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    Cornell takes early control of Ivy League, downs Penn

    PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Big Red wrestling team put itself in the driver's seat in the race for the Ivy League title this afternoon when it beat the 22nd-ranked Penn Quakers 20-12 at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Pa. Cornell won six of the 10 bouts, including a technical fall by senior tri-captain Dustin Manotti at 157 pounds. The Big Red is now 6-4 overall and 2-0 in the Ivy League, while Penn falls to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in the league.

    The match started at 125 where freshman Troy Nickerson squeezed out a tough 8-7 win over No. 18 Mike Silengo. Down 6-5 heading into the third, Nickerson chose down to start the final period and quickly scored a reversal. He was then hit with a penalty point, evening the match at 7-7 as time expired. With over one minute of riding time, Nickerson took the 8-7 win.

    The Quakers then claimed the lead as No. 10 Matt Valenti defeated No. 14 Mike Mormile, 4-0, at 133 pounds and Cesar Grajales held off Matt Easter, 6-4 at 141 pounds. Penn's Matt Dragon extended the Quaker advantage when he recorded a 6-2 decision over Keith Dickey in the 149 pound bout.

    At 157 pounds, senior tri-captain Dustin Manotti, ranked No. 5, got the Big Red back on the winning track, dominating No. 20 Gene Zanetti for a 21-6 technical fall. Manotti went up 6-2 after one period with three takedowns. The second period continued Manotti's assault, with two takedowns and a three-point near fall. Manotti chose down to start the third, escaped and finished off the technical fall.

    No. 13 Steve Anceravage continued Cornell's winning ways at 165 pounds as he defeated Lior Zamir, 8-3. Leading 3-1 to start the third period, the Cornell junior scored a takedown and a two-point near fall in the third. After the near fall, Anceravage accrued 1:13 of riding time, making the final 8-3.

    At 174 pounds, senior Dan Miracola dropped a tough 6-5 decision to No. 20 Matt Herrington. Starting the third up 4-3 and in the top position, Miracola gave up an escape to Herrington to even the match and then was taken down. He then escaped to pull within one point and took multiple shots in the final 20 seconds of the match but was unable to score the takedown.

    Senior Joe Mazzurco, ranked No. 3, took the 184 pound match, 3-2 over a tough Dustin Wiles. A first period takedown and a second period escape proved to be the difference in the match for Mazzurco.

    Junior Jerry Rinaldi (No. 7) followed that up with a 4-1 win over Paul Veleki. Starting the third period scoreless, Rinaldi chose down and escaped to take the 1-0 lead and then scored a takedown to go up 3-0. Veleki escaped with 19 seconds to go, but could not score again, as Rinaldi got the riding time point, winning 4-1.

    Heavyweight Zach Hammond finished out the match with a big 10-3 win over Jayson Bowlsby. Hammond had a 5-2 lead after two periods and had two takedowns and the riding time point to push the final to 10-3.

    The Big Red will be in action again tomorrow when it takes on Princeton at 1 p.m., and Rider at 5 p.m.

    No. 14 Cornell at No. 22 Penn

    125: No. 5 Troy Nickerson (C) dec. No. 18 Mike Silengo (P), 8-7
    133: No. 10 Matt Valenti (P) dec. No. 14 Mike Mormile (C), 4-0
    141: Cesar Grajales (P) dec. Matt Easter (C), 6-4
    149: Matt Dragon (P) dec. Keith Dickey (C), 6-2
    157: No. 5 Dustin Manotti (C) dec. No. 20 Gene Zanetti (P), TF: 21-6
    165: No. 13 Steve Anceravage (C) dec. Lior Zamir (P), 8-3
    174: No. 20 Matt Herrington (P) dec. Dan Miracola (C), 6-5
    184: No. 3 Joe Mazzurco (C) dec. Dustin Wiles (P), 3-2
    197: No. 7 Jerry Rinaldi (C) dec. Paul Veleki (P), 4-1
    285: Zach Hammond (C) dec. Jack Sullivan (P), 10-3

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