Cornell saw Troy Nickerson (125), Jordan Leen (157), Mack Lewnes (165) and Cam Simaz (197) win individual titles. Nickerson won the Sheridan Award given to the wrestler that wins the most matches by fall in the fewest amount of time. Senior Steve Anceravage won the Fletcher Award for earning the most points during his career.
In the final at 125 pounds, Nickerson grabbed the first takedown of the night midway through the first period and rode his opponent out for the remainder. In the second, Nickerson chose down and with 30 seconds left in the period flipped around for a reversal to go up, 4-0. Peterkin started down in the third and Nickerson was working from the opening whistle to tilt his opponent. Peterkin earned his first points with a reversal halfway through the period. Nickerson grabbed the last point of the bout with an escape. Riding time was not a factor, and Nickerson earned his second EIWA championship with a 5-2 decision over the Penn wrestler. Nickerson is now 20-0 for the season.
Sophomore Mike Grey faced Navy's Joe Baker at 133 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Grey earned the first point of the match with an escape and earned a second point after Baker received his second stall warning. In the third period, Baker quickly escaped from his starting down position and took the lead with a takedown 20 seconds later. Grey tied the match back up with an escape. The two wrestlers were scrambling throughout the remainder of the match, and with 19 seconds left on the clock, Baker notched the championship winning takedown. Baker won a 5-3 decision.
In the finals at 157 pounds, senior Jordan Leen looked to avenge his early season loss to JP O'Connor. Leen won an 8-2 decision (more information to follow)
At 165 pounds, sophomore Mack Lewnes took a 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first period over Bucknell's Andy Rendos, and the Bucknell wrestler escaped. Rendos chose to start the second period down on the mat and tied the match with an escape. Lewnes started the third period down on the mat and flipped around for an immediate reversal. Rendos escaped and with 1:45 in riding time, Lewnes won a 5-3 decision. The title was Lewnes' second and qualifies him for his second NCAA tournament. The Big Red wrestler is undefeated and is a perfect 35-0 for the season.
In the finals for 174 pounds, senior Steve Anceravage faced the undefeated No. 1 seed Mike Cannon of American. Anceravage had a few scoring opportunities in the first, but Cannon continuously countered his shots. In the second period, Cannon escaped from his opening down position. Anceravage immediately rolled out of his starting down position to tie the match at 1-1. The bout went to sudden victory. The two traded scoring opportunities throughout, but Cannon pulled through with a takedown with five seconds left on the clock to win the title. Anceravage has qualified for his fourth NCAA tournament.
At 184 pounds, sophomore Justin Kerber faced No. 1 seeded David Craig of Lehigh. Craig took a 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first, and with a quick escape was up 3-0 after two. Kerber chose neutral in the third looking to score, but with 1:33 in riding time Craig won a 4-0 decision.
At 197 pounds, freshman Cam Simaz won the title after his opponent Richard Starks of Army forfeited due to medical reasons.
At 157, Leen squared off against Penn's Matt Dragon, the No. 3 seed. Leen took the lead with a takedown with a little less than a minute left on the clock. In the second period, Leen scored an acrobatic reversal to further his lead. Dragon earned his only point of the match with an escape. With 3:17 in riding time, Leen won a 5-1 decision to advance to the finals.
In the semifinals at 165, Lewnes took on the No. 4 seed, Rutgers' Matt Pletcher. Lewnes took his opponent down less than a minute into the match and after racking up a minute of riding time, cut him loose looking to score more points. Lewnes quickly grabbed him again and turned him to his back. The Big Red grappler notched his second fall of the weekend, pinning Pletcher in 6:25.
At 174, Steve Anceravage took on Penn's Scott Giffin in the semis. Anceravage notched a takedown 20 seconds in the first period. Giffin chose down to start the second period, and Anceravage cut him loose with a little more than a minute left. Anceravage quickly grabbed another takedown to go up, 4-1. The Big Red wrestler immediately escaped from his starting down position in the third and notched two more takedowns. Anceravage advanced to his fourth EIWA finals with a 10-2 major decision.
In a highlighted semifinal match, No. 3 seeded Justin Kerber faced the No. 2 seed Louis Caputo of Harvard. After a scoreless first period, Caputo took a one point lead with an opening escape. The Harvard wrestler countered a shot by Kerber to take a 3-0 lead with a takedown and rode out the period. Caputo notched 1:12 in riding time through the period. In the third Kerber exploded out of his opening down position for his first point. The Big Red wrestler brought the Cornell fans to their feet with a takedown to tie the match at 3-3 and rode out the period to depleat the riding time. The match went into sudden victory and Kerber was on fire with offensive action. The sophomore powered his way to a 5-3 upset victory to move on to his first EIWA finals and qualify for the NCAA tournament.
At 197 pounds, freshman Cam Simaz was in the semifinals against Penn's Thomas Shovlin. Simaz took a 2-0 lead with a takedown and was working to move his opponent on to his back. Shovlin took injury time and returned to the mat after his time ran out. Simaz was working to turn Shovlin to his back again, but the Penn wrestler had to call the match on account of injury. Simaz qualified for his first NCAA tournament and advanced to the finals.
In the consolation rounds, at heavyweight, senior Zach Hammond opened with a 3-2 decision over Army's Michael Sprigg. Hammond was edged out by East Stroudsburg's Chris Birchler when the Warriors' wrestler scored the match-winning takedown with the last seconds ticking off the clock. In the match for fifth place, in the first period Hammond earned a takedown midway through the period against Penn's Trey McLean and grabbed another point for an illegal hold. Hammond turned his opponent onto his back and won by fall in 1:54.
At 141 pounds, sophomore Corey Manson lost in the consolation rounds to American's Matt Mariacher, 9-7. At 149, DJ Meagher lost to Kevin LeValley of Bucknell, 9-4.
Cornell will be off until the NCAA championships on March 19-21 which will be held in St. Louis.
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