The Big Red day opened with No. 2 Troy Nickerson facing off against Demetrius Johnson. The Cornell junior earned two quick points with a takedown. He was looking to score backpoints, but Johnston twisted out for an escape and earned a takedown of his own before Nickerson could retake his feet. The Big Red grappler immediately escaped and caught Johnson. Nickerson flipped the Moc wrestler on to his back and earned six team points with a pin in 2:32.
At 133 pounds, No. 12 Mike Grey dominated Josh Statum of Chattanooga. The Big Red wrestler notched eight takedowns on his way to a 20-6 major decision. With Grey's four points, the Big Red took a 10-0 lead.
The 141 pound bout featured Corey Manson taking on No. 9 Cody Cleveland. The two were scrambling each looking to earn the first points of the bout, but Cleveland came out on top to take a two point lead. Manson could not escape as time ran out in the first period. Manson was down on the mat in the second period and spun out to earn the escape. Cleveland used a double leg to capture Manson again and looked for back points, but Manson muscled away from the points. Cleveland cut him loose and earned another takedown to take a 6-2 lead. The Chattanooga wrestler grabbed another six points before the match was over to earn a 12-3 major decision.
Sophomore DJ Meagher faced Dan Waddell at 149 pounds. Waddell shot in at Meagher and the two scrambled until Meagher turned over his opponent for a takedown. Waddell quickly escaped, and shot at Meagher once more but the Big Red wrestler counted again and took a 4-1 lead with a takedown. The two were at a stalemate and returned to center mat. Meagher earned two quick back points and was looking for more as time ran out in the period. Meagher started the second in the down position, and spun out for a reversal. Waddell was awarded a point for a technical for Meagher locking his hands. Meagher let him up for an escape. Waddell started the third down on the mat and with an escape brought the score to 8-4. The Moc wrestler earned his first takedown of the match, but with an escape and 1:36 in riding time, Meagher won a 10-6 decision.
In the last bout of the first half, No. 5 Jordan Leen took on Joey Knox. Leen used a double leg to earn a takedown and rode his opponent out for the 1:40 remaining in the period. Knox chose to start the second down on the mat, and he earned his first point with an escape. Leen caught him right away to earn two more points to bring the score to 4-1 to end the second. The Big Red wrestler started the third down on the mat and quickly scrambled out to an escape. He earned another takedown, but cut his opponent loose looking for a major decision. Time ran out before he could score again, and with 3:24 in riding time, Leen won an 8-2 decision.
As the second half began, John Basting squared off against William Garvin. Garvin earned the only points of the first with a takedown. Basting escaped from his starting down position in the second and earned a takedown to take a 3-2 lead. Basting was on top, but Garvin shook him loose over his head to grab a reversal. The Big Red wrestler escaped before the period was over. Garvin chose to start the third down on the mat and earned an escape and another takedown. He let Basting loose and earned another takedown. With 2:32 in riding time, Garvin won a 10-5 decision.
At 174 pounds, No. 6 Steve Anceravage faced Jason McCrosky. Anceravage grabbed a quick lead with an early takedown. McCrosky came to his feet twice, but Anceravage threw him back to the mat each time before he finally escaped. As time was running out in the period, Anceravage spun around and earned another takedown over his opponent. The Big Red wrestler started the second period down on the mat and quickly escaped, almost earning a reversal, but McCrosky avoided his clutches for the time being. With time running out in the period, McCrosky earned a quick takedown bringing the match to 5-3. Anceravage cut his opponent loose from his starting down position in the third to put the score at 5-4. Neither wrestler scored in the last minute, and Anceravage walked away with a 5-4 decision.
Next up for Cornell was No. 16 Justin Kerber against Tyler Roberson at 184 pounds. Kerber grabbed his opponent around the waist the drug him to the mat for a two-point takedown. Roberson made it back to his feet and escaped away from Kerber. The Big Red wrestler earned two more points, grabbing Roberson by one leg and twisting him down to the mat. The Moc grappler made it to his feet again, but this time Kerber flung him back to the mat and racking up 1:25 in riding time in the first period. Kerber started the second period in the down position and quickly got to his feet for the escape and twisted around for a takedown. Kerber tilted Roberson towards his back and earned two quick backpoints for a 9-1 lead. The Big Red wrestler continued to work his opponent and grabbed his leg to turn him to his back for a three-point nearfall before the end of the period. Kerber had locked up riding time heading into the third period with 3:16. Roberson chose to start the third at neutral. Midway through the period, Roberson shot at Kerber, but the Big Red wrestler countered and spun around for two more points with a takedown. Kerber cut his opponent loose and earned another takedown for a 17-2 tech fall victory.
At 197 pounds, freshman Cam Simaz faced Ethan Winel. Right off the whistle the Moc wrestler shot at Simaz but the two scrambled to a stalemate. The wrestlers reached another stalemate before Simaz grabbed Winel's leg and swept him to the mat. Simaz titled his opponent for two quick backpoints before releasing him so he could take him down again for a 6-1 lead heading into the second. Simaz started the second down on the mat, but quickly got to his feet and worked his way to an escape. He looked to earn another takedown, but his opponent got off the mat before he could earn the points. At the neutral position, Simaz continued to work at his opponent but Winel evaded his clutches. Simaz pursued him until he earned another takedown and quickly let him go. The Big Red wrestler grabbed a leg and swept him to the mat yet again, and once again cut him loose. Simaz continued to use a leg sweep for another takedown to a 12-3 lead. Simaz cut Winel loose from his opening down position looking for more points, which he earned with less than 20 seconds off the clock to take an 18-5 advantage. Simaz racked up a bit more riding time before cutting his opponent loose, and circling again for a takedown. He would cut him loose once again with 49 seconds left, and grabbed his last takedown for a 23-8 win by technical fall in 6:35 to give Cornell a 29-7 lead going into the last match of the day.
At heavyweight, senior No. 12 ranked Zach Hammond faced Cody Sliger. Hammond earned the first points of the match with a double leg and got a takedown on the edge of the mat. The two returned to the center of the mat, where Sliger fought to his feet, but Hammond swept out his leg to return him to the mat. Hammond was looking to tilt his opponent by his arm for the remainder of the period, but was unable to secure the back points. Hammond chose to start the second period down on the mat, and after working his way to his feet, escaped to take a 3-0 lead. Hammond had secured riding time heading into the third period with 2:14. Sliger chose to start the third period at neutral, and Hammond shot off the whistle to a quick takedown. Sliger eventually escaped, but Hammond earned another takedown and with 2:48 in riding time, Hammond won an 8-1 decision.
The Big Red will continue road action next weekend as it travels to Columbia and Hofstra. The Big Red will be at Columbia on Sunday at 12 p.m. before traveling to Hofstra for a 5 p.m. dual. The Big Red's dual against Columbia marks the team's Ivy opener.
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