VESTAL, N.Y. -- The Cornell wrestling team methodically ran through Binghamton, winning all nine contested matches for a 36-6 win over the Bearcats on Friday evening at the Events Center. The Big Red captured its season-opening dual for the ninth consecutive season.
Binghamton opened the match with a forfeit victory. That was the highlight of the match for the Bearcats. The Big Red blitzed the home team from there, winning close matches and lopsided ones to improve to 8-0 all-time in the series.
After handing Binghamton a forfeit at 125 to give the home team a 6-0 lead, freshman Vito Arujau dominated with a 22-7 tech fall over Joe Nelson in his first collegiate dual, while fellow 133-pounder and 15th-ranked
Chas Tucker moved up to 141, capturing a dominant 8-2 decision that gave Cornell the lead for good.
Those two wins triggered eight straight victories, the tightest coming at 149 with
Hunter Richard topping ranked Frankie Garcia for the second time this week, this time by a 5-4 decision.
Milik Dawkins also rallied from an early deficit to capture his bout at 165 by a 7-5 margin, nearly the opposite situation of freshman heavyweight
Brendan Furman who led early and held on for a 7-6 triumph to close out the dual.
Brandon Womack won a showcase battle over Vincent DePrez 4-1 at 174 in a matchup of expected EIWA championship contenders. A first period takedown was the difference, as Womack also earned an escape point in the second and a riding point in improving to 6-1 on the young season.
Besides Arujau, Cornell also collected bonus points at 157 with
Fredy Stroker pitching an 8-0 shutout over Dylan Wood, at 184 as ninth-ranked
Max Dean teched Nunzio Crowley 17-0 and
Ben Honis used a last-minute pin of Anthony DePrez at 197.
Cornell returns to action tomorrow when it opens its home schedule with a 3 p.m. dual against West Virginia at Newman Arena on
Kyle Dake Day. Admission for kids through eighth grade is free with a meet-and-greet and post-match autograph session following the matchup. Live video of the dual will be part of the ESPN+ package.
#9 Cornell 36, Binghamton 6
125: Audey Ashkar (B) won by forfeit
133: Vito Arujau (C) won by technical fall over Joe Nelson (B), 22-7
141: #15
Chas Tucker (C) won by decision over Anthony Sparacio (B), 8-2
149:
Hunter Richard (C) won by decision over Frankie Garcia (B), 5-4
157:
Fredy Stroker (C) won by major decision over Dylan Wood (B), 8-0
165:
Milik Dawkins (C) won by decision over Aidan Monteverdi (B), 7-5
174: #16
Brandon Womack (C) won by decision over Vincent DePrez (B), 4-1
184: #9
Max Dean (C) won by technical fall over Nunzio Crowley (B), 17-0
197: #18
Ben Honis (C) won by fall over Anthony DePrez (B), 6:34
HWT:
Brendan Furman (C) won by decision over Joe Doyle (B), 7-6
