CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- If there is one Cornell wrestler who understands the importance of team depth, it's 125-pounder Frank Perrelli.
Perrelli was stuck behind four-time All-American Troy Nickerson for the first three years of his college career and performed well when called upon. This season, with Nickerson gone, Perrelli has become the full-time starter and leader for the Big Red.
Frank Perrelli (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)"There are just so many guys that are so good on our team," said Perrelli. "Every once in a while you get a shot to show it off. Now the whole country knows how deep Cornell really is."
It was Perrelli who ignited the Big Red against Virginia Tech by defeating Jarrod Garnett, 7-5 in overtime (tiebreaker), to kick off the dual.
"He beat me earlier this season in Vegas," said Perrelli. "I knew what the game plan was. I just stuck to it and gutted it out at the end. It was big for momentum, just getting it started early."
Cornell 25, Virginia Tech 10
125: No. 15 Frank Perelli (C) dec. No. 11 Jarrod Garnett (VT), 7-5 (TB1)
133: No. 8 Devin Carter (VT) maj. dec. Joe Stanzione (C), 17-7
141: Corey Manson (C) dec. No. 5 Chris Diaz (VT), 6-4
149: No. 2 Kyle Dake (C) maj. dec. No. 9 Brian Stephens (VT), 10-0
157: No. 5 Jesse Dong (VT) dec. No. 10 D.J. Meagher (C), 5-2
165: No. 3 Justin Kerber (C) dec. No. 14 Pete Yates (VT), 6-4 (SV), 6-4
174: No. 3 Mack Lewnes (C) pinned Matt Epperly (VT), 6:20
184: No. 4 Steve Bosak (C) dec. No. 16 Tommy Spellman (VT), 4-1
197: Maciej Jochym (C) dec. Chris Penny (VT), 12-8
285: David Marone (VT) dec. Oney Snyder (C), 5-1
At 133 pounds, freshman Devin Carter, who is ranked eighth, put Virginia Tech back on top with a dominating 17-7 victory over Joe Stanzione.
125: No. 15 Frank Perelli (C) dec. No. 11 Jarrod Garnett (VT), 7-5 (TB1)
133: No. 8 Devin Carter (VT) maj. dec. Joe Stanzione (C), 17-7
141: Corey Manson (C) dec. No. 5 Chris Diaz (VT), 6-4
149: No. 2 Kyle Dake (C) maj. dec. No. 9 Brian Stephens (VT), 10-0
157: No. 5 Jesse Dong (VT) dec. No. 10 D.J. Meagher (C), 5-2
165: No. 3 Justin Kerber (C) dec. No. 14 Pete Yates (VT), 6-4 (SV), 6-4
174: No. 3 Mack Lewnes (C) pinned Matt Epperly (VT), 6:20
184: No. 4 Steve Bosak (C) dec. No. 16 Tommy Spellman (VT), 4-1
197: Maciej Jochym (C) dec. Chris Penny (VT), 12-8
285: David Marone (VT) dec. Oney Snyder (C), 5-1
"He's physically really strong for a freshman," Virginia Tech coach Kevin Dresser said of Carter. "He's real unorthodox and he works his tail off. He trains 12 months a year and lives and breathes it. Usually what you put into wrestling, you get on the mat. He's proof of that."
Cornell picked up a crucial win at 141 pounds as Corey Manson upset fifth-ranked Chris Diaz, 6-4, to put Cornell back on top.
"He has had two shoulder surgeries, a knee surgery," said Cornell coach Rob Koll of Manson. "He has given his heart and soul to the Cornell program the last five years. He's going to medical school next year. He's the heart and soul. Those are the kinds of kids I like to think are typical of our program."
NCAA champion Kyle Dake kept it rolling for the Big Red as he picked up a major decision, 10-0, over No. 9 Brian Stephens at 149 pounds.
Virginia Tech's fifth-ranked Jesse Dong defeated 10th-ranked D.J. Meagher at 157 pounds to cut the deficit to 10-7. But Cornell then took control in the upperweights, winning the next four weights to seal the deal.
At 165 pounds, No. 3 Justin Kerber picked up a 6-4 decision in overtime over No. 14 Pete Yates. No. 2 Mack Lewnes pinned Matt Epperly at 174 pounds. At 184 pounds, No. 4 Steve Bosak won 4-1 over No. 16 Tommy Spellman. Maciej Jochym, who was filling in for top-ranked Cam Simaz, earned a 12-8 decision over Chris Penny at 197 pounds. Virginia Tech's David Marone stopped the Cornell run with a 3-1 victory over Oney Snyder, but it was too little too late as Cornell won 25-10.
