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ITHACA, N.Y.—The No. 7 Big Red wrestling team heads to Bethlehem, Pa. this weekend for its first dual of the new year where it will take on its EIWA rival, No. 16 Lehigh. The two teams will meet for the 90^th time on Sunday at Leeman-Turner Arena in Grace Hall. Cornell brings six wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their respective weight classes, while Lehigh has four. One of the most anticipated bouts of the afternoon will be at 184 pounds. Returning NCAA champion Steve Bosak will face No. 5 Robert Hamlin.

Cornell heads to Lehigh after placing fifth at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. Jan. 1-2. The Big Red crowned two individual champions, Mike Nevinger at 141 pounds and Kyle Dake at 165. Bosak placed second behind No. 1 ranked Ed Ruth of Penn State at 184. Lehigh last competed at the Midlands, where they placed sixth and had three wrestlers in the finals.

The dual will be broadcast on television on Service Electric 2 Sports Live with Doug Heater and Kyle Berger. Cornell's radio 1160ESPN will also be braodcasting the dual an can be accessed by clicking here.

Cornell Probable Lineup
125: No. 10 Nahshon Garrett
133: No. 9 Nick Arujau/Bricker Dixon
141: No. 9 Mike Nevinger
149: No. 17 Chris Villalonga/Ryan Dunphy
157: Chris Dowdy/Jesse Shanaman
165: No. 1 Kyle Dake
174: Duke Pickett/Marshall Peppelman
184: No. 2 Steve Bosak
197: Jace Bennett
HWT: Stryker Lane

Lehigh Probable Lineup
125: Alex Abreu
133: Laike Gardner
141:  Anthony Salupo
149:  No. 20 Shane Welsh
157:  No. 3 Joey Napoli
165:  Brian Brill
174:  No. 11 Nathaniel Brown
184:  No. 5 Robert Hamlin
197: John Bolich
HWT:  Jack Delia

*All rankings from InterMat Wrestle


Southern Scuffle
Mike Nevinger and Kyle Dake won individual titles as the Big Red wrestling team placed fifth at the Southern Scuffle. Dake was only the second wrestler in history to win four titles. At 184 pounds, senior Steve Bosak placed second, while freshman Nahshon Garrett was third at 125 pounds. Also placing were Chris Villalonga (5^th, 149), Marshall Peppelman (8^th, 174) and Jace Bennett (7^th, 197). Dake faced No. 2 David Taylor of Penn State in the finals where he won a 3-2 decision. Nevinger defeated No. 4 Undrakhbayar Khishignaym of the Citadel in the finals, 3-2. Bosak was edged out by No. 1 ranked Ed Ruth in the 184 pounds finals, 7-3.

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 221-77-5 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.
 
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 select Cornell wrestling matches 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.
 
Grapple at the Garden
Senior Kyle Dake was named the Bill Farrell Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Grapple at the Garden after defeating No. 13 Zach Toal of Missouri and muscling past No. 3 Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma State. Missouri defeated the Big Red, 21-15 in the first dual of the day. No. 2 Oklahoma State inched past Cornell with bonus points in the second match, 21-16. Returning NCAA champion Steve Bosak returned to the Cornell lineup for the first time this season and picked up two wins over ranked wrestlers. College wrestling invaded Madison Square Garden for the first time in the arena's 133 year storied history. The event included 14 Division I teams competing in 12 dual meets. Thousands of fans filled the lower bowl of the Garden, and numerous wrestling greats, UFC fighters and WWE competitors were interviewed on the floor throughout the event. The teams were introduced with strobe lights and pyrotechnics giving the event an unprecedented atmosphere. The Big Red wrestlers even used the Knicks' locker room.

Sin City
Senior Kyle Dake won the individual title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational at 165 pounds, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The No. 8 ranked Cornell wrestling team took third place at the 31st annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational this weekend. Dake defeated second seeded Steven Monk of North Dakota State, 6-0. Freshman Nahshon Garrett took second. Four other Cornell wrestlers placed in their respective weight classes including: Mike Nevinger (4th, 141), Chris Villalonga (6th, 149), Jace Bennett (7th, 197) and Stryker Lane (6th, HWT).
 
On My Honor...
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.
 
EIWA Wrestler of the Week
Freshmen Nahshon Garrett was named EIWA Co-Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 19 after winning the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Tournament. Garrett was also named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Garrett shared the honor with Lehigh's Joey Napoli who knocked off No. 2 Dylan Alton of Penn State on Friday at 157 pounds. Garrett opened his rookie campaign with a 10-0 record that includes six bonus wins. In the finals on Saturday, he defeated No. 6 Steve Bonanno of Hofstra, 13-9. Garrett also won the crown at the Binghamton Open last weekend. Going 5-0 for the weekend, Garrett also won by a 14-1 major decision over Binghamton's Patrick Hunter in a Friday night dual.
 
