NICEVILLE, Fla. -- The Cornell wrestling team tested itself against two of the nation's best squads on day one of the 2021 Journeymen Collegiate Duals on Monday evening, knocking off No. 22 Northern Iowa 29-7 before challenging No. 2 Penn State to the final whistle in a 21-16 loss. The Big Red is 2-1 on the season and will face No. 8 Virginia Tech at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Big Red got big energy from All-American
Vito Arujau, who dropped down form 133 to 125 and put up big points in opening wins in both duals. He cruised to an 18-7 win over 10th-ranked Brody Teske of Northern Iowa and earned a fall over Penn State's Jakob Campbell less than a minute into his evening battle to set the tone against the Nittany Lions. Aruja was one of four Big Red grapplers to win a pair of matches on the day, joining top-ranked
Yianni Diakomihalis at 149,
Colton Yapoujian at 157 and
Julian Ramirez at 165 to form a middleweight sweep.
Dom LaJoie picked up a big victory over nationally-ranked Kyle Biscoglia 5-2 at 133 pounds, one of three Big Red victories over ranked UNI grapplers. Ramirez nosed past No. 23 Austin Yant by a 4-3 decision along with Arujau's triumph over Teske.
Against the Nittany Lions, Cornell ran out to a 16-6 lead after Ramirez's win over No. 26 Creighton Edsell at 165. Using its upper-weight hammers to close it out, Penn State won its last four matches by decision - all coming from grapplers ranked in the top four at their weights. No. 12
Chris Foca gave top-ranked Carter Starocci all he could handle at 174, but the Nittany Lion grappler rode out Foca in the third to claim the victory, as the riding time point was the difference in a 3-2 triumph. No. 19
Jacob Cardenas also put a scare into former Big Red All-American Max Dean at 197, but the 2019 national runner-up used a late takedown to claim a 4-2 win.
#11 Cornell 29, #22 Northern Iowa 7
125: #5 (133)
Vito Arujau (C) won by major decision over #10 Brody Teske (UNI), 18-7
133:
Dom LaJoie (C) won by decision over #31 Kyle Biscoglia (UNI), 5-2
141: #26 Cael Happel (UNI) won by major decision over
Cole Handlovic (C), 14-6
149: #1
Yianni Diakomihalis (C) won by major decision over Colin Realbuto (UNI), 14-6
157: #25
Colton Yapoujian (C) won by decision over Derek Holschlag (UNI), 2-1
165: #9
Julian Ramirez C) won by decision over #23 Austin Yant (UNI), 4-3
174: #12
Chris Foca (C) won by decision over Pat Schoenfelder (UNI), 13-6
184: #4 Parker Keckeisen (UNI) won by decision over #15
Jonathan Loew (C), 6-2
197: #19
Jacob Cardenas (C) won by fall over Noah Glaser (UNI), 5:12
285: #18
Lewis Fernandes (C) won by decision over Tyrell Gordon (UNI), 4-0
#2 Penn State 18, #11 Cornell 16
125 #5 (133)
Vito Arujau (C) won by fall over Jakob Campbell (PSU), 0:58
133: #1 Ramon Bravo-Young (PSU) won by major decision over
Dom LaJoie (C), 21-9
141: #1 Nick Lee (PSU) won by major decision over
Cole Handlovic (C), 13-3
149: #1
Yianni Diakomihalis (C) won by major decision over #22 Beau Bartlett (PSU), 11-3
157: #25
Colton Yapoujian (C) won by decision over Joe Lee (PSU), 4-2
165: #9
Julian Ramirez C) won by decision over #26 Creighton Edsell (PSU), 7-5
174: #1 Carter Starocci (PSU) won by decision over #12
Chris Foca (C), 3-2
184: #1 Aaron Brooks (PSU) won by major decision over #15
Jonathan Loew (C), 15-3
197: #3 Max Dean (PSU) won by decision over #19
Jacob Cardenas (C), 4-2
285: #4 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) won by decision over #18
Lewis Fernandes (C), 5-0
