CEDAR FALLS, Iowa—The No. 3 ranked Big Red wrestling team edged out No. 6 Ohio State 17-16 in the quarterfinals of the National Duals on Saturday evening. Both teams won five matches and were tied at 13 all going into the final two bouts. A 12-4 major decision by freshman Cam Simaz proved to be the bonus points that sent Cornell past the Buckeyes. The Big Red improved to 3-0 in dual matches this season. With the victory, head coach Rob Koll notched his 175th career dual win.
In the opening bout at 125 pounds, junior Troy Nickerson and Ohio State's Nikko Triggas were scoreless in the first period. Nickerson took a one point lead with an escape in the second period. Triggas chose down to start the third, but Nickerson rode him for the entire two minutes to lock up riding time a grab a 2-0 decision.
At 133 pounds, No. 17 Mike Grey faced No. 8 Reece Humphrey. Grey took a shot at Humphrey but the Ohio State grappler countered and went up by four points with a takedown and two back points. Grey escaped to earn his first point. Humphrey let Grey up from his starting down position in the second period to come within two points. Humphrey earned another takedown and rode Grey for the remainder of the period. Humphrey won a 10-3 decision to deadlock Cornell and Ohio State at three points a piece.
No. 14 J Jaggers took on the Big Red's Corey Manson at 141 pounds. With an 11-2 major decision, Ohio State took a 7-3 team lead. The Buckeyes lengthened their advantage to 10-3 after the 149 pound bout where No. 4 Lance Palmer won a 2-1 decision over DJ Meagher.
At 157 pounds, No. 4 Jordan Leen faced off against Jason Johnstone. Leen took a two point lead with a takedown and rode Johnstone out for the remainder of the first period. Leen quickly escaped to start the second and with a low single converted to a takedown to take a 4-0 lead. Leen let Johnstone up in the third period looking to score more points. Leen earned three more takedowns and with riding time won a 10-2 major decision.
No. 1 ranked Mack Lewnes had his hands full with No. 4 Colt Sponseller at 165 pounds. The two were scoreless after the first period, and ended regulation tied at one point a piece with escapes from each wrestler. With a takedown in sudden victory, Lewnes won a 3-1 decision to tie the team score at 10 all.
At 174 pounds, No. 3 Steve Anceravage won a 6-2 decision over Dave Rella to put the Big Red up by three. In a hard fought match, sophomore Justin Kerber was edged out by No. 2 Mike Pucillo of Ohio State to tie the match once again at 13 all.
At 197 pounds, freshman Cam Simaz took on the Buckeyes' Cody Gardner. The two were scoreless after the first period. Gardner went up 1-0 after an escape from his chosen down position. Simaz earned a takedown and rode Gardner the rest of the period. Simaz chose to start the third period down and went up 3-1 with an escape. Simaz switched gears early in the third looking to rake in points for the Big Red. The Big Red rookie grabbed four more takedowns and with riding time won a 12-4 major decision.
At heavyweight, senior Zach Hammond looked to wrestle a smart match to secure a Big Red win. Ohio State's Corey Morrison took a 2-0 lead with a takedown but Hammond pulled within one with an escape. Hammond notched another escape to start the second period to tie the bout at two. Hammond continued to wrestle a cautious defensive match only allowing the Ohio State wrestler to win a 6-4 decision to secure a Big Red team victory.
Cornell will wrestle No. 2 Iowa State at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday in the semifinals.
No. 3 Cornell 17, No. 6 Ohio State 16
125- Troy Nickerson (Cornell) WBD 2-0 Nikko Triggas (Ohio State) (3-0)
133- #8 Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) WBD 10-3 #17 Mike Grey (Cornell) (3-3)
141- #14 J Jaggers (Ohio State) WBMD 11-2 Corey Manson (Cornell) (3-7)
149- #4 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) WBD 2-1 D.J. Meagher (Cornell) (3-10)
157- #4 Jordan Leen (Cornell) WBMD 10-2 #15 Jason Johnstone (Ohio State) (7-10)
165- #1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) WBD 3-1 OT #4 Colt Sponseller (Ohio State) (10-10)
174- #3 Steve Anceravage (Cornell) WBD 6-2 Dave Rella (Ohio State) (13-10)
184- #2 Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) WBD 8-7 #17 Justin Kerber (Cornell) (13-13)
197- #17 Cam Simaz (Cornell) WBMD 12-4 Cody Gardner (Ohio State) (17-13)
285- #15 Corey Morrison (Ohio State) WBD 6-4 #13 Zach Hammond (Cornell) (17-16)
