CEDAR FALLS, Iowa—The Big Red wrestling team opened the Cliff Keen National Duals with a 23-9 victory over No. 17 Michigan on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Cam Simaz, ranked No. 17, upset fourth ranked Tyrel Todd by a 3-2 decision to help Cornell capture wins in seven of the 10 bouts. Sophomore Mike Grey and senior Jordan Leen both picked up wins by major decision to earn bonus points for the Big Red.

The match opened at 125 pounds with junior Troy Nickerson facing off against No. 11 Michael Watts. Nickerson, in his first match since November, took a 2-0 lead in the first period with a takedown. The Big Red wrestler went up 4-0 with another takedown in the second period, and opened the third with a reversal. With over a minute in riding time, Nickerson won a 7-0 decision to put the Big Red up 3-0.

Next up at 133 pounds, No. 17 ranked Grey took on the unranked Zac Stevens. Grey earned the only points in the first period with a takedown, and went up 5-1 in the second period with an escape and another takedown. Stevens notched his first point in the third period with an opening escape. Grey grabbed four more points with two more takedowns. With riding time, Grey won a 10-2 major decision over the Wolverine wrestler.

Sophomore Corey Manson squared off against No. 4 Kellen Russell at 141 pounds. Russell took a two point lead in the first period with a takedown and rode Manson for the remainder. Manson came within a point in the second with an escape from his opening down position. In the third period, Russell earned an escape, but after being hit with two stall warnings Manson came within a point. The Big Red wrestler could not get close enough for a takedown and Russell narrowly won a 3-2 decision. Ohio State earned its first team points but trailed Cornell, 7-3.

At 149 pounds, sophomore DJ Meagher wrestled Mark Beaudry. Meagher made a takedown in the first period after coming out on the top of a scramble. Beaudry fought against Meagher and turned him from the down position looking for a defensive pin. Meagher was forced to turn on to his stomach with the Wolverine tying the score with a reversal. The Cornell grappler earned a takedown in each of the last two periods to soldier on a 7-4 win to put Cornell up 10-3.

Returning NCAA champion Jordan Leen took the mat at 157 pounds to face Michigan's Aaron Hynes. Leen overpowered Hynes from the very beginning of the match, and with 2:22 left in the first period earned a takedown and racked up the riding time until the whistle. Hynes chose neutral in the second, but Leen went up 4-0 with another takedown. Leen chose to start the third period down and earned an escape and another takedown before the match was over. With riding time locked up, Leen won an 8-0 major decision.

Ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds, Mack Lewnes faced Justin Zeerip. After a scoreless first period, Zeerip earned the only point in the second with an escape. Lewnes chose to start the third period down and earned two points with a reversal. With riding time, the Big Red wrestler won a 5-1 decision to improve to 22-0 for the season.

At 174 pounds, No. 3 Steve Anceravage faced No. 1 ranked Steve Luke of Michigan. Anceravage took an early shot in on Luke's leg, but couldn't finish for a takedown. A few seconds later, Luke got a hold of one of Anceravage's legs, but the Big Red wrestler countered and earned the first points of the match with a takedown. Luke came within a point with an escape to end the period. Luke chose down to start the second period and with an escape tied the match at two. Anceravage started the third period down on the mat and Luke cut him loose. Anceravage held a one point lead and looked to evade the Wolverine wrestler with time running down. With time running out, Luke won the match with a takedown to grab a 4-3 win.

At 184 pounds, No. 17 Justin Kerber faced No. 11 Anthony Biondo. After a scoreless first period, Kerber earned the first point with a quick escape from his opening down position in the second period. Kerber earned a takedown, but the call was overturned and Kerber was given a one point penalty for a slam to tie the match at a point a piece. Biondo earned an escape from the down position in the third period. Kerber took control of the match with a takedown. Biondo escaped, but Kerber took him down again and with back points won a 7-3 match.

No. 17 Simaz faced No. 4 ranked Todd at 197 pounds. Simaz, full of energy, and Todd were scoreless after the first period. Todd selected down in the second period and earned the only point of the period with an escape. Simaz chose down in the third and tied the match with an escape of his own. Simaz grabbed the lead with a takedown and wore the Wolverine wrestler down with a tough ride. Todd earned an escape, but Simaz walked away with a 3-2 victory.

At heavyweight, No. 13 Zach Hammond faced Michigan's Ed Phillips. The two were scoreless after the first, and Phillips earned the only point of the second with an escape. Hammond chose down in the third period, but was unable to escape. With riding time, Phillips won a 2-0 decision, but Cornell won a 23-9 dual victory.

Cornell advanced to the quarterfinals to face Ohio State at 3 p.m. CT.

Cornell 23 vs. Michigan 9
125: Troy Nickerson (Cornell) dec. No. 11 Mike Watts, 7-0
133: No. 17 Mike Grey (Cornell) maj. dec. Zac Stevens, 10-2
141: No. 4 Kellen Russell (Michigan) dec. Corey Manson, 3-2
149: DJ Meagher (Cornell) dec. Mark Beaudry, 7-4
157: No. 4 Jordan Leen (Cornell) maj. dec. Aaron Hynes, 8-0
165: No. 1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) dec. Justin Zeerip, 5-1
174: No. 1 Steve Luke (Michigan) dec. No. 3 Steve Anceravage, 4-3
184: No. 17 Justin Kerber (Cornell) dec. No. 11 Anthony Biondo, 7-3
197: No. 17 Cam Simaz (Cornell) dec. No. 4 Tyrel Todd, 3-2
HWT: Ed Phillips (Michigan) dec. No. 13 Zach Hammond, 2-0