Wrestling 2022-23

[jkahn]

Great tournament.  Great last half hour.
Vito wins.
BU wins sending us to NCAA's
at that point, 52 seconds left in Colgate-Harvard and I can switch my allegiance from Harvard to Colgate.
and Yianni wins

and in between Vito and Yianni, a Northern Colorado wrestler coached by 4-time Cornell All-American Troy Nickerson, won at 141.

[dag14]

When I listened to the UNCO wrestler interview, I was impressed by his appreciation for the coaching staff, as well as his work ethic, as he acknowledged that he lost in the finals last year because he wasn't prepared.  His interview sounded a lot like Vito's and Yianni's.  Learning that a Cornell wrestler is his coach goes a long way in explaining his attitude, and how he worked his way to the top of the podium this year.

[scoop85]

Great tournament.  Great last half hour.
Vito wins.
BU wins sending us to NCAA's
at that point, 52 seconds left in Colgate-Harvard and I can switch my allegiance from Harvard to Colgate.
and Yianni wins

and in between Vito and Yianni, a Northern Colorado wrestler coached by 4-time Cornell All-American Troy Nickerson, won at 141.

And while it wasn't in that time frame, lacrosses dominating Yale in New Haven was a nice way to start the day.

[ugarte]

When I listened to the UNCO wrestler interview, I was impressed by his appreciation for the coaching staff, as well as his work ethic, as he acknowledged that he lost in the finals last year because he wasn't prepared.  His interview sounded a lot like Vito's and Yianni's.  Learning that a Cornell wrestler is his coach goes a long way in explaining his attitude, and how he worked his way to the top of the podium this year.

He didn't lose in the finals last year, actually. He lost in the blood round, falling short of AA. He had a mission this year!

[ugarte]

What a night. The entire slate was great and knowing that the last two of the last three matches were going to be Cornell wrestlers made it even better.

At 133, Vito Arujau went right after Roman Bravo-Young. He started attacking early and I don't think RBY was expecting it. A fake shot that he doubled up with a real shot to grab an ankle and convert for a takedown. RBY got an escape and Vito went right back at his leg and turned it into a second takedown and he finished the period on top with 1 minute of riding time.

In the second period, he started on bottom and got a clean reversal and exposed RBY's back for 2NF before giving up the escape. At the end of the period, he had an 8-2 lead and 1:06 in RT. In the second period he stayed on top before getting reversed, but because of the deficit, RBY had to cut him quickly. There was no more scoring except for the RT point and Vito won his first title, 10-4, over a 2x defending champ. For that win, and for winning by major decision over Fix in the semi, Vito was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler.

Cornell jumped into third in the team race with the win, but unless Yianni beat Sasso at 149, Ohio State would flip the standings back.

There was no scoring in the first period. Yianni was taking shots and getting to Sasso's leg, but Sasso was doing a great job sprawling to prevent any scoring. When Sasso seemed close, Yianni was able to stalemate the action as well.

In the second period, Yianni started on bottom and was able to get a reversal for 2. He didn't ride for long and with time running out in the period he switched from a leg shot to a cradle and scored another takedown, just missing out on back points. After 2, Yianni led 4-1.

Yianni gave up an escape to start the third period and played defense to run out the clock. Sasso grabbed a leg with short time left in the match, but Yianni stymied the move until the clock ran out to clinch his 4th NCAA title and the team's 3rd Place finish.

It was an incredible night, with the added bonus of former Cornell national champ Troy Nickerson, the current head coach at Northern Colorado, coaching Andrew Alirez to the 141 pound title in between the Cornell wins.

Cornell graduates Yianni and Heavyweight Brendan Furman but this team is already reloading. Jon Loew (184) and Lewis Fernandes (Heavy) should both be returning to the lineup healthy. All Americans Chris Foca (3rd, 174) and Jacob Cardenas (8th, 197) will be back. Julian Ramirez (165) and Brett Ungar (125) both made it to the blood round. Nobody is more upset about Vince Cornella's mental lapse than he is, and he will be back to defend his 7 seed. Meyer Shapiro, the top ranked senior in the country according to Flo, should step right into the lineup at 149 or 157 and the incoming class may have more surprises.

2023 was great and somehow 2024 might be even better. See you next year.

[CU77]

Many thanks for all your great reporting over the season, ugarte!

[JasonN95]

Many thanks for all your great reporting over the season, ugarte!

Seconded. Ugarte, thanks for all you post and write. I follow Cornell wrestling largely by what you and others put on this forum.

[upprdeck]

Its too bad not enough people pay attention to the finals weekend in wrestling.  Its like OT hockey but for every match

[dag14]

Its too bad not enough people pay attention to the finals weekend in wrestling.  Its like OT hockey but for every match

I agree with this sentiment 100%.  Because you never know going into the weekend when a Cornell wrestler will be on the mat, you almost have to commit to being available most of each round.  I block out the entire weekend and kill time between Cornell matches in the early rounds doing chores around the house.  By Saturday, I inevitably find myself watching total strangers wrestle, just because it is so exciting.

[Chris '03]

Many thanks for all your great reporting over the season, ugarte!

Seconded. Ugarte, thanks for all you post and write. I follow Cornell wrestling largely by what you and others put on this forum.

Agreed. Thank you for your relentless and detailed updates all season long.

[dbilmes]

The continued success at a national level of the Cornell wrestling program is a truly impressive feat. To finish third in a sport dominated by big-time athletic powerhouses is a great accomplishment. And it's not like this year was a fluke. Thanks to the program Koll built up and Grey has inherited, Cornell is a national wrestling power nearly every year.

[ugarte]

Many thanks for all your great reporting over the season, ugarte!

Seconded. Ugarte, thanks for all you post and write. I follow Cornell wrestling largely by what you and others put on this forum.

Agreed. Thank you for your relentless and detailed updates all season long.

you're welcome. i wish it were something less like a compulsion and more like benevolence but as long as the former seems like the latter, everyone wins.

[Tcl123]

Many thanks for all your great reporting over the season, ugarte!

Seconded. Ugarte, thanks for all you post and write. I follow Cornell wrestling largely by what you and others put on this forum.

Agreed. Thank you for your relentless and detailed updates all season long.

you're welcome. i wish it were something less like a compulsion and more like benevolence but as long as the former seems like the latter, everyone wins.

Thank you as well. Without your posts, there's 0% chance I would've tuned in for any of the coverage over the weekend. I watched most of the day yesterday along with checking in the days prior.

[CU77]

Vito and Yianni championship matches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmcHmYpnhqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6gY8-fxW2M

Great quote from the announcer during Yianni's bout: "Cornell looking for its first national champion since 20 minutes ago."

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Vito and Yianni championship matches:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmcHmYpnhqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6gY8-fxW2M

Great quote from the announcer during Yianni's bout: "Cornell looking for its first national champion since 20 minutes ago."

Love it!