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ITHACA, N.Y.—The No. 5 Big Red wrestling team will return to dual action this weekend when it will play host to EIWA rival No. 8 Lehigh on Sunday afternoon. Cornell brings five nationally ranked wrestlers into the weekend, with Kyle Dake (157) and Cam Simaz (197) holding the top spots in their respective weight classes. The two teams will meet for the 89^th time on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Newman Arena.

The Match-Up
Match Time: Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 ~ 1 p.m.
Site: Newman Arena ~ Ithaca, N.Y.
Records: Cornell (1-0, 0-0 EIWA); Lehigh (5-3, 1-0 EIWA)
Series Record: Lehigh leads, 59-26-3
Last Meeting: Lehigh won, 17-15, at Lehigh, Jan. 20, 2011
Last Cornell Win: 19-12, at Newman Arena, Jan. 22, 2006
Last Lehigh Win: 17-15, at Lehigh, Jan. 20, 2011

Cornell Probable Lineup:
125: No. 6 Frank Perrelli
133: Nick Pena
141: No. 19 Mike Nevinger
149: Craig Eifert or Chris Villalonga
157: No. 1 Kyle Dake
165: Marshall Peppelman
174: Billy George
184: No. 4 Steve Bosak
197: No. 1 Cam Simaz
HWT: Maciej Jochym

Lehigh Probable Lineup:
125: Alex Abreu
133: Mason Beckman
141: No. 13 Steve Dutton
149: Shane Welsh/Anthony Salupo
157: Brian Tanen
165: Sean Bilodeau
174: Nate Brown/Kevin Bailey
184: No. 1 Robert Hamlin
197: No. 10 Joe Kennedy
HWT: No. 2 Zach Rey

Scouting the Mountain Hawks
Lehigh heads to East Hill after placing seventh at the Midlands Championships last week. The Mountain Hawks bring four nationally ranked wrestlers into the dual. Leading the way is No. 1 Robert Hamlin at 184 pounds and No. 2 Zach Rey at heavyweight. Lehigh is 5-3 in dual action this season. On Dec. 9, the Mountain Hawks lost to No. 5 Penn State, 24-12, at Stabler Arena.
 
Last Time Out
The Big Red and the Mountain Hawks last met Jan. 20, 2011 in Bethlehem, Pa. The two teams each won five bouts apiece, but two wins by major decision gave Lehigh the advantage. Frank Perrelli, Kyle Dake, DJ Meagher '11, Mack Lewnes '11 and Cam Simaz each picked up wins for the Big Red.
 
No. 17 Lehigh 17, No. 1 Cornell 15
125: Frank Perrelli (Cornell) dec. Mitch Berger, 9-3
133: Frank Cagnina (Lehigh) maj. dec. Joe Stanzione, 13-4
141: Stephen Dutton (Lehigh) dec. Corey Manson, 8-5
149: Kyle Dake (Cornell) dec. Joey Napoli, 4-3
157: DJ Meagher (Cornell) dec. Sean Bilodeau, 5-1
165: Brandon Hatchett (Lehigh) dec. Justin Kerber, 3-2
174: Mack Lewnes (Cornell) dec. Austin Meys, 4-1
184: Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) dec. Steve Bosak, 5-4
197: Cam Simaz (Cornell) dec. Joe Kennedy, 2-0
HWT: Zach Rey (Lehigh) maj. dec. Oney Snyder, 8-0
 
AT THE HELM
Rob Koll, the David R. Dunlop '59 Head Coach of Wrestling, begins his 19th season as mentor of the Cornell wrestling program. In that time, Koll has amassed a 207-74-5 overall record in duals and has led the Big Red to 12 Ivy League titles. Cornell has captured five EIWA team championships and earned 36 EIWA individual titles. This season he helped Cornell to its first ever National Duals title Jan. 8-9, 2011 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Koll, a four-time All-American and former NCAA champion, has helped Big Red wrestlers to capture seven individual NCAA titles and 40 All-America honors.
 
Follow the Action
Fans can follow the Big Red throughout the season by Twitter. Cornell coaches will keep fans updated match-by-match throughout the tournament at www.twitter.com/bigredwrestling. Another great way to follow the Big Red throughout the season is to become a fan on Facebook. The team reached its goal of 10,000 fans this summer.
 
Down South
Two-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake won his third-straight Southern Scuffle title to start the new year off on the right foot. Dake took first at 157 pounds after earning titles at 141 and 149 pounds in 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Big Red junior shut out Penn State's No. 10 Dylan Alton, 3-0, in the finals to go 6-0 for the weekend. Cornell placed a total of nine wrestlers in the top eight of their respective weight classes. At 184 pounds, junior Steve Bosak took second after losing by decision to returning NCAA champion Quinton Wright of Penn State. At 197 pounds, Cam Simaz placed second after a medical forfeit before the championship bout. Also placing for Cornell was Bricker Dixon (8^th, 125), Frank Perrelli (3^rd, 125), Mike Nevinger (7^th, 141), Chris Villalonga (5^th, 149), Craig Eifert (8^th, 149) and Marshall Peppelman (7^th, 165).
 
