CEDAR FALLS, Iowa—The No. 1 Big Red wrestling team opened the National Duals with a dominating 27-6 win over Ohio State on Saturday morning. Cornell won eight out of 10 weight classes with returning NCAA champion Kyle Dake winning by technical fall at 149 pounds, and Frank Perrelli earning bonus points at 125 with a major decision. With a victory at 165 pounds, senior Justin Kerber notched his 100th career win. The Big Red improves to 2-0 for the season, while Ohio State fell to 1-4.

The Big Red started the competition at Mat 4 right next to Cornell College on Mat 3. Up first for Cornell was Perrelli who faced off against OSU's Bo Touris. Perrelli had numerous good shots in on the Buckeye to start the first period, and with 1:45 left, he converted a single leg for a takedown. Touris worked his way to his feet twice, but Perrelli returned him to the mat each time. The Big Red wrestler was working hard looking for back points, but with 30 seconds left in the period, Touris got to his feet and twisted free. Perrelli continued strong action looking for another takedown but time ran out in the period. Touris started the second period down on the mat and escaped to tie the bout at 2-2. Perrelli caught hold of his opponent's legs for another takedown. He let Touris up looking for another takedown. Late in the second, Touris shot in but Perrelli countered for a takedown of his own to bring the score to 6-3. Perrelli chose down in the third and immediately escaped. The Big Red wrestler notched two more takedowns and with 3:15 in riding time, he won a 12-4 major decision.

At 133 pounds, Joe Stanzione took on No. 16 Ian Paddock. Stanzione was looking for a takedown in the first, but Paddock countered his offensive move and with a scramble came out on top. Paddock started the second down on the mat and earned his escape to go up, 3-0. The Buckeye notched another takedown, but with 15 seconds left in the period Stanzione grabbed two points with a reversal. Stanzione escaped within five seconds from his opening down position in the third and tied the bout with a takedown. The two wrestlers traded reversals to take the score to 7-7. Paddock had secured riding time, resulting in Stanzione cutting him loose looking to score. Time ran out and with 1:35 in riding time, Paddock won a 9-7 decision.

Freshman Mike Nevinger wrestled for Cornell in his first dual at 141 pounds against Randy Languis. About 1:20 into the first period, Nevinger notched a takedown and road his opponent out of the remainder of the period. Nevinger chose down in the second and fought hard for his escape. With 35 seconds left on the clock, Languis had a takedown on the edge of the mat. Languis began the third period down. Nevinger was working on the tilt and got a one count from the referee, but couldn't hold him long enough for back points. With 2:43 in riding time, Nevinger won, 4-2.

Dake faced Mike Fee at 149. One minute into the period, Dake notched a takedown and racked up two minutes in riding time. Fee started the second down on the mat and Dake let him up looking to score more points. Dake grabbed two more takedowns to take a 6-2 lead. Dake was down to start the third and quickly escaped. The Cornell sophomore made quick work of his opponent to win a 21-6 technical fall. With five points for his team, Cornell led 12-3.

At 157 pounds, DJ Meagher wrestled against Sean Nemec. Meagher earned a takedown a minute into the bout and punished his opponent for the remainder looking for back points. The Big Red wrestler started the second down on the mat and immediately twisted out for an escape. Meagher grabbed another takedown and with his opponents second stall warning held a 6-0 lead. Nemec chose neutral for the third period and earned his first points with a takedown with 40 seconds left on the clock. Nemec let him up looking to score, but with 2:43 in riding time Meagher won an 8-2 decision.

At 165 pounds, No. 3 Justin Kerber and No. 10 Colt Sponseller were scrambling in the first period, and Kerber came out on top for a takedown. Sponseller chose down in the second and earned the only point of the period with an escape. Kerber grabbed another point with an escape from his opening down position. Sponseller had Kerber's leg and was looking to sweep him to the mat for a takedown. Kerber kept his cool and muscled his way down and countered for a takedown. The Big Red wrestler earned two back points, but Sponseller reversed him as time was winding down. With 1:38 in riding time, Kerber won an 8-3 decision.

No. 3 senior Mack Lewnes faced No. 14 Nick Heflin at 174. Heflin notched the first points of the bout with a takedown with about a minute off the clock. Lewnes quickly escaped and took a 3-2 lead grabbing Heflin's ankles at the edge of the mat for a takedown. Lewnes chose down to start the second period and earned the only points with a quick escape. Heflin was down in the third, and Lewnes tilted him for two back points before he was able to escape. Heflin was hit with his second stall warning to bring the score to 7-3 in favor of the Big Red. Lewnes notched another takedown and let his opponent up looking for a major decision. The Cornell wrestler earned another point when Heflin was hit again for stalling and with 2:19 in riding time won an 11-4 decision. The Big Red increased its team lead to 21-3.

After a scoreless first period at 184 pounds, Ohio State's No. 20 CJ Magrum chose to start the second down on the mat against No. 3 Steve Bosak. Magrum was hit with two stall warnings in the period to give Bosak at 1-0 lead and the Big Red wrestler rode him out for the entire two minutes. Bosak started down in the third, and Magrum let him up. With 1:58 in riding time, Bosak won a 3-0 decision.

At 197 pounds, Maciej Jochym faced Peter Capone. Capone countered a shot by Jochym in the first to take a 2-0 lead. Jochym chose down in the second period. Capone earned three back points for a 5-0 lead. Capone chose top in the third period. Jochym was hit with a second stalling call and with 4:59 in riding time, the Buckeye won a 7-0 decision.

In the final bout of the dual, sophomore Stryker Lane faced Dominic Jontony. Jontony grabbed a takedown halfway through the period, but Lane quickly reversed him to tie the score at 2-2. Jontony chose down in the second but was unable to escape. Lane reversed his opponent again from the starting down position in the third and with 3:18 in riding time, won a 5-2 decision. With three points for his team, the Big Red won by a final 27-6.

The Big Red will wrestle in the quarterfinals where it will take on Missouri at 1 p.m. CST on mat 4. Fans can watch live video of the duals by clicking here.


Match-By-Match Results
125: No. 15 Frank Perrelli (Cornell ) maj. dec. Bo Touris (Ohio State ), 12 – 4
133: No. 16 Ian Paddock (Ohio State ) dec. Joe Stanzione (Cornell ), 9 – 7
141: Mike Nevinger (Cornell ) dec. Randall Languis (Ohio State ), 4 – 2
149: No. 2 Kyle Dake (Cornell ) tech fall Mike Fee (Ohio State ), 21 - 6 ( (7:00))
157: No. 10 DJ Meagher (Cornell ) dec. Sean Nemec (Ohio State ), 8 – 2
165: No. 3 Justin Kerber (Cornell ) dec. No. 10 Colt Sponseller (Ohio State ), 8 – 3
174: No. 3 Mack Lewnes (Cornell ) dec. No. 14 Nick Heflin (Ohio State ), 11 – 4
184: No. 4 Steve Bosak (Cornell ) dec. No. 20 Cody Magrum (Ohio State ), 3 – 0
197: Peter Capone (Ohio State ) dec. Maciej Jochym (Cornell ), 7 – 0
HWT: Stryker Lane (Cornell ) dec. Zach Stolarsky (Ohio State ), 5 - 2