Sunday, February 22
Iowa City, Iowa
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
15
vs
22
Cornell
No. 11 Lehigh falls 22-15 to No. 5 Cornell; settles for fourth at NWCA National Duals
2/22/2015 3:51:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
IOWA CITY, Iowa – In its final dual of the regular season, No. 11 Lehigh fell 22-15 to EIWA rival and fifth-ranked Cornell Sunday in the third place match of the NWCA National Duals at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Each team forfeited one weight class with the Big Red winning five of the eight contested bouts, including a bonus win at 149.
Lehigh closes out the dual season at 14-6. The Mountain Hawks finished fourth at the NWCA National Duals, the same place Lehigh finished in its last National Duals appearance in 2005.
After the Mountain Hawks forfeited to Cornell's Nahshon Garrett at 125, Lehigh won the next two bouts to pull even at 6-6 after three weight classes.
At 133, junior Mason Beckman capped a 3-0 weekend in Iowa with a 6-2 decision over Mark Grey. Beckman scored takedowns in each of the first two periods and added a third period escape plus riding time advantage for his second win over Grey this season.
Sophomore Randy Cruz then overcame a 6-2 deficit to defeat Dylan Realbuto 8-6 at 141. Realbuto scored the first takedown and after the wrestlers traded reversals led 4-2 after one period. Cruz rode out the second period and after giving up a takedown early in the third, he escaped and took Realbuto down for two plus two near fall to take a 7-6 lead. The riding time point gave Cruz an 8-6.
Cornell regained the lead with Chris Villalonga's 11-2 major decision win over Drew Longo at 149 and never looked back, winning the next three bouts. After winning their wild bout in Grace Hall last month, Brian Realbuto took the rematch with sophomore Mitch Minotti 5-3. Realbuto scored a first period takedown and added a second period reversal before riding out the third. Minotti finished with two escapes and a penalty point for locked hands.
At 165, Cornell's Dylan Palacio defeated senior Marshall Peppelman for the third time this season, with 6-4 the final score. Palacio led 5-1 before Peppelman scored an escape and a takedown. Peppelman nearly scored a takedown on the edge at the end of regulation but after video review no takedown was awarded.
Senior Santiago Martinez picked up Lehigh's third victory of the dual, knocking off his second ranked wrestler in as many days. A third period penalty point for grabbing the singlet gave Martinez a 2-1 decision.
Another highly-anticipated rematch came at 184 where junior Nathaniel Brown met top ranked Gabe Dean of Cornell. Dean won the first meeting 3-1 in sudden victory on a non-takedown call that was reversed to a takedown after video review. On Sunday, Brown and Dean battled through a scoreless first period before Dean reversed Brown to open the second. After a Brown escape, Dean scored a takedown in the final seconds to lead 4-1 after two. Dean added a third period takedown and riding time to win 7-4 and put the Big Red up 19-9 with two weight classes remaining.
At 197, Cornell's Jace Bennett downed sophomore Elliot Riddick 4-1 in a battle of top ten-ranked wrestlers. Bennett scored a second period escape and a takedown plus a penalty point for Riddick's second stall working. The Big Red then forfeited heavyweight to sophomore Doug Vollaro with third place secured.
The Mountain Hawks will now shift focus to the EIWA Championships, which Lehigh will host March 6-7 at Stabler Arena. All-session and individual session tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during normal business hours.
No. 5 Cornell 22, No. 11 Lehigh 15
125 – Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) won by forfeit
133 – Mason Beckman (Lehigh) dec. Mark Grey (Cornell) 6-2
141 – Randy Cruz (Lehigh) dec. Dylan Realbuto (Cornell) 8-6
149 – Chris Villalonga (Cornell) major dec. Drew Longo (Lehigh) 11-2
157 – Brian Realbuto (Cornell) dec. Mitch Minotti (Lehigh) 5-3
165 – Dylan Palacio (Cornell) dec. Marshall Peppelman (Lehigh) 6-4
174 – Santiago Martinez (Lehigh) dec. Duke Pickett (Cornell) 2-1
184 – Gabe Dean (Cornell) dec. Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) 7-2
197 – Jace Bennett (Cornell) dec. Elliot Riddick (Lehigh) 4-1
285 – Doug Vollaro (Lehigh) won by forfeit
Lehigh closes out the dual season at 14-6. The Mountain Hawks finished fourth at the NWCA National Duals, the same place Lehigh finished in its last National Duals appearance in 2005.
