SAINT LOUIS, Mo. -- Senior Gabe Dean fell one point shy of becoming a three-time national champion, dropping a 4-3 contest to second-ranked Bo Nickal of Penn State on Saturday evening in the featured match of the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championship at the Scottrade Center. Dean's epic career ends with two NCAA crowns, four All-America nods, 152 wins and tens of thousands of admiring wrestling fans.

Cornell finished eighth in the final team standings with 60.5 points, joining fourth-place Iowa as the only schools to rank in the top 10 at every NCAA Championship since 2008. Cornell had four All-Americans, the 15th straight season the Big Red put at least three wrestlers on the podium.

Dean fell short on the scoreboard to Nickal thanks to an officials review that awarded a takedown not granted in real time. The Big Red senior scored first with a takedown midway through the first period, with Nickal taking back the escape point six seconds later. Nickal got in deep on a shot in the final 30 seconds of the period, with a whistle blowing the grapplers out of bounds. Penn State threw the challenge flag and, after review, Nickal was given the late two points. Dean could not escape in the final 20 seconds and the Penn State sophomore took a 3-2 lead into the second.

Nickal chose bottom and Dean immediately cut him, extending the lead to 4-2, and that's how the period ended. Dean escaped quickly in the third to get within 4-3. The two remained tied up for much of the first minute of the period, with Dean nearly earning the go-ahead takedown on the edge. Nickal tied Dean up for the final 25 seconds as time ran out on the senior.

One of the greatest wrestlers in Cornell history, Dean closed his career with a 152-7 mark, a school record for wins. He captured 101 of those with bonus points, pinned 50 opponents and registered a 4.164 NCAA Dominance Ranking, a school record. The four-time EIWA champion and two-time Ivy League Wrestler of the Year closed his final season with a 35-1 record with 20 falls. He spearheaded four Ivy League and EIWA championship teams.

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SAINT LOUIS, Mo. -- Cornell's morning session started out shaky but ended with a bang, as seniors Brian Realbuto and Dylan Palacio completed their storied Big Red careers and sophomore Brandon Womack took another step toward following in their footsteps. The Big Red enters Saturday evening's championship round in eighth place as a team with 60.5 points and senior Gabe Dean ready to wrestle the feature match at 184 pounds against No. 2 seed Bo Nickal of national champion Penn State.

Realbuto dropped into the fifth place match after losing by fall in his first match of the day to Michigan's Myles Amine, but rebounded in the most Realbuto way, pinning Zac Brunson in the first period for the second time in the tournament, this time in 74 seconds. The three-time All-American and EIWA champion ends his career with a second, fifth and sixth place finish in his career along with an impressive 119-19 career record. Realbuto ranks among the school's career leaders in wins, pins (27), tech falls ((19) and bonus wins (70). He was 48-1 in his career in dual matches, including 18-0 against Ivy opponents.

Palacio finished sixth, dropping a pair of contests to close his career with an 83-20 career mark and 14 wins in NCAA Tournament competition. The two-time EIWA champion and four-time finalist took fourth a season ago at 157 pounds. Palacio fell in the consolation semifinals to Joe Smith of Oklahoma State (10-0) and then in the fifth-place match to Tyler Berger of Nebraska (6-3).

Womack took eighth in his first NCAA Championship, falling to Rider's fifth-seeded Chad Walsh 8-5 after a takedown in the final 15 seconds of the match. Entering the third trailing 6-4, Womack escaped and had riding time over a minute, effectively tying the score. Walsh was able to earn the winning takedown in the final 15 seconds, eliminating the riding time point in the process.

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SAINT LOUIS, Mo. -- Senior Gabe Dean will wrestle for his third straight NCAA title on Saturday evening to cap a weekend that includes four Cornell All-Americans and a possible top 10 team finish after Friday night's final session at the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championships at Scottrade Center.

Dean won his 45th straight since his last loss dating all the way back to last season's dual meet with Oklahoma State and Nolan Boyd. He won his fourth straight over Boyd during that run, dominating the Cowboys' junior by a 9-3 margin to advance to Saturday night's final. He sets up a mega-final with Penn State's Bo Nickal, the No. 2 seed. The NCAA runner-up at 174 a season ago, Nickal pinned Iowa's Sammy Brooks in the semis after doing the same to 2016 national runner-up TJ Dudley of Nebraska in the quarters.

