ITHACA, N.Y.—The Big Red wrestling team will open its 2012-13 season by welcoming Binghamton to the Friedman Wrestling Center on Friday night. Cornell is led by No. 1 ranked Kyle Dake at 165 pounds. The three-time NCAA champion looks to help the Big Red open its season off with a win. Cornell will also play host to the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Championships on Saturday and Sunday in Newman Arena. 

The Big Red has three ranked wrestlers in its lineup this weekend. Returning NCAA champion Steve Bosak is currently ranked No. 2 in the country at 184 pounds and will return to the Cornell lineup later this season. At 157pounds, Craig Eifert is also ranked No. 17.

Probable Starters
No. 9 Cornell
125-Nahshon Garrett
133-No. 13 Nick Arujau/Bricker Dixon
141-No. 12 Joe Stanzione
149-Ryan Dunphy
157-Chris Dowdy
165-No. 1 Kyle Dake
174-Duke Pickett/Marshall Peppelman
184-Craig Scott
197-Billy George/Jace Bennett
Hwt-Stryker Lane/Jacob Aiken-Phillips

No. 23 Binghamton
125 – Patrick Hunter
133 – Dan Riggi
141 – No. 20 Joe Bonaldi
149 – No. 4 Donnie Vinson
157 – Joe Chamish
165 - AdamLepkowski
174 – Caleb Wallace/John Paris
184 – Cody Reed
197 – No. 9 Nate Schiedel
Hwt – Tyler Deuel
 
Empire State of Mind
The Big Red will play host to the 44^th New York State Collegiate Wrestling Championships this weekend on Saturday and Sunday in Newman Arena. Twenty-one Empire State schools will compete in the action including: Alfred State College, Binghamton University, Brockport SUNY, University at Buffalo, Columbia University, Cornell University, Cortland SUNY, Hofstra University, Hunter College, Ithaca College, Jamestown CC, Mount Saint Vincent, Nassau CCC, New York University, Niagara County CC, Oneonta SUNY, SUNY Oswego, Rochester Institute of Technology, U.S. Military Academy, USMMA, Yeshiva University. The “A” tournament will run on Saturday, while the “B” tournament will run on Sunday with action beginning at 9 a.m. both days.

Follow the Action
Fans can follow the Big Red throughout the season by Twitter. Cornell coaches will keep fans updated match-by-match throughout the tournament at www.twitter.com/bigredwrestling. Another great way to follow the Big Red throughout the season is to become a fan on Facebook. Fans can also listen to Cornell wrestling live on the radio at 1160espn.com. Home dual matches are also available live on RedCast. Live stats will also be available throughout the season via Track Wrestling. Links will be available on the Cornell wrestling schedule before the start of the match.

At the Helm
Rob Koll, the David R. Dunlop '59 Head Coach of Wrestling, is in his 20th season as mentor of the Cornell wrestling program. In that time, Koll has amassed a 217-75-5 overall record in duals and has led the Big Red to 13 Ivy League titles. Cornell has captured a modern record six EIWA team championships and earned 40 EIWA individual titles. In 2011, he helped Cornell to its first ever National Duals title Jan. 8-9, 2011 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Koll, a four-time All-American and former NCAA champion, has helped Big Red wrestlers to capture 10 individual NCAA titles and 45 All-America honors.
 
Red-White Eliminations
Cornell wrestling held Red-White Eliminations on Friday, Nov. 8 at the Friedman Wrestling Center. Two wrestlers squared off at each weight class looking to earn a starting spot. The Red team won six bouts on its way to a 24-13 victory.

