The Big Red's dual against the Lions began in the 125 pound weight class where senior Mike Rodriguez matched up against fellow senior Brandon Kinney. The two battled back and forth to a scoreless first period, before Kinney notched the only point of the second with an escape from his down position. Rodriguez tied up the match in the third with an escape of his own, but with a late takedown with 24 seconds left in the period Kinney grabbed back his lead. Rodriguez escaped with five seconds left, but time ran out giving Kinney a 3-2 decision.
Cornell did not allow Columbia to gain any momentum as the Lions' Jerome Greco hit the mats to face No. 2 Mike Grey. Grey powered to a 9-2 lead in the first period and continued to dominate throughout the bout. The Big Red grappler racked up points with numerous takedowns to win a 17-5 major decision.
Senior Nick Bridge debuted in his first dual match of the season at 141 pounds for Cornell. Bridge made quick work Columbia's Nick Standish, and with three takedowns, three back points, and 3:33 in riding time, Bridge grabbed a 10-0 major decision putting Cornell up, 8-3.
Freshman DJ Meagher wrestled for the Big Red at 149 pounds against the Lions' Anthony Constantino. Meagher controlled the match from the initial whistle and narrowly missed winning by major decision. The Big Red wrestler's 8-1 victory gave Cornell an 11-3 lead.
Senior Matt Easter wrestled for Cornell in his first match of the season at 157 pounds. Easter and the Lions' Matt Dunn were scoreless after the first period, and were tied 1-1 late into the third period. With a takedown with less than 30 seconds left in the match, Dunn edged past Easter to a 3-2 win.
At 165 pounds, No. 4 Mack Lewnes grabbed a 4-1 lead in the first period with a takedown and two back points against Victor Mocco. Lewnes earned another point with an escape in the second period, and with Mocco's escape in the third, the Big Red grappler earned a 5-2 win.
No. 10 ranked Steve Anceravage wasted no time in his bout at 174 pounds against Travis Creagan. With less than seven seconds off the clock, Anceravage made a takedown and nearly pinned Creagan. Anceravage held his lead throughout the match and spent the third period working Creagan onto his back from his initial down position. Anceravage's hard work paid off, winning by fall in 4:02.
Sophomore Josh Arnone wrestled in his second match of the season at 184 pounds facing Kenji Porter. Arnone grabbed a 6-0 lead in the first period nearly pinning his opponent. Arnone continued to dominate sailing to an 8-0 major decision giving Cornell a 24-6 lead.
Freshman Justin Kerber moved up to 197 pounds to wrestle against Columbia's Nick Sommerfield. Kerber held a 4-2 lead after earning two takedowns in the first period. In the second period, with an escape and a takedown of his own Sommerfield grabbed back a 5-4 lead over Kerber while racking up 56 seconds of riding time. Kerber started the third in the down position and escaped after seven seconds had ticked off the clock just giving Sommerfield a riding time advantage. Sommerfield worked to evade Kerber's attacks and after receiving a stalling warning, Kerber was awarded a point to take a 6-5 lead with 15 seconds left on the clock. With time running out, Sommerfield's 1:04 in riding time was enough to tie the match at six points apiece at the end of regulation. In the sudden victory round, Sommerfield nearly took down Kerber, but the Big Red grappler stunned him with a counter move to earn a takedown to win 8-6. Cornell took a demanding 27-6 lead after the match, and the advantage was lengthened when the Lions' had a point deducted for a team member's unsportsmanlike conduct.
In the heavyweight bout, freshman Maciej Jochym made his home debut against Jed Wade. Jochym got on the board first with a takedown, but Wade evened the score with a reversal. The Big Red grappler once again regained his advantage with a reversal of his own to take a 4-2 lead into the second period. Wade came within a point of Jochym in the second with an escape from his down position. Jochym earned a point in the third with an escape and was awarded another point when Wade received a technical for fleeing the mat. With 32 seconds left in the match, Jochym made a takedown to win, 8-4 to bring the final team scores to Cornell 30, Columbia 5.
After a 15 minute break, the Big Red hit the mats to take on Wagner. Cornell wasted no time in grabbing the lead after Rodriguez pinned Wagner's Joe Eurell in 3:40.
At 133 pounds, Grey racked up a 12-5 lead in the first period before pinning Nick Boghos in 4:00.
At 141 pounds, Bridge picked up his second win of the day with a victory over Mike Tutunjian. Nearly pinning Tutunjian four times, Bridge walked away with an 18-3 tech fall in 4:03. With the five team points, Cornell grabbed a commanding 17-0 lead.
Freshman DJ Meagher made quick work of Patrick Larkin at 149 pounds. After taking a 4-1 lead, Meagher won by fall in 2:17.
In the closest match of the dual, Easter faced Sean Quinn at 157 pounds. The two were scoreless after the first period, and Easter had a one point advantage with an escape in the second. Quinn tied the match with an escape in the third period, but with two takedowns, Easter won a 6-2 decision.
Drake Hovis moved up a weight class to wrestle for Cornell at 165 pounds. Hovis took down Marco Tellerico at the start of the match and pinned him in 20 seconds.
At 174 pounds, Anceravage took down Peter Morano in eight seconds, and earned the win by fall in 1:10.
Cornell held a 38-0 demanding lead after seven matches, and Wagner earned its only points of the day after the Big Red forfeited at 184 pounds.
At 197 pounds, Kerber picked up his second win of the night racking up the points to win a 17-3 major decision.
Jochym held a 6-2 advantage over John Graeffe at heavyweight before he pinned his opponent in 2:30 to give Cornella 48-6 victory.
The Big Red continues its Ivy League season Saturday, Feb. 16 with matches at Penn and at Princeton. Cornell returns home Feb. 22 to face Ivy foe Brown, before wrestling Harvard and Bucknell Feb. 23 to conclude its regular season.
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