Cornell Wrestling Earns Ninth-Straight Ivy League Title

Courtesy of Cornell Athletic Communications

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Big Red wrestling team won its ninth-straight Ivy League title on Saturday afternoon with a 40-9 victory over Harvard at the Malkin Athletic Center. Cornell won eight out of 10 bouts including pins by Mike Grey (133), Justin Kerber (165), Mack Lewnes (174) and Cam Simaz (197). The Big Red completes its Ancient Eight record with a perfect 5-0 mark, and Cornell finishes 13-1 overall.

At 125 pounds, No. 10 Frank Perrelli faced Steven Keith. After a scoreless first period, Keith held a 2-1 advantage after scoring two back points. Perrelli notched a takedown in the third period to send the bout into overtime. Neither wrestler scored in sudden victory. In the second tiebreakers, Keith escaped from his opening down position for a point that would win the bout, 4-3.

At 133 pounds, No. 5 Grey held a 5-0 lead with a takedown and three back points before he pinned Fermin Mendez in 1:50.

Senior Corey Manson won by forfeit at 141 pounds for Cornell.

No. 2 Dake faced Joe Marino at 149 pounds. Dake immediately took down his opponent off the whistle and added two quick back points in the first period. Marino chose to start the second at neutral, and Dake added two more takedowns in the period. Dake reversed his opponent to start the third and with 4:48 in riding time won an 11-1 major decision.

After a scoreless first period at 157 pounds, No. 11 DJ Meagher was awarded a point in the second period when No. 6 Walter Peppelman locked his hands. Peppelman chose to start the third period down and escaped. Peppelman took down Meagher late in the period and turned him to win by fall in 6:30.

At 165 pounds, No. 4 Kerber quickly took down Erik Gobbo. The Big Red wrestler immediately worked to turn him and won by fall in 53 seconds.

No. 3 Lewnes wrestled Ian Roy at 174 pounds. Lewnes took a 5-0 advantage into the second period with a takedown and three back points. Lewnes escaped to open the second period. The Big Red senior took down Roy and pinned him in 4:18.

At 184 pounds, freshman Michael Alexnder faced Cameron Croy. Alexander took down Croy in the first period, but his opponent escaped. Croy took down Alexander in the second period, but the Cornell rookie escaped to be down by one. Alexander quickly escaped to open the third period to tie the match at 4-4. With 45 seconds left in the match, Alexander took down Croy to win a 6-4 decision.

No. 1 ranked Simaz earned two takedowns against Bryan Panzano before there was 20 seconds off the clock in the first period. Simaz added another takedown before pinning his opponent in 44 seconds.

At heavyweight, Stryker Lane and Andrew Knapp were scoreless after the first period. Knapp chose down to start the second period, but was unable to escape. Lane quickly escaped to start the third period. Lane took down Knapp, and with 2:13 in riding time won a 4-0 decision.

The Ivy wrestling squads will return to action March 5-6 for the EIWA Tournament at Bucknell University.

Match-By-Match Results
125: Steven Keith (Harvard) dec. No. 10 Frank Perrelli, 4-3 TB2
133: No. Mike Grey (Cornell) win by fall Fermin Mendez, 1:50
141: Corey Manson (Cornell) win by forfeit
149: No. 2 Kyle Dake (Cornell) maj. dec. Joe Marino, 11-1
157: No. 6 Walter Peppelman (Harvard) win by fall No. 11 DJ Meagher, 6:30
165: No. 4 Justin Kerber (Cornell) win by fall Erik Gobbo, 0:53
174: No. 3 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) win by fall Ian Roy, 4:18
184: Michael Alexander (Cornell) dec. Cameron Croy, 6-4
197: No. 1 Cam Simaz (Cornell) win by fall Bryan Panzano, 0:44
HWT: Stryker Lane (Cornell) dec. Andrew Knapp, 4-0