COLUMBUS, OHIO - The No. 17-ranked Cornell wrestling team was defeated on Sunday, Dec. 1, dropping a road dual to #8 Ohio State by a final score of 23-9. Cornell earned three victories on Sunday, with #6 Chas Tucker (133), Colton Yapoujian (157) and #4 Ben Darmstadt (184) all winning bouts by decision.

A loss to the Buckeyes gives Cornell (0-2) its second loss of the season, as the Big Red now prepare for one of the toughest in-season tournaments around, the Cliff Keen Invitational, next weekend on Dec. 6-7.

Sunday's dual started at 141 pounds, where Noah Baughman was met with the tough task of facing No. 1-ranked Luke Pletcher. Baughman hung tough with the top ranked 141-pounder in the country, losing an 8-6 decision. Baughman's takedown of Pletcher in the second period was just the second takedown Pletcher has allowed through four duals.

Despite a loss at 149 pounds, Hunter Richard turned in a strong performance, using an eventful third period to make things close against #10 Sammy Sasso. Richard took Sasso down three times in the third, but was defeated by the redshirt freshman, 12-9.

Colton Yapoujian earned the first dual victory of his young career on Sunday, defeating Elijah Cleary, 3-1, in the 157 pound bout. Tied at 1-1 following the third period, things stayed tied through sudden victory as the match headed to ride outs. Yapoujian rode Cleary for the entire 30 seconds of the first ride out period, before Cleary was hit for stalling in the second. Yapoujian held a 2-1 lead following the stall call, forcing Cleary to give him an escape and the 3-1 advantage.

Milik Dawkins made his season dual debut for the Big Red at 165 pounds, losing to #14 Ethan Smith by major decision, 12-4. Dawkins had seen action in six previous duals for Cornell during his career and brought a 2-4 career dual record into his match against Smith. Smith was quick on offense, picking up four first period takedowns en route to the victory over Dawkins.

One of three ranked wrestlers for Cornell, #11 Brandon Womack lost his second close bout of the season, dropping a 6-5 decision to #13 Kaleb Romero at 174 pounds. It was the lone match of the day that featured a pair of ranked wrestlers. The Big Red senior defended a pair of double leg attempts by Romero in the match, but Romero converted on his third attempt at the shot mid-way through the third period and took a 4-3 lead. Womack overextended on a shot late in the match as he tried to take a lead, but Romero turned it into offense of his own and scored on a go-behind.

#4 Ben Darmstadt earned his first dual victory following his return from injury, besting Gavin Hoffman by a 5-0 score. Darmstadt was dominant in the top position throughout the entire match, amassing a wealth of riding time and picking up two near-fall points on a modified assassin attempt in the third period.

Jonathan Loew faced Ohio State's second top-ranked wrestler, Kollin Moore, in the 197 pound match. It was Loew who opened the scoring, taking down Moore in the first period. Moore was quick to respond however, earning the 18-6 major decision to defeat the freshman.

At 285, Brendan Furman was bested by Gary Traub, 4-3, following a takedown in the final seconds of the match. Furman scored the first takedown of the match early in the first period, but it was Traub that gained momentum as the bout drew on. Traub worked on his late takedown of Furman for an extended period of time to close the third, before finally securing points on the edge of the mat.

The dual jumped down to 125 pounds following the heavyweight bout, where Dom LaJoie was defeated by Malik Heinselman, 8-4. LaJoie trailed, 6-3, heading into the third, and with top position was looking to turn Heinselman for a victory. Unfortunately for LaJoie, Heinselman was able to score on a late reversal to increase his lead.

#6 Chas Tucker picked up his second dual victory of the season in the final match of the day, securing a 12-5 decision over Dylan Koontz at 133 pounds. Known for wrestling close matches, Tucker affirmed his ranking as one of the best in the country by taking Koontz down five times. Tucker took Koontz down three times in the first and once in each of the ensuing periods en route to the win.

Up Next: 
• Cornell travels to one of the toughest tournaments of the season, the Cliff Keen Invitational, in Las Vegas on Dec. 6-7.
• Tickets for the Cliff Keen are cash only and can only be purchased on the day of the event, with the All-Session Pass costing $40.
• Wrestling for Session I starts at 11:00 a.m. ET on Dec. 6.
• In 2018, Cornell placed 21st as a team at the Cliff Keen, with Chas Tucker and Max Dean reaching the podium.
#17 Cornell Big Red (0-2) at #8 Ohio State (3-1)
Dec. 1, 2019 // Covelli Center // Columbus, Ohio
Final: Ohio State, 23-9