Dean took Boyd down less than 30 seconds in, the first of two takedowns in the period. Dean went down to start the second and reversed him quickly to go up 6-1 entering the final period. Boyd went down in the third, but Dean cut him to make it 6-3. The two-time defending NCAA champion controlled ties, finally hitting a blast double to finish the match on top with a 9-3 final.

Sophomore Brandon Womack earned his first All-America nod with an 8-7 win in the blood round over Zahid Valencia. Womack used a six-point move early in the second, reversing Valencia to his back and nearly earning the fall to go up 7-2. The Sun Devil, who defeated Womack twice at the Las Vegas Invitational, nearly made the comeback, but Womack was able to hold him off in the final 30 seconds for the win. Womack wasn't as fortunate in the consolation quarterfinals, dropping a 10-0 major decision to Missouri's Daniel Lewis, and will wrestle for seventh place at 165 pounds.

Both seniors Dylan Palacio and Brian Realbuto fell just short of the finals, surrendering big moves late that allowed their third-seeded opponents to claim victory. Joey Lavallee of Missouri earned a takedown and two nearfall in the final 10 seconds to knock Palacio out of the 157-pound championship picture, while Ohio State's Bo Jordan used a six-pint move with 40 seconds left to go ahead of Realbuto, who had three takedowns in the first two periods and dominated the match up until the final minute. Both can wrestle back to third place on Saturday morning.

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SAINT LOUIS, Mo. -- The Cornell wrestling team positioned itself for a big finish on Friday morning at the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center, advancing three to the evening's semifinals with another readying for a blood round bout for All-America honors. The Big Red sits fifth in the team standings with 47 points, just a half-point behind Oklahoma State for fourth.

Seniors Dylan Palacio (157), Brian Realbuto (174) and Gabe Dean (184) all moved within one win of advancing to the finals and secured All-America honors yet again. Palacio and Realbuto did so by fall, the former in an upset that shook up the team race over Iowa's second-seeded Michael Kemerer at 157 pounds. Dean needed overtime to advance to the semifinals for the fourth straight season, improving to 8-0 in his career when wrestling beyond the third period. The trio now have earned nine All-America citations in their four-year career - Dean with four, Realbuto with three and Palacio with two.

While the upperclassmen did what many expected, sophomore Brandon Womack closed in on his first honor with a pair of wins in the wrestlebacks, including a first period pin against Edinboro's 12th-seeded Austin Matthews to advance to Friday night's blood round. He will wrestle No. 7 Anthony Valencia of Arizona State in the evening session, with the winner earning a spot on the podium.

Senior Mark Grey had his career come to an end with a morning loss in the back draw, followed later in the day by a loss by sophomore Ben Honis to close out his first NCAA appearance. Grey, a three-time NCAA qualifier and EIWA placewinner, graduates with a 81-42 career mark. The four-year starter was a member of four Ivy League and EIWA championship teams. Honis completed his first full year in the lineup with a 30-16 record and a 1-2 mark at NCAAs.

Dean's hard-earned win in the quarterfinals came against longtime rival Jack Dechow of Old Dominion. The two met for third place at the 2014 NCAA championships when both were freshmen, with Dean winning. Then, in a preseason 1-2 matchup at the preseason NWCA All-Star Classic, Dean again turned Dechow away. The two met again in the first round of last season's NCAA tournament with Dean going 3-for-3. This time nearly turned out different. A quick takedown by Dean and reversal by Dechow made it 2-2 after one, and both earned escapes to tie it at 3-3 heading into overtime. After no scoring in the sudden victory, the two went to rideouts. Dean escaped after going down first, capturing a point 16 seconds in. The Big Red senior was able to control Dechow the entire 30 seconds, narrowly holding off a reversal in the final 10 seconds to advance to the semifinals again.

Both Realbuto and Palacio earned falls long before overtime, with Palacio's second period pin of Kemerer making the crowd erupt. An epic 90-second scramble between Palacio and Kemerer resulted in no score, but previewed the coming fireworks. Palacio chose down to open the second and was on the verge of an escape when he trapped Kemerer with a peterson for the fall 28 seconds into the period to advance to his first semis. He'll have third-seeded Joey Lavallee of Missouri Friday night for a trip to the finals.

Realbuto made his second when he took Brunson down to his back midway through the first for his third straight dominant effort. Ohio State's third-seeded Bo Jordan awaits in the 174-pound semifinals, with the Big Red senior handing the Buckeye his only loss of the year.

