Collegiate Duals Recap: #1 Iowa & #2 Penn State challenged, but prevailed

Photos: Tony Cassioppi (left) defeated NC State’s Tyrie Houghton, 6-2, at heavyweight to clinch No. 1 Iowa’s 19-15 victory over the Wolfpack in the Red Pool championship of the Journeymen Collegiate Duals, Dec. 20-21, in Niceville, Fla. Meanwhile, defending national champ Roman Bravo-Young (right) beat Arizona State’s Michael McGee in a bout at 133 pounds to help No. 2 Penn State claim the Blue Pool championship over the Sun Devils at the two-day event. (Photos by Bob Mayeri)

By Mike Finn

As expected, both No. 1-ranked Iowa and No. 2 Penn State won its pool championships at the 2021 Journeymen Collegiate Duals, but both the Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions each had to overcome deficits in one of their duals to go 3-0 at this event that was held Dec. 20-21 in Niceville, Fla.

After dominating both Central Michigan (44-0) and Lehigh (28-7), Iowa was forced to rally to beat No. 4-ranked NC State, 19-15 for the Red Pool championship. Iowa won the first three bouts against NC State to lead 10-0 before the Wolfpack, which reached the Red final with victories over Binghamton and Missouri (19-12), won four of five bouts between 149 and 184 to lead 15-13. That stretch included a pin by Ed Scott over All-American Kaleb Young at 157 pounds. But Jacob Warner edged Isaac Trumble, 3-2, at 197 pounds and Tony Cassioppi defeated Tyrie Houghton, 6-2, to help the Hawkeyes remain undefeated on the season.

Among the Hawkeyes going undefeated in the two-day event were three-time NCAA champ and two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner Spencer Lee, who saw his first action of 2021-22 at 125 pounds, and 133-pound Austin DeSanto who earned bonus points in all three bouts in Florida.

Meanwhile, the second-ranked Nittany Lions turned in an impressive 29-10 victory over No. 8 Arizona State to also go 3-0 at the event, held at Northwest Florida State College, and a championship of the Blue Pool. Penn State had to beat both Northern Iowa (29-9) and Cornell (21-16) to reach the final, but the Nittany Lions actually trailed the Cornell, 16-8, before PSU won the final four bouts. That included a 4-2 victory by junior Max Dean Jacob Cardenas at 197 pounds. Dean is a two-time All-American and 2019 NCAA finalist for Cornell, who transferred to Penn State this past year.

Dean was also one of six Penn State wrestlers to go 3-0 at the Collegiate Duals; joining defending national champs Roman Bravo-Young (133), Nick Lee (141), Carter Starocci (174) and Aaron Brooks (184) and 2021 All-American Greg Kerkvliet (Hwt).

In the third-place matches, Missouri defeated Lehigh, 26-9, in the Red Pool as Noah Surtin (125), Allen Hart (141) and Keegan O’Toole (165) went 3-0 for the Tigers. Meanwhile, Cornell edged Virginia Tech 18-15 to claim third the Blue Pool as the two teams split 10 individual matches. Among those wins for the Big Red was a major decision by All-American Vito Arujau at 125 and a technical fall by two-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis at 149 pounds before Jonathan Loew upset Hokie All-American Hunter Bolen, 7-5, in sudden victory at 184 pounds.

In the fifth-place duals, Central Michigan beat Binghamton, 21-16, in the Red Pool, while Northern Iowa beat Hofstra, 33-9, in the Blue Pool.

Heading up this inaugural event was Frank Popolizio, the director of Journeymen Wrestling in upstate New York, who was trying to create an elite dual event and an opportunity for some of the nation’s top schools from different conferences to face each other.

“From the coaches, wrestlers and the wrestling community across the country, the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Popolizio said.  “We created an incredible buzz throughout the community.  I think people were starving for some high-stake duals and all those involved provided that. I am hopeful this gains momentum and it becomes an annual tradition.

