ITHACA, N.Y. — The No. 12 Cornell men's wrestling team opens the 2025-26 season Sunday at the Clarion Open, returning a seasoned roster powered by 10 NCAA qualifiers and two All-Americans. Competition begins at 9 a.m. inside Tippin Gymnasium in Clarion, Pa.
The David Dunlop '59 Head Coach of Wrestling, Mike Grey, enters his fifth season at the helm with a roster stacked with veteran firepower and rising talent. All-Americans Meyer Shapiro (157) and Simon Ruiz (174) headline a squad looking to build on a seventh-place finish at last year's NCAA Championships and the program's first-ever Ivy League Tournament title.
"We love the balance of this group," Grey said. "We have veteran guys coming back mid-year, and we also have young talent competing right away. When we're all back together in December, we expect to keep building momentum and be at our best in March."
Grey again challenges his program with one of the nation's toughest schedules, including Oklahoma State, NC State, and the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, a philosophy rooted in postseason preparation.
"We're known for performing in March," Grey said. "Tough early-season tests sharpen us. It's about putting our guys in situations to grow, learn and be ready when it matters most."
Before the season begins, Grey emphasized that Cornell's identity extends beyond rankings and results.
"Our foundation is family," Grey said. "From there, it's commitment, guys being committed to themselves and to this team… accountability, humility and being selfless. If we focus on those values, we can achieve excellence. When you're only focused on results, you lose freedom, joy and gratitude. We want to build something that lasts."
Preseason Polls
Cornell opens at No. 12 in the NWCA Coaches Poll with eight wrestlers ranked in the top 31 by InterMat.
Weight Class Breakdown & Rankings (FloWrestling/Intermat)
125 lbs
Junior Marcello Milani (24/31) returns after qualifying for NCAAs and finishing third at the Ivy Tournament. Senior Greg Diakomihalis rejoins the lineup midyear after an injury-shortened 2024-25 season (9-1 record). Senior Joe Sciarrone and sophomore Ernie Perry add depth.
"Marcello is a great example of our development process," Grey said. "And Greg has all the tools, we just need to keep him healthy. They're going to push each other to get better."
133 lbs
Sophomore Tyler Ferrara qualified for NCAAs and earned First-Team All-Ivy honors last season, while senior Brett Ungar (22/25), a two-time qualifier, returns from injury. Foster Cardinale and Ethan Qureshi round out a deep chart.
"At 133 we have national-level guys battling. Their body of work will determine who's on the mat when we get to dual season," Grey said.
141 lbs
Josh Saunders won 19 bouts and earned a win at NCAAs last season, stepping into the lineup after competing at U23 Worlds. Two-time qualifier Vince Cornella (16/19) returns second semester after missing last season. Freshman Gabriel Bouyssou, along with Myles Griffin, Luca Stefanelli, George Oroudjov, Joe Knackstedt, and Daniel Aranda, bring edge to a stacked class.
149 lbs
Freshman Jaxon Joy (17/9) debuts after a dominant gap-year slate with the Spartan RTC, entering the season ranked No. 9 by Intermat. Two-time NCAA qualifier Ethan Fernandez is set to return second semester. Mark Botello and Carter Tate also contribute.
"Jaxon reminds me a bit of Simon — disciplined, driven, and hungry to compete right away," Grey said. "He's quiet, but someone to watch out for, that kid has drive."
157 lbs
Two-time All-American and U20/U23 World Champion Meyer Shapiro (3/3) rejoins mid-season after a top-five NCAA finish. Nate Wade, Benny Rogers, Ryder Yoshitake, and Mac Calavitta provide first-semester options.
"Meyer's maturity and discipline are what separate him," Grey said. "His schedule, his recovery, his habits — they're elite. I'm excited for him to join us next semester."
165 lbs
Freshman Louie Cerchio (NR/31) enters the year ranked after standout open results. Senior Brody Oleksak returns midyear. Buzzy Bomberger and Kaleb Williams round out the 165 class.
174 lbs
Sophomore Simon Ruiz (3/3) looks to build on an All-America run and Ivy Rookie of the Year season. Evan Canoyer and Ben Shvartsman make the trio of the 174s.
"Simon does everything right… on the mat, in the classroom, in life," Grey said. "His trajectory is only going up. He's young and hungry."
184 lbs
Senior Christian Hansen leads the weight class, with Carson Crace, Matthew Furman, and Liam Finn in support. Returning NCAA qualifier Mikey Dellagatta is out for the season due to injury.
197 lbs
Junior Aiden Hanning saw starting action last season in two dual meets and at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Tournament along with winning his bracket at the Big Red Invitational. Sophomore Zahir McLean-Felix moves up a weight class to join junior Eric Carlson and Hanning.
285 lbs
Ivy League champion Ashton Davis (NR/26) returns after winning the Ivy League heavyweight title at last year's tournament and qualifying for NCAAs. Freshmen Cash Henderson and Cy Kruse, and sophomore Aiden Compton, provide depth.
Competitors for Clarion Open
125 — Milani, Perry
133 — Ferrara
141 — Bouyssou, Cardinale, Knackstedt
149 — Joy, Tate, Stefanelli
157 — Wade, Rogers, Yoshitake, Calavitta
165 — Cerchio, Bomberger
184 — Hansen, Crace, Furman
197 — McLean-Felix, Carlson
285 — Davis, Henderson, Kruse
Looking Ahead
Cornell's early slate includes the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, and Journeyman Duals before the roster fully reunites in the second semester.
"They're scrappy," stated Head Coach Grey. "We've got some young talent and some honorary old dogs who are going to get in there and scrap. That combination of youth and seasoned guys makes this group feisty and hungry. This season will reflect that."
