CEDAR FALLS, Iowa—The No. 1 Big Red wrestling team advanced to the finals of the National Duals with a 20-16 win over No. 6 Minnesota on Sunday morning. The two teams each won five weight classes, but Cornell fought its way to a victory with major decisions by Kyle Dake and Mack Lewnes and a crucial win by injury default from DJ Meagher. Cornell improves to 4-0 for the season, while Minnesota falls to 8-2. The Big Red will face No. 9 Virginia Tech in the finals at 3 p.m CT.

At 125 pounds, No. 15 Frank Perrelli scored first in his bout against No. 6 Zach Sanders with a takedown with only 20 seconds off the clock. Sanders escaped to come within a point heading into the second period. The Golden Gopher tied the score with an escape from his opening down position in the second and took the lead with a takedown with two seconds left in the period. Perrelli escaped from his down position in the third, but was unable to catch Sanders for a takedown and lost a 4-3 decision.

Joe Stanzione exploded off the opening whistle at 133 pounds immediately taking down David Thorn. Thorn reversed the Big Red wrestler from which he escaped. Thorn took down Stanzione at the edge of the mat, and Stanzione immediately escaped after the action was brought back to center. Thorn started the second period down and after nearly a minute had a reversal to take a 6-4 lead. Stanzione escaped, but Thorn took him down once again. Stanzione chose to start the third period down on the mat and nearly had a reversal, but Thorn recovered and depleted Stanzione's riding time advantage. Stanzione eventually escaped, but could not catch Thorn to score again and lost an 8-6 decision.

At 141 pounds, senior Corey Manson saw his first action of the weekend against No. 2 Michael Thorn. Thorn notched a takedown in the first period, and rode Manson out for the entire second period from his starting down position. Thorn escaped to start the third and notched two more takedowns to win a 9-1 major decision. Minnesota led the team score, 10-0.

No. 2 Dake grabbed an early 5-0 lead after the first period against Daniel Zilverberg with a takedown and three back points. Zilverberg chose to start the second period down, but was unable to escape from Dake. Dake started the third period down and reversed his opponent for a 7-0 advantage. The Big Red wrestler added two back points as time ran out, and with 3:18 in riding time won a 10-0 major decision.

No. 10 Meagher faced Joseph Grygelko at 157 pounds. Meagher grabbed hold of Greygelko's ankles at the edge of the mat, but the Golden Gopher would escape. Meagher converted on a double leg for a 4-1 lead as time ran out in the period. Greygelko chose to start the second period down on the mat, and Meagher worked for back points. Meagher had his opponent nearly pinned, but the referee stopped the bout when Greygelko seemed to be rendered unconscious. Greygelko used all of his injury time, and Meagher won by injury default. With six team points, Cornell was tied with Minnesota.

At 165 pounds, No. 3 Justin Kerber faced No. 7 Cody Yohn. A little over a minute into the bout, Kerber took down his opponent before the two wrestlers traded reversals. Yohn chose to start the second period down on the mat and made his way to his feet a few times, but Kerber returned him to the mat each time. Midway through the period, Yohn finally made his escape, but 15 seconds later Kerber took him down once again. Yohn notched another reversal to come within a point. Kerber chose to start the third period down and fought his way to his second reversal of the bout. With a point for riding time, Kerber won a 9-5 decision to give Cornell its first lead of the dual, 13-10.

No. 3 Lewnes squared off against No. 8 Scott Glasser at 174 pounds. Lewnes held a 4-1 lead heading into the second after two takedowns. Glasser escaped from his opening down position in the second period, but Lewnes notched two more takedowns. Lewnes quickly escaped to start the third period, and with a takedown and riding time, won a 12-4 major decision.

At 184 pounds, No. 4 Steve Bosak took down No. 7 Kevin Steinhaus midway through the period and road him out. Steinhaus chose neutral to start the second, but neither wrestler was able to score. Bosak quickly twisted out from his opening down position for an escape in the third period, and with 1:24 in riding time he won a 4-0 decision. The Big Red lengthened its lead to 20-10.

Maciej Jochym faced Joe Nord at 197 pounds. Jochym scored first with a takedown, but Nord had a reversal and three back points before the period was over. Nord escaped from his opening down position in the third and notched another takedown for an 8-2 advantage. Jochym was let up from his opening down position in the third period, and grabbed a takedown to come within three points. He released Nord looking to score. Nord took down Jochym and with riding time won an 11-6 decision.

Stryker Lane took the mat against No. 9 Anthony Nelson at heavyweight. Nelson held a 2-1 advantage heading into the second period. Nelson escaped from his down position in the second and earned another takedown. Nelson earned two more takedowns and with riding time won an 11-4 decision.

Cornell will face Virginia Tech in the finals at 3 p.m CT.

Match-By-Match Results
125: No 6 Zachary Sanders (Minnesota) dec. No. 15 Frank Perrelli (Cornell ),4 – 3
133: David Thorn (Minnesota) dec. Joe Stanzione (Cornell ), 8 – 6
141: No. 2 Michael Thorn (Minnesota) maj. dec. Corey Manson (Cornell ), 9 – 1
149: No. 2 Kyle Dake (Cornell ) maj. dec. Daniel Zilverberg (Minnesota), 10 – 0
157: No. 10 DJ Meagher (Cornell ) win by default Joseph Grygelko (Minnesota)
165: No. 3 Justin Kerber (Cornell ) dec. No. 7 Cody Yohn (Minnesota), 9 – 5
174: No. 3 Mack Lewnes (Cornell ) maj. dec. No. 8 Scott Glasser (Minnesota), 12 – 4
184: No. 4 Steve Bosak (Cornell ) dec. No. 7 Kevin Steinhaus (Minnesota), 4 – 0
197: Joe Nord (Minnesota) dec. Maciej Jochym (Cornell), 11 – 6
HWT: No. 9 Anthony Nelson (Minnesota) dec. Stryker Lane (Cornell), 11 - 4