141: #1 Luke Pletcher (OSU) dec. Noah Baughman (COR), 8-6
149: #10 Sammy Sasso (OSU) dec. Hunter Richard (COR), 12-9
157: Colton Yapoujian (COR) dec. Elijah Cleary (OSU), 3-1 (TB-1)
165: #14 Ethan Smith (OSU) major dec. Milik Dawkins (COR), 12-4
174: #13 Kaleb Romero (OSU) dec. #11 Brandon Womack (COR), 6-5
184: #4 Ben Darmstadt (COR) dec. Gavin Hoffman (OSU), 5-0
197: #1 Kollin Moore (OSU) major dec. Jonathan Loew (COR), 18-6
285: Gary Traub (OSU) dec. Brendan Furman (COR), 4-3
125: Malik Heinselman (OSU) dec. Dom LaJoie (COR), 8-4
133: #6 Chas Tucker (COR) dec. Dylan Koontz (OSU), 12-5
 

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DUAL NOTES
 
141: #1 Luke Pletcher (OSU) dec. Noah Baughman (COR), 8-6
Pletcher catches Baughman with an ankle pick to score an early takedown, taking a 2-0 lead. Baughman quick to escape. Baughman shoots, but Pletcher defends it. Pletcher with another takedown at the end of the first, but doesn't have a good grasp on Baughman, who escapes. Pletcher leads 4-2 heading into the second. Pletcher chooses bottom position for the second. Pletcher is difficult to ride, but Baughman with an early mat return. Pletcher escapes, but Baughman adds some riding time. Pletcher shoots, but it's Baughman who ends up with the ankle of Pletcher. Baughman elevates the leg and earns the takedown on the edge of the mat. Pletcher a quick escape. Baughman on bottom to start the third, trailing 6-4. Baughman out early, down 6-5. Riding time won't be a factor. Pletcher and Baughman in a scramble, but Pletcher finds a takedown. Baughman with a late escape to bring the score to 8-6.
 
149: #10 Sammy Sasso (OSU) dec. Hunter Richard (COR), 12-9
Richard in on the quick single leg. Sasso getting funky, coming out the back and scoring two due to danger for Richard. Richard out for the escape. Sasso ankle pick to take a 4-1 lead. Richard out, trailing 4-2 now. Richard hit for stalling twice on push outs, now 5-2 for Sasso. Sasso went for a body lock, but Richard's whizzer prevents the takedown. Richard on bottom to start the second, picking up the early escape, down 5-3 now. Richard on a single leg, but a whizzer from Sasso allows him to spin out of it. Sasso executes a takedown as time expires in the second, keeping a toenail inbounds. Call on the mat was challenged and confirmed, Cornell loses its challenge for the dual. Sasso on bottom to start the third and escapes. Richard called for stalling though, giving Sasso a 9-3 lead. Richard picks Sasso up and gets the takedown on the edge of the mat, but Sasso out quick. Sasso leads, 10-5. Richard with a single leg, but goes out of bounds. Richard with a takedown and quickly lets Sasso out to try to go for more, Sasso leading 11-7. A flurry of shots at the end, scoring another takedown to Richard. Sasso comes away on top, 12-9, despite the strong third from Richard.
 
157: Colton Yapoujian (COR) dec. Elijah Cleary (OSU), 3-1 (TB-1)
Yapoujian going for a go-behind, but action is taken off the mat. Stall warning on Cleary on the edge of the mat. No score in the first. Cleary on bottom to start the second. Cleary goes for a switch to start the second, but Yapoujian gets the mat return. Yapoujian gets his riding time up to 57 seconds before Cleary breaks free for the escape. Yapoujian a quick escape to start the third, now tied at 1-1. Both wrestlers searching for the perfect moment for a takedown attempt. Yapoujian goes for a body lock to end the third, but no points. Heading to sudden victory. Yapoujian with another body lock on the edge of the mat, but continuation called as the wrestlers go out. Now to ride outs. Cleary starts on bottom in ride outs. Cleary called for stalling in the second ride out period. Yapoujian now leads 3-1 because of the stall call and an escape. First career dual win for Yapoujian.
 
165: #14 Ethan Smith (OSU) major dec. Milik Dawkins (COR), 12-4
Smith with two fast takedowns in the first period, taking a 4-1 lead in the first 40 seconds. Dawkins out a second time, now trailing 4-2. Smith with a third takedown in the first, leading Dawkins by a 6-3 score. Smith continues to shoot, now up 8-3 over Dawkins. Smith tries for a tilt, getting Dawkins on his shoulder, but not long enough for swipes. Smith chooses bottom to start the second and escapes on the edge. Now 9-3 in favor of Smith. Big time funk for both wrestlers late in the second. Dawkins on bottom to start the third. Dawkins gets out, trailing 9-4. Smith has riding time locked up. Dawkins in on a single leg, but Smith's whizzer negates it. Smith warned for stalling. Smith gets the takedown with 30 seconds left and defeats Dawkins, 12-4.
 
