Lehigh stuns No. 1 Cornell 17-15

BETHLEHEM, Pa.—The No. 1 Cornell wrestling team was edged out by Lehigh, 17-15, on Thursday night at Stabler Arena in front of a crowd of 3,274. Each team won five bouts, but two wins by major decision provided Lehigh with the advantage. Cornell moves to 5-1 for the season, while Lehigh is 10-5. The Big Red picked up wins by Frank Perrelli (125), Kyle Dake (149), DJ Meagher (157), Mack Lewnes (174) and Cam Simaz (197).

At 125 pounds, No. 10 Perrelli faced off against Mitch Berger. Perrelli got a hold of Berger’s ankle early in the bout, but the Mountain Hawk wound a minute off the clock trying to make it out of bounds. The Big Red wrestler worked to pull him back in bounds and was awarded with a takedown when he was able to control his opponent’s other leg. Perrelli let him up looking to score again, but time ran out in the period. Perrelli increased his advantage to 3-1 when he quickly escaped from his opening down position in the second. The Big Red wrestler notched two more takedowns before the period finished. Berger chose to start the third period down, and Perrelli cut him loose looking for a major decision. Berger was able to evade Perrelli for the remainder of the match to avoid giving Perrelli bonus points. Perrelli gave the Big Red an early 3-0 lead, winning a 9-3 decision.

Joe Stanzione took on No. 20 Frank Cagnina at 133 pounds. Cagnina notched a bonus point for Lehigh winning a 13-4 major decision.

Senior Corey Manson wrestled against Stephen Dutton in the 141 pound weight class. The two wrestlers traded takedowns in the first period to take a 3-3 tie into the second. Dutton chose to start the second down on the mat and quickly escaped. The two wrestlers were tied up late in the bout, and Manson worked his way to a takedown as time ran out. Manson chose to start the third period down on the mat looking for an escape. The Big Red wrestler was not able to get away from Dutton, and the Lehigh grappler notched three back points at the end of the period to win a 7-5 decision.

No. 2 Kyle Dake squared off against Joey Napoli at 149. Dake converted on a low double midway through the period to take a 2-0 lead. The Big Red wrestler cut his opponent looking for another takedown, but Napoli evaded him. Dake chose to start down in the second and grabbed the only point of the period with an escape. Napoli escaped from his opening bottom position in the third period after Dake had secured riding time. The bout was tied 3-3 after Dake was hit with his second stalling call, but with 1:11 in riding time Dake won a 4-3 decision.

At 157 pounds, No. 9 DJ Meagher hit the mat with high energy against Sean Bilodeau. The Big Red wrestler notched a takedown and immediately started trying to turn his opponent. Meagher was awarded two back points for an impending nearfall when Bilodeau yelled out while being turned. Meagher dominated his opponent in the second period never letting him escape from his starting bottom position. Meagher chose to start the third period on top looking for back points. Late in the period Bilodeau was able to escape. With 5:32 in riding time, Meagher won a 5-1 decision to give the Big Red a 9-7 team lead heading into the halftime break.

No. 3 Justin Kerber took on Brandon Hatchett at 165 pounds. Hatchett took down Kerber in the first period from which Kerber escaped. Hatchett chose down in the second period and earned the only point of the period with an escape. Kerber quickly escaped from his opening down position in the third, but was unable to score again and lost a 3-2 decision.

After a scoreless first period at 174 pounds, No. 3 Mack Lewnes escaped from No. 13 Austin Meys to start the second period. Meys escaped from his opening bottom position in the third, but Lewnes would take him down. With 1:17 in riding time, Lewnes won a 4-1 decision.

At 184 pounds, No. 3 Steve Bosak took down No. 9 Robert Hamlin a minute into the match. After 45 seconds, Hamlin escaped. Bosak started the second period down on the mat and escaped. Hamlin countered a shot by Bosak and took down the Big Red wrestler with 13 seconds left in the period. Hamlin chose neutral to start the third period. Hamlin took down Bosak to take a 5-3 lead. Bosak would escape but could not score against an evading Hamlin and lost a 5-4 decision.

No. 1 Cam Simaz was scoreless in the first period at 197 pounds against No. 14 Joe Kennedy. Kennedy chose down to start the second period but was unable to escape Simaz. Simaz quickly escaped to start the third period and with 1:47 in riding time won a 2-0 decision.

At heavyweight, No. 1 Zach Rey won an 8-0 major decision over Oney Snyder giving Lehigh the final 17-15 lead.

The Big Red will return home for the first time in the new year to play host to Binghamton on Friday, Jan. 28 and Iowa State on Sunday, Jan. 30.

Match-By-Match Results

125: No. 10 Frank Perrelli (Cornell) dec. Mitch Berger (Lehigh), 9-3 (Cornell 3, Lehigh 0)

133: No. 20 Frank Cagnina (Lehigh) maj. dec. Joe Stanzione (Cornell), 13-4 (Lehigh 4, Cornell 3)

141: Stephen Dutton (Lehigh) dec. Corey Manson (Cornell), 8-5 (Lehigh 7, Cornell 3)

149: No. 2 Kyle Dake (Cornell) dec. Joey Napoli (Lehigh), 4-3 (Lehigh 7, Cornell 6)

157: No. 9 DJ Meagher (Cornell) dec. Sean Bilodeau (Lehigh), 5-1 (Cornell 9, Lehigh 7)

165: Brandon Hatchett (Lehigh) dec. No. 3 Justin Kerber (Cornell), 3-2 (Lehigh 10, Cornell 9)

174: No. 3 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) dec. No. 13 Austin Meys (Lehigh), 4-1 (Cornell 12, Lehigh 10)

184: No. 9 Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) dec. No. 3 Steve Bosak (Cornell), 5-4 (Lehigh 13, Cornell 12)

197: No. 1 Cam Simaz (Cornell) dec. No. 14 Joe Kennedy (Lehigh), 2-0 (Cornell 15, Lehigh 13)

HWT: No. 1 Zach Rey (Lehigh) maj. dec. Oney Snyder (Cornell), 8-0 (Lehigh 17, Cornell 15)