ITHACA, N.Y.—The Big Red wrestling team, ranked fourth in the country, opened its 2008-09 season off on Friday night by storming past No. 14 Penn State 24-10. Freshman Cam Simaz opened his collegiate career with a pin at 197, and Cornell picked up wins by Jordan Leen (157), Mack Lewnes (165), Steve Anceravage (174), Justin Kerber (184), Zach Hammond (HWT) and Troy Nickerson (133).

The Big Red wrestling team honored its teammate Adam Frey at half time of the match. Frey is missing the fall season due to his battle against cancer. Sponsors had pledged to donate $5 for every person in attendance at Friday's match to the Adam Frey Cancer Fund, and with a crowd of 4,239 over $20,000 will be added to the two-time NCAA qualifier's fund.

The match began at 149 pounds with freshman Grant Daffin facing No. 2 Bubba Jenkins of Penn State. Jenkins earned an early takedown and Daffin escaped about 30 seconds later. The Penn State wrestler earned another takedown with 1:48 remaining in the first period and worked to turn the Big Red wrestler on to his back, but Daffin fought to keep Jenkins from earning back points. Jenkins held a 4-1 lead after one. Daffin chose to start the second period down and make a quick escape. The Penn State wrestler continued to score takedowns in the second and third periods on his way to a 16-7 major decision.

Next up No. 5 Jordan Leen faced No. 2 Dan Vallimont at 157 pounds. The two were scoreless after the first period. Vallimont deferred the choice in the second period, and Leen chose the bottom position. Leen quickly escaped with only two seconds off the clock. Vallimont chose the neutral position in the third period. Leen went up 3-0 with a takedown with 1:15 left in the match and rode the Penn State wrestler for the remainder of the match. With 1:10 in riding time, Leen won a 4-0 match to bring Cornell within a point.

No. 1 ranked Lewnes took on Mark Friend at 165 pounds. The two were scoreless in the first period. Friend chose to start in the down position in the second period, but could not escape Lewnes' clutches for the entire two minutes. Lewnes chose down in the third, and within three seconds reversed Friend. Friend escaped, only to have Lewnes take him down two more times. With 3:35 in riding time, Lewnes won a 7-2 decision to put Cornell up 6-4.

No. 5 Steve Anceravage and No. 16 Quentin Wright were also scoreless in the first period. Wright chose the bottom position, and Anceravage rode him for the entire two minutes. Anceravage chose bottom in the third period and Wright let him up looking to score. With a little over one minute left in the match, Anceravage made a takedown. Wright escaped only to have Anceravage take him down again. With 2:30 in riding time, Anceravage won 6-1 to give Cornell a 9-4 lead.

At 184 pounds, No. 18 Justin Kerber faced No 13 Phil Bomberger. Kerber took a 2-0 lead 30 seconds into the first period with a takedown, and 20 seconds later Bomberger escaped. The Penn State wrestler chose to start the second period in the down position and after 45 seconds escaped. With 30 seconds left in the period, Kerber went up 4-2 with another takedown and racked up 1:26 in riding time through two periods. Kerber chose to start the third period down and Bomberger let him up. With 1:24 in riding time, the Big Red wrestler won a 6-2 decision.

At 197 pounds, freshman Cam Simaz wrestled his first match in a Cornell singlet against Penn State's Clay Steadman. Simaz held a 2-1 lead after the first period. Steadman escaped from his initial down position in the second period. With 40 seconds left, Simaz made the takedown and pinned the Nittany Lion wrestler in 4:38 to put Cornell up 18-4.

No. 10 Zach Hammond faced Cameron Wade at heavyweight. Hammond went up 2-0 with a takedown 12 seconds into the match. The Big Red wrestler racked up over a minute of riding time before Wade escaped. Wade chose to start the second down on the mat and finally escaped with 43 seconds left in the period. Hammond chose to start the third period at neutral and within 20 seconds earned another two points. Wade escaped, but Hammond captured the Nittany Lion wrestler once again. Wade would get out of Hammond's clutches once again, and with one second left in the match tied it with his first takedown. With 2:07 in riding time, Hammond won 7-6.

At 125 pounds, Frank Perrelli took on Penn State's Brad Pataky. Perrelli earned an early takedown. Pataky escaped and made a takedown of his own. He caught Perrelli and earned three back points. With 15 seconds left in the period, Perrelli escaped with renewed energy. Pataky chose bottom in the second and escaped after 30 seconds. Perrelli made another takedown with 23 seconds left in the period, but Pataky quickly escaped. Perrelli chose to start the third period down and escaped within 30 seconds. With riding time, Pataky won 9-6.

In his first collegiate match at 133 pounds, Nickerson faced Tim Haas. The two were scoreless after the first period. Haas chose neutral in the second period and the duo was scoreless again. Nickerson chose down in the third and reversed Haas to take a two point lead. Haas reversed Nickerson, but the Big Red wrestler quickly countered with a reverse of his own. With 1:40 in riding time, Nickerson won 5-2.

At 141 pounds, No. 3 Mike Grey faced Frank Molinaro. A little over a minute into the first period, Molinaro took a two point lead with a takedown, and with 35 seconds left on the clock Grey escaped. Molinaro chose bottom in the second and escaped. Grey earned a point with a technical violation to Molinaro. The Penn State wrestler caught Grey and took him down and earned two back points with time running out. Grey chose down in the third and earned another point for a technical to Molinaro. With 3:21 riding time, Molinaro won 8-3.

Cornell will wrestle in the Body Bar Invitational on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.

No. 4 Cornell 24, No. 14 Penn State, 10
Friday, November 21, 2008 - Ithaca, N.Y.
149: No. 2 Bubba Jenkins (Penn State) maj. dec. Grant Daffin COR,16-7 (0-4)
157: No. 5 Jordan Leen (Cornell) dec. No. 2 Dan Vallimont,4-0 (3-4)
165: No. 1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) dec. Mark Friend, 7-2 (6-4)
174: No. 5 Steve Anceravage (Cornell) dec. No. 16 Quentin Wright, 6-1 (9-4)
184: No. 18 Justin Kerber (Cornell) dec. No. 13 Phil Bomberger,6-2 (12-4)
197: Cam Simaz (Cornell) pinned Clay Steadman, 4:38 (18-4)
HWT: No. 10 Zach Hammond (Cornell) dec. Cameron Wade,7-6 (21-4)
125: Brad Pataky (Penn State) dec. Frank Perrelli,9-6 (21-7)
133: No. 2 Troy Nickerson (Cornell) dec. Tim Haas,5-2 (24-7)
141: Frank Molinaro (Penn State) dec. No. 3 Mike Grey,8-3 (24-10)
Attendance: 4,239