174: #13 Kaleb Romero (OSU) dec. #11 Brandon Womack (COR), 6-5
Romero with a blast double leg, but an elevator on the edge of the mat means no points as Womack comes away unscathed. It's Womack who picks up the first takedown of the bout, taking an early 2-0 lead. Wrestling back to neutral at 1:45 in the first, Womack leading 2-1. Romero tries again for the double leg, but Womack good to defend on the edge of the mat. Romero chooses bottom to start the second. Quick escape for Romero to tie the bout at 2-2. Womack on bottom to start the third, but Romero cuts him. Womack up 3-2. Romero converts on the double leg shot to take a 4-3 lead over Womack. Romero cuts Womack, tied at 4-4. Womack shoots but is overextended, Romero gets the go-behind to take a 6-4 lead. Womack out, down 6-5, but with just one second left in the match.
 
184: #4 Ben Darmstadt (COR) dec. Gavin Hoffman (OSU), 5-0
Darmstadt scores the first takedown of the match on a go-behind. Darmstadt has a cradle locked, trying to make a turn, but Hoffman avoids the roll over cradle. Hoffman quick to his feet, but Darmstadt with a fast mat return. Wrestlers are neutral to start the second as Hoffman wants to avoid the top game of Darmstadt. Darmstadt in on a front headlock, trying to get to Hoffman's ankle, but doesn't finish it. Darmstadt on top to start the third. Darmstadt picks up two near-fall points on an assassin attempt, defeating Hoffman, 5-0.
 
197: #1 Kollin Moore (OSU) major dec. Jonathan Loew (COR), 18-6
Loew on the offensive early, in on a single leg. Loew latches on to a second ankle on the edge of mat, taking an early 2-0 lead, but Moore is quick to escape on the restart. Moore catches an ankle and takes down Loew with 1:12 to wrestle in the first. Loew's escape ties the bout at 3-3. Moore catches Loew with a level change, picking up a takedown in the final seconds of the period. Moore leads, 5-3 heading into the second. Loew on top to start the second, but Moore is out fast to take a 6-3 lead. Moore grabs the ankle on a low shot to take an 8-3 lead over Loew. Loew is out on the edge making it 8-4. Late second period scramble, but Moore's super duck gives him a 10-4 advantage leading into the third. Loew on bottom to start the third and is out for the escape to bring the score to 10-5, trying to avoid the major decision. Loew's shot is stuffed by Moore who picks up the go-behind takedown. Loew is released quickly, but Moore adds another fast takedown, now leading the Big Red freshman, 14-6. Moore riding Loew tough, not much he can do to get out of it as he is warned for stalling. Moore adds two near-fall to lead Loew, 17-6 with riding time locked up.
 
285: Gary Traub (OSU) dec. Brendan Furman (COR), 4-3
Traub called for a stall warning just six seconds into the bout. Furman has the first takedown of the match as he starts quick. Traub escapes, now 2-1, Furman adds :30 of riding time. Furman on bottom to start the second, adding an escape to make it 3-1. Traub tries to shoot but can't hold onto the leg of Furman. Traub with choice in the third, starting on bottom. Traub an early escape, now 3-2 for Furman. Traub has a shot with a high crotch, but wrestlers go out for no points. Traub scores the takedown as time expires. This locks the dual up for Ohio State as the dual heads down to 125 pounds.
 
125: Malik Heinselman (OSU) dec. Dom LaJoie (COR), 8-4
Heinselman scores first, taking LaJoie down midway through the first. LaJoie is out after 33 seconds of riding time in favor of Heinselman. LaJoie on bottom to start the second. Heinselman picks up two near-fall to start the second, leading 4-1. LaJoie escapes, bringing things to neutral, down 4-2. Heinselman up to 1:21 of riding time. LaJoie tries to snap Heinselman, but Heinselman is able to duck it and take LaJoie down, now 6-2. LaJoie on top to start the third, trailing 6-3. LaJoie needing to turn Heinselman and cut riding time down. LaJoie riding tough with lots of pressure on the shoulders of Heinselman. Heinselman reverses LaJoie to win, 8-4.
 
133: #6 Chas Tucker (COR) dec. Dylan Koontz (OSU), 12-5
Tucker with the early takedown of Koontz. Koontz breaks free, Tucker leads 2-1 after :28 seconds of riding time. Tucker adds more points with his second takedown of the period, but Koontz is quick to spin out, Tucker up 4-2. Tucker quickly changes direction and gets a last second takedown on a go-behind, up 6-2 heading into the second. Tucker on bottom to start the second, earning a fast escape to lead 7-2. Tucker in on a single leg, elevated, on a re-shot. A takedown for Tucker on that shot gives him a 9-2 advantage. Koontz out, now 9-3, Tucker with almost a minute of riding time. Tucker tries for another late period shot, but Koontz stuffs this one. Koontz on bottom in the third, escapes to bring the score to 9-4. Riding time locked for Tucker. Tucker with one final takedown to end the third as he wins, 12-5.