Award Season
Kyle Dake was named EIWA Wrestler of the Week on Dec. 3 after winning the title at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in a dominate fashion. The three-time NCAA champion is ranked No. 1 at 165 pounds and went 5-0 on his way to standing atop the podium this weekend. Dake opened the tournament with two pins and followed by winning a 12-1 major decision over the No. 8 seed, Holden Packard of Boise State. In the semifinals, Dake picked up his second major decision with a 14-3 win over No. 15 Zach Toal of Missouri. In the finals, Dake shut out No. 8 Steven Monk of North Dakota State, 6-0.
 
Award Season Take Two...
Kyle Dake was named the EIWA Wrestler of the week for the second time on Dec. 17. Dake defeated No. 3 Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma State and No. 13 Zach Toal of Missouri at the Grapple at the Garden. Dake was also named the Bill Farrell Most Outstanding Wrestler at the event. Dake has now defeated four of the top 10 wrestlers in his 165 pound weight class. Dake is now 11-0 for the season.
 
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.
 
Empire State of Mind
The Big Red wrestling team won the team championship at the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Championships on Nov. 17 at the Newman Arena. Cornell crowned four individual champions and had 10 place winners. Freshman Nahshon Garrett was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament after grabbing the crown at 125 pounds. Mike Nevinger (141), Craig Scott (184) and Jace Bennett (197) all won their respective weight classes, while freshman Chris Dowdy took second at 157 pounds.  In the “B” bracket,  Ryan Dunphy (149), Michael Alexander (174) and Jacob Aiken-Phillips (HWT) all won their respective weight classes. At 133 pounds, Josh Kennedy recorded the fastest fall in Cornell school history, pinning Michael Baruch of Yeshiva in 10 seconds.
 
Don't Blink
At the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Tournament,  Josh Kennedy record the fasted fall in school history in the “B” Tournament. Kennedy pinned Michael Baruch of Yeshiva in 10 seconds. Junior Marshall Peppelman tied the record on Nov. 24 at the Mat Town Open when he pinned Tyler Rill of Bloomsburg in 10 seconds in the bout for third place. The former record was held by Troy Nickerson '10. Nickerson pinned McGuire of Eastern Michigan in 13 seconds on Jan. 17, 2009.
 
Journeymen Northeast Duals
The Big Red swept its competition at the Northeast Duals with a 3-0 record on Nov. 24. Cornell opened the day by blanking Drexel, 40-0, and followed by edging out No. 9 Central Michigan, 17-15. The Big Red rounded out the day with a 25-13 victory over No. 12 Oklahoma. Sophomore Jace Bennett went 3-0 for the day with two major decisions and a pin against the Sooners. Freshmen Nahshon Garrett and senior Kyle Dake were also 3-0 on the day.
 
The Binghamton Open
Big Red wrestlers competed unattached at the Binghamton Open, Nov. 11. Eleven wrestlers placed in the top six of their respective weight classes including: Nashon Garrett (1st, 125), Bricker Dixon (4th, 125), Nick Arujau (4th, 133), Joe Stanzion (2nd, 141), Mike Nevinger (4th, 141), Jesse Shanaman (6th, 157, medically forfeited out of tournament), Duke Pickett Jr. (4th, 174), Marshall Peppelman (6th, 174), Craig Scott (2nd, 184), Billy George (4th, 197) and Jace Bennett (6th, 197).
 
Down for the Count
Seniors Steve Bosak and Kyle Dake rank fifth in the Cornell record books in pins with 33. Bosak is also tied for fifth with 13 falls in a season during the 2011-12 campaign. Dake is tied for 10th with 12 pins last season.
 
Winner Winner
Kyle Dake currently holds the 10th spot in the Cornell record books with 116 career victories. Fellow senior Steve Bosak ranks 12th with 112. Dake is also second in career winning percentage at 96.66%. Two-time NCAA champion Dave Auble holds the told spot with a 98.08%.
 
Racking Up Points
Senior Kyle Dake sits in the seventh spot in the Big Red career record books with 66 bonus wins including 33 falls. Fellow senior Steve Bosak holds eighth with 64 bonus wins including 34 falls.
 
That's Major!
Kyle Dake is tied for 10th in the career record books in major decisions with 26. Steve Bosak is three spots behind him at 13th with 24. Volunteer assistant coach Mike Grey holds the third spot with 37. Dake is also tied for 13th in major decisions in a season with 11 during his sophomore campaign
 
Winning Percentage
Senior Kyle Dake is second in the Cornell record books in career winning percentage at 96.66%. Dake has an 116-4 overall record. Two-time NCAA champion Dave Auble holds the top spot with 98.08%. Auble was 51-1 from 1957-60. Dake is also second in career dual win percentage at 97.40%. He has a 38-1 record.
 
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
 
 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. Ivy League duals.
 
Next Time Out
The Big Red will open its Ivy slate on Saturday, Jan. 12 when it plays host to Princeton for a 1 p.m dual at the Friedman Wrestling Center.