“We had nearly 9,000 PPV and roughly 4300 new subscribers to Rokfin, which ultimately benefits the programs that participated. Creating something from nothing is one of the hardest things in the world to do. With that in mind,  I think we produced and facilitated a success story.”

2021 Journeymen Collegiate Duals

Dec. 20-21, 2021 • Niceville, Fla.

Red Pool Placement Duals (Dec. 21)

1st Place – Iowa 19, NC State 15

125 – Spencer Lee (Iowa) dec. Jakob Camacho, 6-1; 133 – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) major dec. Kai Orine, 16-7; 141 – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) dec. Ryan Jack, 7-6; 149 – Tariq Wilson (NC State) dec. Cobe Siebrecht, 7-3;  157 – Ed Scott (NC State) pinned Kaleb Young, 1:10;  165 – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) dec. Donald Cates, 7-2; 174 – Hayden Hidlay (NC State) dec. Nelson Brands, 4-2; 184 – Trent Hidlay (NC State)) dec. Abe Assad, 6-0; 197 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) dec. Isaac Trumble, 3-2; Hwt – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) dec. Tyrie Houghton, 6-2;

3rd Place – Missouri 26, Lehigh 9

125 – Noah Surtin (Missouri) dec. Jaret Lane, 10-4; 133 – Connor Brown (Missouri) dec. Sheldon Seymour, 7-4; 141 – Allan Hart (Missouri) dec. Connor McGonagle, 8-3; 149 – Josh Edmond (Missouri) dec Manzona Bryant IV,  6-4, sv 157 – Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) pinned Jarrett Jacques, 3:31; 165 – Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) major dec. Brian Meyer, 13-5; 174 – Peyton Mocco (Missouri) dec. Jake Logan, 6-4; 184 – Jeremiah Kent (Missouri) dec. AJ Burkhart,  6-2; 197 – Rocky Elam (Missouri) major dec. JT Davis, 12-3; Hwt – Jordan Wood (Lehigh) dec. Zach Elam, 2-1

5th Place – Central Michigan 26, Binghamton 16

125 – Brock Bergelin (CM) won by TF over Nick Curly, 16-0;  133 – Vince Perez (CM) won by forfeit; 141 – Dresden Simon (CM) dec. Ryan Anderson, 4-2; 149 – Corbyn Munson (CM) dec. Nick Lombard, 6-5; 157 – Johnny Lovett (CM) won by injury default over Tyler Martin; 165 – Brevin Cassella (Bing) major dec. Tracy Hubbard, 10-1; 174 – Bret Fedewa (CM) dec. Jacob Nolan, 2-1; 184 – Cory Day (Bing) major dec. Ben Cushman, 14-4; 197 – Lou DePrez (Bing) dec. Aaron Bolo, 8-4; Hwt – Joe Doyle (Bing) tech. fall Cade Dallwitz, 18-0

Blue Pool Placement Duals (Dec. 21)

1st place – Penn State 29, Arizona State 10

125 – Brandon Courtney (ASU) major dec. Jake Campbell, 18-7; 133 – Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) dec. Michael McGee, 6-2; 141 – Nick Lee (PSU) major dec. Jesse Vasquez, 14-3; 149 – Beau Bartlett (PSU) dec. Kyle Parco, 3-1 (SV); 157 – Jacori Teemer (ASU) dec. Tony Negron, 8-3; 165 – Anthony Valencia (ASU) dec. Creighton Edsell, 10-5; 174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) won by TF over Zane Coleman, 17-2 (4:50); 184 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) pinned Josh Nummer, 1:48; 197 – Max Dean (PSU) major dec. Kordell Norfleet, 10-1; Hwt – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) major dec. Chad Porter, 9-0

