BOONE, N.C. — Freshman Meyer Shapiro dominated another ranked opponent, and senior Benny Baker avenged an early season loss as the No. 9 Cornell wrestling team (11-4) beat Appalachian State 36-6 on Sunday afternoon at Varsity Gym. 

The Big Red, which had a six-dual win streak snapped Friday against North Carolina State, improved to 11-4 overall and split on its Tar Heel State road trip with the win. 

Sophomore Brett Ungar, ranked No. 15 at 125 pounds, set the tone for a dual in which Cornell won eight of 10 matches and racked up bonus points with four of those victories. Ungar led off the dual with a 15-0 technical fall (4:52) win over Chad Bellis, giving Cornell a 5-0 lead before No. 27 Ethan Oakley (133) got Appalachian State on the board with a 10-4 win over Ethan Qureshi.  

At 141 pounds, senior Josh Saunders held on to win 5-3 over Ike Byers for his first collegiate dual victor. No. 20 Ethan Fernandez (149) gave Cornell an 11-3 lead with an 11-5 victory over Jeremiah Price. 

In the only match featuring two ranked wrestlers, No. 7 Shapiro (157) beat No. 19 Tommy Askey 20-4 by technical fall. It was Shapiro's 14th consecutive victory — and his sixth bonus-point win in his last eight matches. 

The Big Red swiftly finished dual after Appalachian State's No. 25 Will Miller (165) beat Brody Oleksak 11-5. 

Baker (174) won 13-7 by decision against Luke Uliano, who won the first match between the two 10-5 by decision at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite in December. Minutes later, No. 6 Chris Foca (184) pinned Thomas Brooker in 1:07. No. 7 Jacob Cardenas (197) followed with a 15-0 technical fall win over Carson Floyd in 2:29. 

Freshman Ashton Davis (285) got credit for his first collegiate dual win with an Appalachian State forfeit. 

Cornell Notes and Highlights 

• Cornell has won seven of its last eight duals. 

• Shapiro improved to 19-2 overall and 14-0 in duals with the victory over Askey, a 2023 NCAA qualifier. 

• Shapiro has beaten three NCAA All-Americans: Bryce Andonian (Virginia Tech, twice), Brock Mauller (Missouri) and Ed Scott (NC State). He also has wins over ranked foes Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State), Max Birgnola (Lehigh), Matty Bianchi (Little Rock), Lucas Revano (Penn) and Askey. 

• Cardenas and Shapiro are tied for the team lead in wins (19). 

• Cardenas earned his team-leading 12th bonus-point win. 

• Baker got back on track during the road trip, winning both of his matches after losing nine in a row. 

• Foca earned his 70th career victory and now leads the team in pins (5). 

• Saunders earned his first collegiate dual win. 

Match-by-match results: Cornell 36, Appalachian State 6

125: No. 15 Brett Ungar def. Chad Bellis 15-0 by technical fall in 4:52 (Cornell 5, App. State 0)

133: No. 27 Ethan Oakley def. Ethan Qureshi 10-4 by decision (Cornell 5, App. State 3) 

141: Josh Saunders def. Ike Byers 5-3 by decision (Cornell 8, App. State 3) 

149: No. 20 Ethan Fernandez def. Jeremiah Price 11-5 by decision (Cornell 11, App. State 3) 

157: No. 7 Meyer Shapiro def. No. 19 Tommy Askey 20-4 by technical fall in 5:53 (Cornell 16, App. State 3)

165: No. 25 Will Miller def. Brody Oleksak 11-5 by decision (Cornell 16, App. State 6)

174: Benny Baker def. Luke Uliano 13-7 by decision (Cornll 19, App. State 6) 

184: No. 6 Chris Foca def. Thomas Brooker by fall in 1:07 (Cornell 25, App State 6)

197: No. 7 Jacob Cardenas def. Carson Floyd 15-0 by technical fall in 2:30 (Cornell 30, App State 6)

285: Ashton Davis won by forfeit (Cornell 36, App. State 6)

Up Next

Cornell closes the regular season against Binghamton on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m. at the Friedman Wrestling Center.