Womack used a workmanlike effort against NC State's Hamann, taking a 4-1 lead after two on a takedown and a late second period reversal on his way to the win. He made quick work of Edinboro's 12th-seeded Austin Matthews in his second match, overcoming Matthews' initial takedown to reverse and trap his opponent for the fall.

Both Grey and Honis fell to strong EIWA foes, with the senior dropping a 6-3 decision to ninth-seeded Scotty Parker of Lehigh and the sophomore losing a 9-1 major decision to EIWA champ Frank Mattiace of Penn.

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SAINT LOUIS, Mo. -- Senior Gabe Dean tied the school's career wins record and two classmates joined him in the quarterfinals as Cornell closed day one in sixth place in the team standings at the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championship. The Big Red advanced all six grapplers to the second day of the double elimination tournament, with the three quarterfinalists each needing a win in the morning session to claim All-America honors. The three wrestlers in the consolation draw will need three wins on Friday to reach the podium.

Dean won his 150th match in a Big Red singlet with a dominant 11-3 victory over 16th-seeded Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan. The senior earned all four takedowns in the win, controlling the pace and moving within one victory of the school record, as well as becoming the school's seventh four-time All-American. A familiar foe awaits in the quarterfinals, as Dean will meet Old Dominion's Jack Dechow for the third time in NCAA competition . He topped Dechow for third place in 2014 and dropped him in the first round a season ago. The two also met in the 2014 NWCA All-Star Classic, a third Dean victory.

As dominant as Dean continues to be, classmate Brian Realbuto captured his second straight tech fall, this time with a vicious 16-0 shutout of 15th-seeded Trace Engelke of Northern Illinois. Realbuto improved to 117-17 in his four-year career with his 25th victory of the year thanks to 12 nearfall points in the first period. He ended the match with a takedown 32 seconds into the second period to advance to the quarterfinals. Realbuto will meet No. 10 seed Zac Brunson of Illinois in the quarters.

The third quarterfinalist is senior Dylan Palacio. The 2016 All-American used four nearfall points early in the second for a 9-5 win over No. 10 Collin Heffernan of Central Michigan. He'll have a chance to make a splash to get to the semifinals, as second-seeded Michael Kemerer of Iowa stands in his way.

Sophomore Brandon Womack wrestled well in a 5-1 loss to fourth-seeded Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin and begins his quest to All-America honors on Friday morning when he meets NC State's Brian Harmann.

Also alive are senior Mark Grey at 133 pounds after an impressive 10-2 major decision over Harvard's Jeffrey Ott, while sophomore Ben Honis picked up his first career NCAA win with an 11-2 major decision over Iowa State's Marcus Harrington. Both will get opportunities to advance against EIWA foes, with Grey meeting ninth-ranked Scotty Parker of Lehigh and Honis facing Frank Mattiace of Penn, the No. 12 seed.

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SAINT LOUIS, Mo. -- The Cornell wrestling team had a solid first session, advancing all four seeded wrestlers and going 5-2 overall, ending session I of the 2017 NCAA Wrestling Championship in eighth place in the team standings with 10.5 points. Each of the Big Red's six qualifiers will wrestle again on Thursday evening at the Scottrade Center.

All four seeded wrestlers won and added bonus points, as did senior Mark Grey in a pigtail bout.

Top-seeded Gabe Dean earned a major decision over Navy's Michael Coleman in a rematch of the EIWA 184-pound title match, piling up 21 points in a 21-12 victory. The win was Dean's 100th bonus point victory in his career and the 149th victory overall in his four seasons, moving him within one of Mack Lewnes' school record. Dean will face 16th-seeded Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan later tonight in a rematch of the semifinals from the Las Vegas Invitational. The Big Red senior won that match by fall in the final seconds of the first period.

Senior Brian Realbuto, the No. 2 seed at 174 pounds, saw Indiana's Devin Skatzka score the first points before dominating the rest of the way, posting a 19-4 technical fall victory. The senior turned the Hoosier three times in the first period alone for a total of 10 points and ended the match in the second to improve to 24-1 on the season. Next up is Trace Engelke, the 15th seed from Northern Illinois.

Classmate Dylan Palacio got his fourth NCAA Tournament started on the right foot, earning a takedown, a reversal and four nearfall points to hold off Pitt's Taleb Rahmani, 9-1. He will wrestle 10th-seeded Colin Heffernan of Central Michigan in the second round at 157 pounds.

