds left in the period. Bosak chose to start the third down, but Hamlin opted for an optional start tying the bout at 1-1. The two wrestlers traded shots back and forth, but neither wrestler was able to score. With 1:50 in riding time, Bosak won a 2-1 decision over the top ranked wrestler.

At 197 pounds, No. 1 Cam Simaz took on Kadeem Samuels. With only 13 seconds off the clock, Samuels took a quick lead with a takedown. Simaz would escape and earn a takedown of his own midway through the period. Simaz added three more points with a nearfall to take a 6-2 lead into the second period. Simaz chose down to start the second period, but Samuels chose an optional start looking to score. Neither wrestler was able to score for the remainder of the period, and Simaz held a 7-2 advantage. Samuels chose to start the third period at neutral. With 20 seconds left in the bout, Simaz grabbed another takedown. With 1:47 in riding time, the Big Red senior won a 10-2 major decision.

At heavyweight, Maciej Jochym took the mat against No. 2 Zach Rey. Jochym and the returning NCAA champion were scoreless after the first period. Rey quickly escaped to start the second period. He caught Jochym for the takedown and quickly turned him to his back. Rey won by fall in 3:46.

The Big Red will open Ivy action next weekend as it travels to Penn and Princeton Saturday afternoon. Cornell will then make the quick trip to Binghamton on Sunday for a 5 p.m. bout.

No. 5 Cornell 24, No. 8 Lehigh 12
125: Bricker Dixon (Cornell) dec.  Alex Abreu (Lehigh), 6-1 (Cornell 3, Lehigh 0)
133: No. 6 Frank Perrelli (Cornell) dec. Mason Beckman (Lehigh), 7-6 (Cornell 6, Lehigh 0)
141: No. 19 Mike Nevinger (Cornell) dec. No. 13 Steve Dutton (Lehigh),  4-2 (Cornell 9, Lehigh 0)
149: Chris Villalonga (Cornell) dec. Anthony Salupo (Lehigh), 4-2 (Cornell 12, Lehigh 0)
157: No. 1 Kyle Dake (Cornell) tech fall Brian Tanen (Lehigh), 16-0 (3:45) (Cornell 17, Lehigh 0)
165: Sean Bilodeau (Lehigh) dec. Marshall Peppelman (Cornell), 3-1 SV (Cornell 17, Lehigh 3)
174: Nate Brown (Lehigh) dec. Billy George (Cornell), 2-0 SV (Cornell 17, Lehigh 6)
184: No. 4 Steve Bosak (Cornell) dec. No. 1 Robert Hamlin (Lehigh), 2-1 (Cornell 20, Lehigh 6)
197: No. 1 Cam Simaz (Cornell) maj. dec. Kadeem Samuels (Lehigh), 10-2 (Cornell 24, Lehigh 6)
HWT: No. 2 Zach Rey (Lehigh) win by fall Maciej Jochym, 3:46 (Cornell 24, Lehigh 12)

Scott Casber
Founder/Host
Takedown Wrestling Radio and TV
USA Wrestling Weekly
515-707-8657