Despite the loss, Dresser was pleased with the overall weekend performance of Virginia Tech.
"We made some strides and competed well until the finals," said Dresser. "We obviously didn't compete well in the finals. We should have won at 125. We should have won at 141. We could have pulled a slight upset at 165. We didn't get it done. When you wrestle a team like Cornell, you can't miss on those three opportunities. You win those three matches and it's a whole different ballgame. Up until today, we were winning those close matches. That's how we beat Oklahoma State. We lost some close matches this morning to Wisconsin that we shouldn't have. Overall, I'm pleased with the weekend, but not pleased with the day. It's something to build on."
Cornell will now get ready to wrestle at Lehigh on Jan. 20.
According to Perrelli, Grey, who has been out all season, is eager to compete again.
"He's definitely itching to get out there," said Perrelli, who was a high school teammate of Grey at the Delbarton School in New Jersey. "He was working out here earlier this morning to get ready. Even though he's out, he's contributing on the bench. He's keeping us motivated. Same thing with practice. He's working out with us. He can't do the same things that everyone else is doing yet, but he's right there with us and putting in the hard work. We're all doing it together."
Koll says senior leadership will be a key ingredient for Cornell to finish on top in March.
"We have a lot of senior leadership this year," said Koll. "We're going to have to count on some of these guys like Perrelli and Manson if we're going to come back and win a national championship."
Wisconsin defeats Minnesota to finish third
Wisconsin 19, Minnesota 17
125: No. 6 Zach Sanders (M) maj. dec. Tom Kelliher (W), 12-4
133: No. 3 Tyler Graff (W) dec. David Thorn (M), 7-3
141: No. 2 Mike Thorn (M) pinned Daniel Arnel (W), 4:31
149: No. 10 Cole Schmitt (W) dec. Danny Zilverberg (M), 7-0
157: Shawn Perry (W) maj. dec. Alec Ortiz (M), 11-2
165: No. 2 Andrew Howe (W) dec. No. 7 Cody Yohn (M), 8-3
174: No. 8 Scott Glasser (M) maj. dec. Charles York (W), 15-5
184: No. 5 Travis Rutt (W) dec. No. 7 Kevin Steinhaus (M), 3-2
197: Derrick Borlie (W) dec. Joe Nord (M), 8-2
285: No. 9 Tony Nelson (M) dec. No. 18 Eric Bugenhagen (W), 2-1
Wisconsin bounced back from a semifinal loss to Virginia Tech to edge Minnesota, 19-17, and finish third.
125: No. 6 Zach Sanders (M) maj. dec. Tom Kelliher (W), 12-4
133: No. 3 Tyler Graff (W) dec. David Thorn (M), 7-3
141: No. 2 Mike Thorn (M) pinned Daniel Arnel (W), 4:31
149: No. 10 Cole Schmitt (W) dec. Danny Zilverberg (M), 7-0
157: Shawn Perry (W) maj. dec. Alec Ortiz (M), 11-2
165: No. 2 Andrew Howe (W) dec. No. 7 Cody Yohn (M), 8-3
174: No. 8 Scott Glasser (M) maj. dec. Charles York (W), 15-5
184: No. 5 Travis Rutt (W) dec. No. 7 Kevin Steinhaus (M), 3-2
197: Derrick Borlie (W) dec. Joe Nord (M), 8-2
285: No. 9 Tony Nelson (M) dec. No. 18 Eric Bugenhagen (W), 2-1
Minnesota jumped out to a 10-3 lead that was fueled by a Zach Sanders major decision at 125 pounds and a Mike Thorn pin at 141 pounds. But the Badgers won five of the remaining seven matches to take the dual.
"It was a good effort," said Wisconsin coach Barry Davis. "When you're missing two guys in your lineup and you come in and take a bronze medal, that's a pretty good job."
Davis was pleased with the performance of redshirt freshman Derrick Borlie, who was filling in for the injured Trevor Brandvold at 197 pounds.
"He went 4-0 on the weekend," Davis said of Borlie. "He did a great job. He has a lot of confidence."
Wisconsin hosts Illinois on Sunday. Minnesota hosts Indiana on Friday and travels to Ames, Iowa to wrestle Iowa State on Sunday.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now