In his first NCAA match, sophomore Brandon Womack earned a major decision victory over Iowa's Joe Gunther at 165 pounds, picking up the 12-3 victory to advance. He''ll face Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin, the No. 4 seed, to advance to the quarterfinals.

Grey went 1-1 in his third NCAA appearance, earning a 12-3 major decision over Ket State's Anthony Tutolo in a pigtail before falling to seventh-seeded Eric Montoya of Nebraska, 6-1. He will face a familiar foe, Harvard's Jeffrey Ott, in the wrestlebacks.

Joining Grey in the wrestlebacks is sophomore Ben Honis. Wrestling his first NCAA match, the Big Red 197-pounder fell to 11th-seeded Shawn Scott of Northern Illinois, 9-2. He'll look to pick up his first NCAA win when he meets Iowa State's Marcus Harrington in the back draw.

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Pigtail Round: Mark Grey (Cornell) won by major decision over Anthony Tutolo (Kent State), 12-3
First Round: #7 Eric Montoya (Nebraska) won by decision over Mark Grey (Cornell), 6-1
Consolation First Round: Mark Grey (Cornell) won by major decision over Jeffrey Ott (Harvard), 10-2
Consolation Second Round: #9 Scotty Parker (Lehigh) won by decision over Mark Grey (Cornell), 6-3


First Round: #7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell) won by major decision over Taleb Rahmani (Pittsburgh), 9-1
Second Round: #7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell) won by decision over #10 Colin Heffernan (Central Michigan), 9-5
Quarterfinal: #7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell) won by fall over #2 Michael Kemerer (Iowa), 3:28
Semifinal: #3 Joey Lavallee (Missouri) won by decision over #7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell), 8-5
Consolation Semifinal: #5 Joseph Smith (Oklahoma State) won by major decision over #7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell), 10-0
Fifth Place Match: #4 Tyler Berger (Nebraska) won by decision over #7 Dylan Palacio (Cornell), 6-3


First Round: #13 Brandon Womack (Cornell) won by major decision over Joseph Gunther (Iowa), 12-3
Second Round: #4 Isaac Jordan (Wisconsin) won by decision over #13 Brandon Womack (Cornell), 5-1
Consolation Second Round: #13 Brandon Womack (Cornell) won by decision over Brian Hamann (NC State), 7-2
Consolation Third Round: #13 Brandon Womack (Cornell) won by fall over #12 Austin Matthews (Edinboro), 2:02
Consolation Quarterfinal: #13 Brandon Womack (Cornell) won by decision over #7 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State), 8-7
Consolation Semifinal: #6 Daniel Lewis (Missouri) won by major decision over #13 Brandon Womack (Cornell), 10-0
Seventh Place Match: #5 Chad Walsh (Rider) won by decision over #13 Brandon Womack (Cornell), 8-5


First Round: #2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by technical fall over Devin Skatzka (Indiana), 19-4
Second Round: #2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by technical fall over #15 Trace Engelke (Northern Illinois), 16-0
Quarterfinal: #2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by fall over #10 Zac Brunson (Illinois), 1:12
Semifinal: #3 Bo Jordan (Ohio State) won by decision over #2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell), 11-7
Consolation Semifinal: #9 Myles Amine (Michigan) won by fall over #2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell), 4:14
Fifth Place Match: #2 Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by fall over #10 Zac Brunson (Illinois), 1:15


First Round: #1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by major decision over Michael Coleman (Navy), 21-12
Second Round: #1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by major decision over #16 Jordan Ellingwood (Central Michigan), 11-3
Quarterfinal: #1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by decision over #8 Jack Dechow (Old Dominion), 4-3 (tb2)
Semifinal: #1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by decision over #4 Nolan Boyd (Oklahoma State), 9-3
Final: #2 Bo Nickal (Penn State) won by decision over #1 Gabe Dean (Cornell), 4-3


First Round: #11 Shawn Scott (Northern Illinois) won by decision over Ben Honis (Cornell), 9-2
Consolation First Round: Ben Honis (Cornell) won by major decision over Marcus Harrington (Iowa State), 11-2
Consolation Second Round:#12 Frank Mattiace (Penn) won by major decision over Ben Honis (Cornell), 9-1