The match started at 125 where Cornell freshman Troy Nickerson faced Matt Fisk. Nickerson, 20-1 on the year and ranked No. 5, recorded a pair of takedowns in the final minute of the first period to go up 4-1. Nickerson got another takedown late in the second, going up 6-1 and looking for a major decision. After Nickerson let Fisk escape to start the third, a penalty point was awarded to Nickerson for Fisk's stalling, and the Cornell freshman followed that up with a takedown with 18 seconds remaining in the period. With 1:52 of riding time, the final score was 10-2, giving Nickerson the major decision.
Senior Mike Mormile (No. 13) was up next in the 133 pound bout where he took on John Stout. Like Nickerson, Mormile got two takedowns in the first and began the second up 4-1. The second started off with Stout being let free after choosing down. Thirteen seconds later Mormile scored his third takedown of the match followed by a quick Stout escape. The second finished with another Mormile takedown and Stout escape. There was no scoring in the third and Mormile finished the bout with nearly three minutes of riding time to take the 9-4 decision.
In the 141 pound match, Nick Bridge took to the mat against No. 3 Cory Cooperman. Cooperman dominated the first, getting two takedowns and six near fall points to jump out to an early 10-1 lead. Bridge scored a three-point near fall to open the second but Cooperman escaped and followed up with a takedown with 39 seconds to go in the second. Cooperman got a takedown and another near fall plus the riding time point to win the match by technical fall, 19-3. Cooperman's win brought Lehigh within two points in the team score, 7-5.
Cornell faced another top-20 wrestler at 149 pounds in Lehigh's No. 15 Matt Ciasulli. Junior Keith Dickey got the starting nod for the Big Red. After a Ciasulli takedown in the first period, the Lehigh junior also scored a reversal in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Dickey escaped to start the third and scored a takedown with a minute to go to make it a one-point match, but Ciasulli escaped and, after a penalty point and the riding time point, held on for a 7-3 decision. Ciasulli's victory gave Lehigh its first lead, 8-7.
Trailing for the first time on the afternoon, the Big Red sent senior Dustin Manotti, ranked No. 4, to the mat for the 157 pound match against No. 10 Derek Zinck. The first period was slow-paced, but Manotti scored a takedown with a minute to go and finished the first up 2-1. The only scoring in the second period was a penalty point awarded to Zinck after the referee called Manotti for stalling. Tied heading into the third, Manotti chose down and escaped quickly, getting to his feet where he would eventually take Zinck down one more time. With 2:14 of riding time, Manotti took a 6-2 win and regained the lead for the Big Red, 10-8.
Sophomore Steve Anceravage, ranked No. 13, kept the Big Red on the winning track against Dave Nakasone. With a considerable height advantage, Anceravage took Nakasone down two minutes into the first period but the period ended tied at 2-2 after Nakasone got two points on a reversal as time was winding down. Anceravage got three points in the second after an escape and a takedown to go up 5-2. Nakasone wouldn't give in and, after choosing down to start the period, he escaped to pull to within two points. He then scored a takedown with 17 seconds left in the match to tie it up at 5-5 as time ran out. However, Anceravage had accrued 1:43 of riding time and took the win, 6-5.
Senior Dan Miracola, who has spent time at 184 pounds this season while teammate Joe Mazzurco was out with an injury, took on No. 19 Travis Frick. Miracola entered the third down 5-1 and pulled to within three points with an escape. Frick was able to hold off Miracola's shots for the 5-2 win, getting the Mountain Hawks to within two points, 13-11.
Cornell took control of the match in the next two bouts as senior Joe Mazzurco and Jerry Rinaldi each picked up decisions at 184 and 197 pounds, respectively.
Mazzurco, ranked No. 7, went down 1-0 early in the second after Lehigh's David Helfrich chose down and escaped 10 seconds into the period. Mazzurco took the lead with a takedown with one minute remaining in the second period. The Cornell senior chose down to start the third and got the escape point to go up 3-1. Neither wrestler could score the rest of the way and with the riding time point Mazzurco took the 4-1 win.
At 197 pounds, No. 8 Rinaldi faced a tough test in No. 16 Matt Cassidy. After no scoring in the first period, Rinaldi escaped to start the second and scored a takedown with 10 seconds to go in the period. Cassidy was able to escape before the period ended, making the score 3-1 heading into the third. Cassidy chose down to start the final period and was able to escape 30 seconds in. With Rinaldi and Cassidy on their feet, Rinaldi was able to hang on for the final 1:30 for the 3-2 win.
Rinaldi's win gave the Big Red a 19-11 lead, cementing the victory for Cornell.
In the final bout of the afternoon, sophomore Zach Hammond faced Paul Weibel. The first period ended with a flurry of action at the edge of the circle but neither wrestler could score. Weibel went up 3-0 after an escape and a takedown in the second period. Hammond was able to record an escape in the third but no more, as Weibel won 3-1, making the final score 19-14 in favor of the Big Red.
The Big Red will have a week off before hosting Columbia at the Friedman Wrestling Center on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m.
No. 5 Troy Nickerson (Cornell) def. Matt Fisk (Lehigh), 10-2 (md); C: 4 L: 0
No. 13 Mike Mormile (Cornell) def. John Stout (Lehigh), 9-4; C: 7 L: 0
No. 3 Cory Cooperman (Lehigh) def. Nick Bridge (Cornell), TF: 19-3; C: 7 L: 5
No. 15 Matt Ciasulli (Lehigh) def. Keith Dickey (Cornell), 7-3; C: 7 L: 8
No. 4 Dustin Manotti (Cornell) def. No. 10 Derek Zinck (Lehigh), 6-2; C: 10 L: 8
No. 13 Steve Anceravage (Cornell) def. Dave Nakasone (Lehigh), 6-4; C: 13 L: 8
No. 19 Travis Frick (Lehigh) def. Dan Miracola (Cornell), 5-2; C: 13 L: 11
No. 7 Joe Mazzurco (Cornell) def. David Helfrich (Lehigh), 4-1; C: 16 L: 11
No. 8 Jerry Rinaldi (Cornell) def. No. 16 Matt Cassidy (Lehigh), 3-2; C: 19 L: 11
Paul Weibel (Lehigh) def. Zach Hammond (Cornell), 3-1; C: 19 L: 14
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