ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell wrestling is set to welcome nine newcomers in advance of the 2020-21 season. This incoming class joins the Big Red with 10 state championships, five Beast of the East championships, three Fargo titles, two FloNationals titles, a Super 32 championship and a Walsh Ironman championship. Two members of the incoming class have already represented the United State at the world level and five members of the class ranked in the top 100 recruits on FloWrestling's Big Board.
 
Benny Baker, Jacob Cardenas, Lewis Fernandes, Chris Foca, Luke Gorg, Julian Ramirez, Josh Saunders, Kaleb Williams and Jacob Yawn make up the future graduating class of 2024.

Head Coach Rob Koll and his staff enter 2020-21, not just hoping for a season, but hoping to reclaim the Ivy League championship after it was won by someone other than the Big Red for the first time in 18 years last season.
 

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Class of 2024 Biographies

Benny Baker • 157 • Newark Valley, N.Y./Wyoming Seminary
• Four-year member of the wrestling team at Wyoming Seminary
• Four-time team runner-up at Prep National (2016-19)
 
Jacob Cardenas • 197 • Kearny, N.J./Bergen Catholic HS
• Ranked as the #15 recruit in the Class of 2019 by FloWrestling
• Two-time New Jersey State Champion
• Super 32 Champion in 2018
• FloNationals Champion in 2019
• First team All-State in 2018 and 2019
• Went 24-4 during grayshirt season
 
Lewis Fernandes • 285 • Tewksbury, N.J./Voorhees HS
• Ranked as the #61 recruit in the Class of 2019 by FloWrestling
• Two-time New Jersey State Champion
• FloNational Champion
• Ranked as the #1 pound for pound wrestler in New Jersey during 2019
• Finished high school with a record of 153-22 with 107 wins by fall
• During senior year won all of his matches by fall
• Went 26-4 during grayshirt season with win over Harvard's Yaraslau Slavikouski
 
Chris Foca • 174 • Cliffside Park, N.J./Bergen Catholic HS
• Ranked as the #21 recruit in the Class of 2019 by FloWrestling
• 2019 New Jersey State Champion
• Two-time Beast of the East Champion
• Fargo National Champion
• Three-time US National Team member
• Member of the All-State Academic team
• Went 23-3 during grayshirt season
 
Luke Gorg • 133 • Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville HS
• Four-time PIAA AA State Qualifier
• Two-time team captain at Hughesville
• All-time wins leader at Hughesville (135)
• First Team All-State Academic team
• Four-time member of the high honor roll
 
Julian Ramirez • 165 • Miami, Fla./Blair Academy
• Ranked as the #10 recruit in the Class of 2019 by FloWrestling
• Wrestled three years at Blair Academy in New Jersey after starting his high school career at Tampa Jesuit
• Served as team captain at Blair in 2019
• Won team National Championships, 2017-19
• Posted a high school record of 143-10
• Two-time State Champion
• Two-time National Prep Champion
• Three-time Beast of the East Champion
• Went 23-6 during grayshirt season
 
Josh Saunders • 141 • St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers
• Ranked as the #8 recruit in the Class of 2020 by FloWrestling
• Academic achievements include three-time All-District and three-time All-State academic awards
• Helped Christian Brothers to two state team titles in 2018 and 2019
• Named to the Missouri All-Decade Team and Wrestler of the Decade in 2020
• Three-time State Champion
• NSHCA Champion (2017)
• Previous member of the Cadet and Junior UWW World teams
• Two-time Fargo Champion (2017, 2019)
• Walsh Ironman Champion (2019)
• Took 8th place at Senior US Open in 2019
 
Kaleb Williams • 149 • Apex, N.C./Apex HS
• Four-year member of the wrestling team at Apex HS
• Two-time North Carolina State Finalist
• SWAC Wrestler of the Year
• Wrestled for the Wolfpack Wrestling Club

Jacob Yawn • 157 • Shreveport, La./C.E. Byrd HS
• Four-year member of the wrestling team at C.E. Byrd HS
• LHSAA State Finalist in 2020 at 145 pounds
• Placed fourth at LHSAA State Championships in 2019 at 132 pounds