3rd place – Cornell 18, Virginia Tech 15

125 – Vito Arujau (Cornell) major dec. Sam Latona, 10-2; 133 – Korbin Myers (VT) dec. Dom LaJoie, 9-3; 141 – Collin Gerardi (VT) dec. Cole Handlovic, 6-0; 149 – Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) won by TF over Kylan Montgomery, 19-3; 157 – Connor Brady (VT) dec. Colton Yapoujian, 2-1; 165 – Julian Ramirez (Cornell) dec. Clayton Ulrey, 4-2; 174 – Mekhi Lewis (VT) dec. Chris Foca, 3-1 sv; 184 – Jonathan Loew (Cornell) dec. Hunter Bolen, 7-5 sv; 197 – Jacob Cardenas (Cornell) dec. Harrison Smith, 3-2; Hwt – Nathan Traxler (VT) dec. Lewis Fernandes, 5-3

5th place – Northern Iowa 33, Hofstra 9

125 – Jacob Moon (Hofstra) won by forfeit; 133 – Kyle Biscoglia (UNI) pinned Dylan Acevedo-Switzer, 2:00; 141 – Cael Happel (UNI) dec. Justin Hoyle, 10-4; 149 – Colin Realbuto (UNI) pinned Michael Leandrou, 4:56; 157 – Cayd Lara (UNI) pinned Joe McGinty, 3:35; 165 – Austin Yant (UNI) dec. Ricky Stamm, 6-0; 174 – Pat Schoenfelder (UNI) dec. Ross McFarland, 6-2; 184 – Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec.  Charles Small, 10-3; 197 – Trey Rogers (Hofstra) dec. Noah Glaser, 5-3; Hwt – Tyrell Gordon (UNI) dec.  Zachary Knighton-Ward, 4-2

Red Pool Matches (Dec. 20)

Iowa 44, Central Michigan 0

125 – Spencer Lee (Iowa) won by TF over Brock Bergelin, 17-0; 133 – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) won by TF over Vince Perez, 16-1; 141 – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) dec. Dresden Simon, 13-12; 149 – Max Murin (Iowa) major dec. Corbyn Munson, 14-5; 157 – Kaleb Young (Iowa) dec. Johnny Lovett, 6-0; 165 – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) won by DQ over Tracy Hubbard, 5:46; 174 – Nelson Brands (Iowa) dec. Bret Fedewa, 8-3;  184 – Abe Assad (Iowa) pinned Ben Cushman, 2:22; 197 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) dec. Aaron Bolo, 9-4; Hwt – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) won by injury default Matt Stencel, 2:25

Iowa 28, Lehigh 7

125 – Spencer Lee (Iowa) dec. Jaret Lane, 8-0; 133 – Austin DeSanto (Iowa) won by TF over Satoshi Abe, 20-5; 141 – Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) dec. Connor McGonagel, 8-3; 149 – Manzona Bryant (Lehigh) dec. Max Murin, 7-5 SV1; 157 – Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) major dec. Kaleb Young, 11-2; 165 – Alex Marinelli (Iowa) dec. Brian Meyer, 6-2; 174 – Nelson Brands (Iowa) dec. Jake Logan, 3-2;  184 – Abe Assad (Iowa) major dec. A.J. Burkhart, 16-5; 197 – Jacob Warner (Iowa) dec. JT Davis, 6-1; Hwt – Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) dec. Jordan Wood, 3-2

Lehigh 25, Central Michigan 6

125 – Jaret Lane (Lehigh) dec. Brock Bergelin, 4-3; 133 – Ja’Kerion Merritt (CM) dec. Sheldon Seymour, 3-2; 141 – Connor McGonagle (Lehigh) dec. Dresden Simon, 7-5; 149 – Corbyn Munson (CM) dec. Manzona Bryant, 12-9; 157 – Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) major dec. Johnny Lovett, 10-1; 165 – Brian Meyer (Lehigh) dec. Tracy Hubbard, 3-1 (SV-1); 174 – Jake Logan (Lehigh) dec. Bret Fedewa, 5-3; 184 – AJ Burkhart (Lehigh) dec. Ben Cushman, 8-7; 197 – JT Davis (Lehigh) dec. Aaron Bolo, 8-7; 285 – Jordan Wood (Lehigh) dec. Matt Stencel, 3-1 (SV-1)

