NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Cornell men's wrestling team heads south this weekend for a pair of marquee matchups at the Journeyman Collegiate Wrestling Duals, set for Sunday, Dec. 21, in Nashville, Tenn.
The Big Red will open the day against the University of Illinois at 1 p.m. EST before closing the event with a 5 p.m. EST dual versus Little Rock. All matches will stream live on FloWrestling.
Cornell brings a deep and flexible lineup to Nashville, featuring a mix of proven veterans and emerging young talent as the program continues to test itself against quality opposition. Sunday's duals will also mark highly anticipated returns to the mat, as Vince Cornella (141) and Meyer Shapiro (157) rejoin the lineup after sitting out the first half of the season.
At 125 pounds, Marcello Milani is slated to represent the Big Red, while 133 pounds features options in Tyler Ferrara and Brett Ungar. Cornella is expected to anchor the lineup at 141, and 149 pounds showcases one of Cornell's most dynamic pairings in Jaxon Joy and Ethan Fernandez.
The middle weights remain a strength, with Shapiro and Benny Rogers listed at 157 and Louie Cerchio holding down 165. At 174, Simon Ruiz and Kaleb Williams provide depth and versatility, followed by Christian Hansen at 184 and Aiden Hanning at 197.
The heavyweight spot rounds out the lineup with Ashton Davis and Cash Henderson both available at 285.
Sunday's opener against Illinois renews a long-standing series between two nationally respected programs, while the evening dual against Little Rock provides another opportunity for Cornell to measure itself against a growing Division I contender. Both matchups are expected to feature competitive bouts across the lineup, with valuable postseason implications and experience on the line.
With two duals in one day on a national stage, the Journeyman Collegiate Wrestling Duals present an ideal proving ground for the Big Red as the season continues to build momentum.
Big Red Schedule — Journeyman Collegiate Wrestling Duals (Nashville, Tenn.)
Sunday, Dec. 21
Cornell vs. Illinois — 1 p.m. EST
Cornell vs. Little Rock — 5 p.m. EST
All matches streamed live on FloWrestling.
