ITHACA, N.Y.—The No. 1 nationally ranked Cornell Wrestling team opened its season off on the right foot on Friday night by earning a commanding 24-10 win over No. 6 Central Michigan at the Friedman Wrestling Center. No. 1 Cam Simaz pinned his opponent at 197 pounds in front of a sold-out crowd, while the Big Red also picked up wins by Corey Manson (141), Kyle Dake (149), DJ Meager (157), Justin Kerber (165), Mack Lewnes (174) and Steve Bosak (184). Cornell is 1-0 for its dual season, while the Chippewas fall to 0-1.

The match started at 125 pounds with No. 16 Frank Perrelli taking on CMU's Kyle Waldo. After a scoreless first period, Perrelli chose to start the second period down on the mat, and he escaped for the only point of the period. Waldo chose to start the third period down and tied the match with an escape of his own to send the bout into sudden victory. Waldo gave the Chippewas a 3-0 team lead with a takedown 20 seconds into sudden victory.

Next to take the mat was Joe Stanzione wrestling in his first dual match for Cornell. Stanzione faced off against No. 6 Scotti Sentes at 133 pounds. Sentes lengthened CMU's lead to 7-0 with 9-1 major decision.

At 141 pounds, Corey Manson looked to put the Big Red on the scoreboard and wrestled Scott Mattingly. The Cornell senior and his opponent were scoreless after the first, and Manson scored the only point of the second with an escape from his bottom position. Mattingly chose to start the third period down on the mat and within 18 seconds escaped. The Big Red wrestler consistently attacked his opponent and was finally able to convert for a takedown with 45 seconds left in the bout. Manson was able to retain control for 20 seconds before Mattingly was able to escape. Manson evaded his opponent for the remaining 25 seconds to win a 3-2 victory.

At 149 pounds, No. 2 ranked Kyle Dake faced Donnie Corby. With no score after the first period, Corby chose to start the second down on the mat and reversed Dake to take a 2-0 lead. Dake escaped to come within a point. Dake chose bottom in the third and within 10 seconds reversed his opponent for a 3-2 advantage and never looked back. He nearly pinned his opponent for two back points, and with 2:10 in riding time, won a 6-2 decision to bring the Big Red within a point of CMU.

In the final bout of the first half, DJ Meagher faced Eric Cubberly at 157 pounds. The two were once again scoreless after the first period. Meagher chose to start the second down on the mat and quickly escaped. With only moments left in the second, the Big Red grappler was able to convert for a takedown to give himself a 3-0 lead heading into the third. Cubberly escaped from his opening down position in the third, but Meagher took him down once again and rode him for the remainder of the period. With 1:06 in riding time, Meagher won a 6-1 decision to give Cornell a 9-7 lead. 

After a brief intermission, No. 5 Kerber squared off against Adam Miller. Kerber grabbed an early 2-0 lead with a takedown and road his opponent out for the remainder of the period. Miller chose to start the second down on the mat and earned the only point of the period with an escape. Kerber chose bottom in the third period and reversed Miller to take a 4-1 lead. Miller escaped only to have the Big Red senior take him down once again. With 3:14 in riding time, Kerber won a 7-2 decision.

Ranked first in the country at 174 pounds, Lewnes took on No. 4 Ben Bennett. Lewnes created many scoring opportunities in the first period but his opponent was able to narrowly hang on to a scoreless first period. Bennett scored the first points of the bout with an escape to start the second period. The Cornell senior grabbed a takedown with 19 seconds left in the period to take a 2-1 lead. Lewnes opened with a fast escape in the third and notched another takedown within 30 seconds. Bennett would escape, but with 1:33 in riding time, Lewnes won a 6-2 decision.

At 184 pounds, No. 4 Bosak and Chad Friend were scoreless after the first period. Friend chose to start the second down, but Bosak was tough on top and road him out for the period. Bosak almost immediately escaped to start the third and within two seconds took down Friend. With 3:51 in riding time, Bosak won a 4-0 decision.

At 197 pounds, top ranked Simaz toyed with his opponent Craig Kelliher in the first period. Simaz racked up five takedowns for a 10-4 lead before muscling his opponent to his back. With two seconds left on the clock in the first, Simaz won by fall in 2:58 for six team points and his third pin of the season. Cornell sealed its dual victory with the win.

In the final bout of the night, Oney Snyder faced No. 2 Jarod Trice at heavyweight. The two were scoreless after the first period once again. Snyder chose to start the second down on the mat but was unable to escape. Trice chose bottom in the third and with an escape took a 1-0 lead. Trice would notch a takedown and with 2:50 in riding time, he won a 4-2 decision.

Cornell will be back in action on Saturday when it will play host for the Body Bar Invitational. The Big Red welcomes 10 teams to Newman Arena and wrestling begins at 9 a.m.


Cornell vs. Central Michigan
11/19/2010

Cornell 24 - Central Michigan 10


125- Kyle Waldo (Central Michigan ) DEC Perrelli, Frank (Cornell University) 3-1
133- Scotti Sentes (Central Michigan ) MD Stanzione, Joseph (Cornell University) 9-1
141- Manson, Hicks (Cornell University) DEC Scott Mattingly (Central Michigan ) 3-2
149- Dake, Kyle (Cornell University) DEC Donnie Corby (Central Michigan ) 6-2
157- Meagher, DJ (Cornell University) DEC Eric Cubberly (Central Michigan ) 6-1
165- Kerber, Justin (Cornell University) DEC Adam Miller (Central Michigan ) 7-2
174- Lewnes, Mack (Cornell University) DEC Ben Bennett (Central Michigan ) 6-2
184- Bosak, Steve (Cornell University) DEC Chad Friend (Central Michigan ) 4-0
197- Simaz, Cam (Cornell University) FALL Kelliher, Craig (Central Michigan ) (2:58)
285- Jarod Trice (Central Michigan ) DEC Snyder, Clinton (Cornell University) 4-2