Army Drops Conference Dual to #5 Cornell

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point wresting team fell to 5th ranked Cornell Big Red 27-12 Saturday afternoon. Trae McDaniel, Nate Lukez, and senior Sahm Abdulrazzaq put the Black Knights on the board.  

How it Happened 

The Black Knights fought throughout the afternoon in their dual against Cornell for their eighth dual match of the season. Army's Trae McDaniel, Nate Lukez, and Sahm Abdulrazzaq won their duals putting 12 points on the board for Army.  

In the 125-class #33 (in the country) Ethan Berginc faced #13 Brett Unger in a highly contested match. Berginc and Unger went into overtime after three scoreless periods. In double-overtime, Brett Unger defeated Ethan Berginc by a 1-0 decision. Army's Richard Treanor faced Cornell's #3 Vito Arujau in the 133-weight class. Treanor was bested by Arujau by a 15-0 tech fall. Black Knights freshman Eddie Hummel competed against #16 Vince Cornella in the 141-class. Cornella defeated Hummel with a major decision (12-0).  

In his first home dual of his collegiate career, freshman Trae McDaniel faced Cornell's JJ Wilson in the 149-weight class. With bouts going back and forth between the two wrestlers, McDaniel had a 2-1 lead over Wilson in the first period. In the second period McDaniel further extended his lead making it 4-1 after a reversal. With 50 seconds left in the third period, McDaniel had a 7-1 lead. Holding onto his lead, McDaniel bested Wilson with a 7-1 decision. With this afternoon's win, McDaniel is now 21-8. 

Nate Lukez defeated Cornell's Cole Handlovic by a 4-2 decision (sudden victory). After two scoreless periods, Lukez got on the board first, after earning one point after an escape. With thirteen seconds left in the third period, Handlovic tied everything up, forcing overtime. Lukez commanded overtime, defeating Handlovic with a 4-2 decision.  

Sophomore Dalton Harkins went up against #7 Julian Ramirez. Ramirez took an early 2-0 lead in the first period. With 30 seconds left in the third period, Harkins made it a 3-2 dual after having two escapes. Ramirez defeated Harkins with a decision (4-2).  

In the 174 class, #20 Ben Pasiuk competed against Cornell's #4 Chris Foca. Pasiuk took an early 2-0 lead against Foca. However, Foca responded, earning one point with an escape. Foca defeated Pasiuk by a 6-3 decision. Sahm Abdulrazzaq faced #6 Jonathan Loew in the 184-weight class. Abdulrazzaq won his dual by an injury default.  

Entering the 197-weight class, the Black Knights cut into Cornell's score making it an 18-12 dual. Army's Kyle Swartz faced off against #17 Jacob Cardenas. Cardenas took a 2-0 lead in the second period. Swartz responded with an escape making it a 2-1 match. Cardenas bested Swartz by a 3-1 decision. Sophomore Kade Carlson faced Brendan Furman. Furman defeated Carlson by a 3-0 fall. 

RESULTS 

125: #17 Brett Ungar (Cornell) won by decision over #33 Ethan Berginc (Army West Point), 1-0 (OT2) 
133: #3 Vito Arujau (Cornell) won by technical fall over Richard Treanor (Army West Point), 15-0 
141: #16 Vince Cornella (Cornell) won by major decision over Eddie Hummel (Army West Point), 12-0 
149: Trae McDaniel (Army West Point) won by decision over JJ Wilson (Cornell), 7-1 
157: Nate Lukez (Army West Point) won by decision over Cole Handlovic (Cornell), 4-2 (sv1) 
165: #8 Julian Ramirez (Cornell) won by decision over Dalton Harkins (Army West Point), 4-2 
174: #4 Chris Foca (Cornell) won by decision over #20 Ben Pasiuk (Army West Point), 6-3 
184: Sahm Abdulrazzaq (Army West Point) won by injury default over #6 Jonathan Loew (Cornell)  
197: #16 Jacob Cardenas (Cornell) won by decision over Kyle Swartz (Army West Point), 3-1 
285: Brendan Furman (Cornell) won by fall over Kade Carlson (Army West Point), 3:25 

Coach's Corner 

??? @CoachKWard on Trae McDaniel's first home dual W!!#GoArmy | #BHAW pic.twitter.com/YYAqmsmxGO

— Army Wrestling (@ArmyWP_Wres) January 28, 2023

  

Up Next 

The Black Knights return to the mat at Gillis Field House to face the Bucknell Bison on Sunday, January 29 at 2PM. 

For complete coverage of Army West Point Wrestling, follow the Black Knights on Twitter and Instagram at @ArmyWP_Wres and online at www.goarmywestpoint.com