After the Mountain Hawks forfeited to Cornell's Nahshon Garrett at 125, Lehigh won the next two bouts to pull even at 6-6 after three weight classes.
At 133, junior Mason Beckman capped a 3-0 weekend in Iowa with a 6-2 decision over Mark Grey. Beckman scored takedowns in each of the first two periods and added a third period escape plus riding time advantage for his second win over Grey this season.
Sophomore Randy Cruz then overcame a 6-2 deficit to defeat Dylan Realbuto 8-6 at 141. Realbuto scored the first takedown and after the wrestlers traded reversals led 4-2 after one period. Cruz rode out the second period and after giving up a takedown early in the third, he escaped and took Realbuto down for two plus two near fall to take a 7-6 lead. The riding time point gave Cruz an 8-6.
Cornell regained the lead with Chris Villalonga's 11-2 major decision win over Drew Longo at 149 and never looked back, winning the next three bouts. After winning their wild bout in Grace Hall last month, Brian Realbuto took the rematch with sophomore Mitch Minotti 5-3. Realbuto scored a first period takedown and added a second period reversal before riding out the third. Minotti finished with two escapes and a penalty point for locked hands.
At 165, Cornell's Dylan Palacio defeated senior Marshall Peppelman for the third time this season, with 6-4 the final score. Palacio led 5-1 before Peppelman scored an escape and a takedown. Peppelman nearly scored a takedown on the edge at the end of regulation but after video review no takedown was awarded.
Senior Santiago Martinez picked up Lehigh's third victory of the dual, knocking off his second ranked wrestler in as many days. A third period penalty point for grabbing the singlet gave Martinez a 2-1 decision.
Another highly-anticipated rematch came at 184 where junior Nathaniel Brown met top ranked Gabe Dean of Cornell. Dean won the first meeting 3-1 in sudden victory on a non-takedown call that was reversed to a takedown after video review. On Sunday, Brown and Dean battled through a scoreless first period before Dean reversed Brown to open the second. After a Brown escape, Dean scored a takedown in the final seconds to lead 4-1 after two. Dean added a third period takedown and riding time to win 7-4 and put the Big Red up 19-9 with two weight classes remaining.
At 197, Cornell's Jace Bennett downed sophomore Elliot Riddick 4-1 in a battle of top ten-ranked wrestlers. Bennett scored a second period escape and a takedown plus a penalty point for Riddick's second stall working. The Big Red then forfeited heavyweight to sophomore Doug Vollaro with third place secured.
The Mountain Hawks will now shift focus to the EIWA Championships, which Lehigh will host March 6-7 at Stabler Arena. All-session and individual session tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during normal business hours.
No. 5 Cornell 22, No. 11 Lehigh 15
125 – Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) won by forfeit
133 – Mason Beckman (Lehigh) dec. Mark Grey (Cornell) 6-2
141 – Randy Cruz (Lehigh) dec. Dylan Realbuto (Cornell) 8-6
149 – Chris Villalonga (Cornell) major dec. Drew Longo (Lehigh) 11-2
157 – Brian Realbuto (Cornell) dec. Mitch Minotti (Lehigh) 5-3
165 – Dylan Palacio (Cornell) dec. Marshall Peppelman (Lehigh) 6-4
174 – Santiago Martinez (Lehigh) dec. Duke Pickett (Cornell) 2-1
184 – Gabe Dean (Cornell) dec. Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) 7-2
197 – Jace Bennett (Cornell) dec. Elliot Riddick (Lehigh) 4-1
285 – Doug Vollaro (Lehigh) won by forfeit
Players Mentioned
133
/ Men's Wrestling
184
/ Men's Wrestling
141
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
165
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
165/174
/ Men's Wrestling
197
/ Men's Wrestling
285
/ Men's WrestlingLehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Thursday, February 20
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, December 04
Season Preview: Wrestling
Wednesday, October 30