NC State 35, Binghamton 7

125 – Jakob Camacho (NC State) pinned Nick Curley, 5:29; 133 – Jarrett Trombley (NC State) won by injury default over Anthony Sobotker, 5:30; 141 – Ryan Anderson (Bing) dec. Hunter Lewis, 8-2; 149 – Tariq Wilson (NC State) dec. Nick Lombard, 9-4; 157 – Ed Scott (NC State) won by TF over Tyler Martin, 18-1; 165 – Thomas Bullard (NC State) dec. Brevin Cassella, 6-0; 174 – Hayden Hidlay (NC State) major dec. Jacob Nolan, 12-3; 184 – Trent Hidlay (NC State) won by TF over Sam Deprez, 19-4; 197 – Lou Deprez (Bing) major dec. Isaac Trumble, 10-2; Hwt – Owen Trephan (NC State) dec. Joe Doyle, 5-2

NC State 19, Missouri 12

125 – Noah Surtin (Missouri) dec. Jakob Camacho, 7-4; 133 – Kai Orine (NC State) dec. Connor Brown, 7-3; 141 – Allan Hart (Missouri) dec. Ryan Jack, 9-3; 149 – Tariq Wilson (NC State) dec. Josh Edmond, 11-8; 157 – Ed Scott (NC State) dec. Jarrett Jacques, 3-2; 165 – Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) dec. Thomas Bullard, 9-3; 174 – Hayden Hidlay (NC State) dec. Peyton Mocco, 9-5; 184 – Trent Hidlay (NC State) major dec. Jeremiah Kent, 13-5; 197 – Isaac Trumble (NC State) dec. Rocky Elam, 5-3; Hwt – Zach Elam (Missouri) dec. Tyrie Houghton, 6-5

Missouri, 33, Binghamton, 6

125 – Noah Surtin (Missouri) won by TF over Nick Curley, 18-0 (3:44); 133 – Anthony Sobotker (Bing) pinned Connor Brown, 2:56)  141 – Allan Hart (Missouri) dec. Ryan Anderson, 4-0; 149 – Josh Edmond (Missouri) dec. Nick Lombard, 3-2; 157 – Jarrett Jacques (Missouri) pinned Logan Gumble, 1:01; 165 – Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) major dec. Brevin Cassella, 13-4; 174 – Peyton Mocco (Missouri) dec. Jacob Nolan, 6-2; 184 – Jeremiah Kent (Missouri) dec. Sam DePrez, 11-4; 197 – Rocky Elam (Missouri) dec. Lou DePrez, 4-0; Hwt – Zach Elam (Missouri) dec. Joe Doyle, 4-0

Blue Pool Matches (Dec. 20)

Penn State 29, Northern Iowa 9

125 – Brody Teske (UNI) dec. Jake Campbell, 2-0; 133 – Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) pinned Kyle Biscoglia, 4:34; 141 – Nick Lee (PSU) major dec. Cael Happel, 18-4; 149 – Beau Bartlett (PSU) dec. Triston Lara, 4-3; 157 – Derek Holschlag (UNI) dec. Tony Negron, 5-2; 165 – Austin Yant (UNI) dec. Creighton Edsell, 4-1; 174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) major dec. Pat Schoenfelder, 13-4; 184 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) dec. Parker Keckeisen, 3-2; 197 – Max Dean (PSU) tech fall Noah Glaser, 19-3 (5:21); Hwt – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) major dec. Tyrell Gordon, 12-1

Penn State 21, Cornell 16

125 – Vito Arujau (Cornell) pinned Jake Campbell, 0:58; 133 – Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) major dec. Dominic LaJoie, 21-9; 141 – Nick Lee PSU major dec. Cole Handlovic, 13-3; 149 – Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) major dec. Beau Bartlett, 11-3; 157 – Colton Yapoujian (Cornell) dec. Joe Lee, 4-2; 165 – Julian Ramirez (Cornell) dec. Creighton Edsell, 7-5; 174 – Carter Starocci (PSU) dec. Chris Foca, 3-2; 184 – Aaron Brooks (PSU) major dec. Jonathan Loew, 15-3; 197 – Max Dean (PSU) dec. Jacob Cardenas, 4-2; Hwt – Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) dec. Lewis Fernandes, 5-0