Results 
125- Nahshon Garrett (W) maj. dec. vs. Logan David (R), 16-2
133- Nick Arujau (R) dec. Josh Kennedy (W), 8-1
141- Joe Stanzione (R) dec. Mike Nevinger (W), 9-2
149- Chris Villalonga (R) dec. Ryan Dunphy (W), 3-2 OT
157- Jesse Shanaman (W) inj. Def. Craig Eifert (R)
165- Kyle Dake (R) win by fall Patrick Sullivan (W), 1:18
174- Marshall Peppelman (W) dec. Duke Pickett (R), 2-1
184- Craig Scott (R) dec. Pete Mesko (W), 9-4
197- Jace Bennett(R) dec. Billy George (W), 7-4
285- Jacob Aiken-Phillips (W) dec. Stryker Lane (R), 1-0
 
The Binghamton Open
Big Red wrestlers competed unattached at the Binghamton Open last weekend. Eleven wrestlers placed in the top six of their respective weight classes including: Nashon Garrett (1^st, 125), Bricker Dixon (4^th, 125), Nick Arujau (4^th, 133), Joe Stanzion (2^nd, 141), Mike Nevinger (4^th, 141), Jesse Shanaman (6^th, 157, medically forfeited out of tournament), Duke Pickett Jr. (4^th, 174), Marshall Peppelman (6^th, 174), Craig Scott (2^nd, 184), Billy George (4^th, 197) and Jace Bennett (6^th, 197).  
 
All Things Ivy
With another 5-0 season against Ancient Eight foes, the Big Red won its 10th-straight Ivy League title last season. Cornell had eight wrestlers earn All-Ivy honors in the process. Cam Simaz was named Ivy League Wrestler of the Year for the second-straight season. Simaz was joined by Frank Perrelli (125) and Steve Bosak (184) in earning first-team honors. Chris Villalonga (149), Craig Eifert (165) and Maciej Jochym (HWT) were second-team All-Ivy, while Kyle Dake (157) and Mike Nevinger (141) were honorable mention. Simaz is a four-time first-team All-Ivy honoree and rounds out his conference career with a perfect 20-0 mark. Dake was 1-0 against Ancient Eight competition.
 
Grapple at the Garden
This season the Big Red will take part in the inaugural “Grapple at the Garden” on Dec. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. For the first time in the Garden's 133 year history, collegiate wrestling teams will hold dual meets. Fourteen Div. I teams will take part in the event including:  Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Chattanooga, Cornell, Drexel, Hofstra, George Mason, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Rutgers. College wrestling dual meets will be held on six mats, while two mats will feature high school wrestling action from New York City from the PSAL Holiday Tournament. Dual meets will run at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
 
Seeing Stars
Kyle Dake muscled past Penn State's David Taylor, 2-1, at the NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 3. The two were deadlocked after regulation, but the Big Red senior rode out Taylor in the second overtime for the win. Dake was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the Red Team at the conclusion of the night. Kendric Maple of Oklahoma won the award for the Blue Team.The victory is an exhibition win for Dake, but the mental advantage will help him start his senior season off right. Dake has moved up to 165 pounds to wrestle in his fourth weight class in as many years, and he is looking to be the only wrestler in history to win NCAA titles at four different weight classes. The bout marked the first time that Dake and Taylor have met in collegiate/folk style. At the end of last season, Dake pinned Taylor at the Olympic Freestyle Team Trials at 74 kg. Dake went on to place third at the Trials. The match marked the second time Dake wrestled in his career at 165 pounds. Last season he moved up to the weight class to wrestle Joe Charnish of Binghamton for a dual on the road. Dake won by fall in 6:23.


Award Season
Kyle Dake was named TheMat.com's Wrestler of the week Nov. 5 after defeating Penn State's David Taylor at the NWCA All-Star Classic. Dake defeated the Nittany Lion wrestler 2-1 in the tie breakers to earn the top ranking at 165 pounds.
 
Next Time Out 
The Big Red will wrestle at the NYS Tournament on Saturday and Sunday. Cornell returns to the mats next weekend for the Journeyman Northeast Duals in Albany, N.Y. The Big Red will face Drexel, Central Michigan and Oklahoma.