Mat Town Open
Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, eight Big Red grapplers headed to the Lock Haven Mat Town USA Open. Eight wrestlers placed in the top six including: Nick Pena (3rd, 133), Joe Stanzione (6th, 141), Ryan Dunphy (3rd, 149), Michael Alexander (5th, 174), Lukasz Stala (3rd, 197), Stryker Lane (1st, HWT) and Oney Snyder (5th, HWT).
 
Second Straight Title
The Big Red wrestling team won the team title at the Body Bar Invitational after crowning three champions. Kyle Dake (157), Billy George (174) and Steve Bosak (184) all won titles in their individual weight classes. Frank Perrelli (125) and Mike Nevinger (141) both took second, while Joe Stanzione (133), Craig Eifert (149) and Marshall Peppelman (165) placed fifth. Heavyweight Maciej Jochym finished in sixth place
 
All Things Ivy
With another 5-0 season against Ancient Eight foes, the Big Red won its ninth-straight Ivy League title last season. Cornell had an impressive 10 wrestlers earn All-Ivy honors. Cam Simaz was named Ivy League Wrestler of the Year. Simaz was joined by Frank Perrelli (125), Mike Grey '11 (133), Kyle Dake (149), Mack Lewnes '11 (174), Steve Bosak (184) on the first-team. Corey Manson '11 (141) and DJ Meagher (157) earned second-team nods, while Stryker Lane was honorable mention at heavyweight.
 
Sin City
Junior Kyle Dake won the individual title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational at 157 pounds, Dec. 2-3. The two-time NCAA champion defeated Nebraska-Kearney's TJ Hepburn, 4-0, in the championship bout. Steve Bosak (184) and Frank Perrelli (125) each took second in their respective weight classes. Sophomore Mike Nevinger placed eighth at 141 pounds.

On My Honor…
Kyle Dake earned his second EIWA Wrestler of the Week honor on Jan. 3 after winning his third-straight Southern Scuffle title. Dake won all six of his matches at the Scuffle without allowing a single offensive point. He notched three pins and added a major decision to help Cornell to a fourth place team finish. In the finals, Dake shut out No. 10 Dylan Alton of Penn State, 3-0.
 
EIWA Wrestler of the Week
Kyle Dake was named the first EIWA Wrestler of the Week for the 2011-12 season on Dec. 5. He won the award after charging his way through the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational to win the championship at 157 pounds. With a 4-0 record on the weekend, he recorded two falls and never had an offensive point scored against him.

Being a Good Host
On Jan. 21-22, the Big Red will play host to the New York State Intercollegiate championships with the junior varsity competing against the best teams in the state. Action will take place in Newman Arena. Sunday, Feb. 12, Cornell will welcome Central Michigan, Oklahoma, Purdue, Illinois and American to Newman Arena as a regional location for the NWCA/Cliff Keen Division I National Dual Meet championship. There are four regional competitions from which the final team from each location will advance to the championship on Feb. 19. The final event will be held on one of the final team's campuses.

London Calling
Former Cornell wrestler Mack Lewnes '11 has qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for wrestling. Lewnes qualified after placing second at 84 kg at the Men's Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier on Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Olympic Team trials will be held at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, April 21-22. Lewnes is the all-time winningest wrestler in Cornell history with 150 victories. He also tops the charts with 55 career falls. Lewnes is a three-time All-American, and was the NCAA runner up at 174 pounds in 2010. He is a four-time EIWA champion.

Down for the Count
Cam Simaz currently ranks second in the Cornell record books in pins with 41. He is second only to Mack Lewnes '11, who holds the top spot with 55. Simaz is also 13^th in pin percentage at 28.08%. The Big Red senior is tied for the top spot in pins in a season after finishing 2010-11 with 17. He is tied with Steve Anceravage '09, who pinned 17 opponents during his junior season. Simaz is also 10^th with 11 pins in 2010.

Winner Winner
Cam Simaz currently holds the fifth spot in the Cornell record books with 125 victories. Mack Lewnes '11 ranks first with 150 wins. Simaz is also tied for the top spot in wins in a season with 42 in 2010. He is tied with current volunteer assistant coach Mike Grey '11, who totaled 42 victories during the 2007-08 season.

Racking Up Points
Cam Simaz is second in the Big Red record books in bonus wins with 86. Mack Lewnes '11 ranks first with 91. Junior Steve Bosak ranks 10^th with 55 bonus wins. Simaz also holds the record for the most bonus wins in a season with 32 in 2010. He also is tied for fifth with his 25 bonus wins last season. Bosak is tied for 19^th with 21 wins in 2011.

That's Major!
Cam Simaz is 11^th in the Cornell records with 25 career major decisions. Teammate Steve Bosak is 16^th with 20. Junior Kyle Dake is tied for 19^th with 18. Volunteer assistant coach Mike Grey holds the third spot with 37.

Winning Percentage
Junior Kyle Dake is second in the Cornell record books in career winning percentage at 95.49%. Dake has a 85-4 overall record. Two-time NCAA champion Dave Auble holds the top spot with 98.08%. Auble was 51-1 from 1957-60. Dake is also third in career dual win percentage at 96.30%. He has a 26-1 record.

Next Up…
Cornell will hit the road next weekend to open Ivy action. The Big Red will wrestle at Penn and Princeton on Saturday, before competing at Binghamton on Sunday evening.