Arizona State 42, Hofstra 4

125 – Brandon Courtney (ASU) pinned Dylan Acevedo-Switzer, 4:11; 133 – Michael McGee (ASU) won by forfeit; 141 – Jesse Vasquez (ASU) dec. Justin Hoyle, 14-9; 149 – Kyle Parco (ASU) won by TF over Michael Leandrou, 17-0 (4:40); 157 – Jacori Teemer (ASU) won by TF over  Joe McGinty, 18-3 (4:17); 165 – Anthony Valencia (ASU) pinned Mario Biancamano, 0:27; 174 – Zane Coleman (ASU) dec. Ross McFarland, 5-2; 184 – Charles Small (Hofstra) major dec. Jacob Ortiz, 10-1; 197 – Kordell Norfleet (ASU) major dec. Trey Rogers, 14-3; Hwt – Cohlton Schulz (ASU) major dec. Zachary Knighton-Ward, 12-3

Arizona State 23, Virginia Tech 13

125 – Brandon Courtney (ASU) dec. Sam Latona, 8-4; 133 – Michael McGee (ASU) dec. Korbin Myers, 8-7; 141 – Jesse Vasquez (ASU) dec. Collin Gerardi, 9-7; 149 – Kyle Parco (ASU) major dec. Kylan Montgomery, 14-1; 157 – Jacori Teemer (ASU) dec. Connor Brady, 3-1 SV; 165 – Anthony Valencia (ASU) dec. Clayton Ulrey, 11-9; 174 – Mekhi Lewis (VT) won by TF over Ryan Rochford, 19-3 (5:31); 184 – Hunter Bolen (VT) won by TF over Josh Nummer, 20-2 (4:24); 197 – Kendall Norfleet (ASU) major dec. Dakota Howard, 14-3; Hwt – Nathan Traxler (VT) dec. Chad Porter, 8-1

Virginia Tech 35, Hofstra 3

125 – Sam Latona (VT) major dec. Jacob Moon, 11-2; 133 – Korbin Myers (VT) won by TF over Ty Cymmerman, 18-2 (7:00); 141 – Collin Gerardi (VT) dec. Justin Hoyle, 4-1; 149 – Michael Leandrou (Hofstra) dec. Kylan Montgomery, 3-1; 157 – Connor Brady (VT) dec. Joe McGinty (Hofstra), 6-3; 165 – Clayton Ulrey (VT) pinned Mario Biancamano, 0:55; 174 – Mekhi Lewis (VT) won by TF over  Ericson Velasquez, 16-0 (3:10); 184 – Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. Charles Small, 6-3; 197 – Dakota Howard (VT) dec. Trey Rogers, 5-3; Hwt – Nathan Traxler (VT) dec. Zachary Knighton-Ward, 7-1

Cornell 29, Northern Iowa 7

125 – Vito Arujau (Cornell) major dec. Brody Teske, 18-7; 133 – Dom LaJoie (Cornell) dec. Kyle Biscoglia, 5-2; 141 – Cael Happel (UNI) major dec. Cole Handlovic, 14-6; 149 – Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) major dec. Colin Realbuto, 14-6; 157 – Colton Yapoujian (Cornell) dec. Derek Holschlag, 2-1; 165 – Julian Ramirez (Cornell) dec. Austin Yant, 4-3; 174 – Chris Foca (Cornell) dec. Pat Schoenfelder, 13-6;  184 – Parker Keckeisen (UNI) dec. Jonathan Loew, 6-2; 197 – Jacob Cardenas (Cornell) pinned Noah Glaser, 5:12;  Hwt – Lewis Fernandes (Cornell) dec. Tyrell Gordon, 4-0