SOURCE: cornellbigred.com

February 02, 2024

The No. 9 Cornell wrestling team won its fourth straight dual and improved to 3-0 against Ivy League foes as it took down the Columbia Lions 32-9 on Friday night at the Friedman Wrestling Center. #YellCornell 🐻

Recap ⬇️ https://t.co/T8htQGBu16

— Cornell Big Red (@CornellSports) February 3, 2024

ITHACA, N.Y. - The No. 9 Cornell wrestling team won its fourth straight dual and improved to 3-0 against Ivy League foes as it took down the Columbia Lions 32-9 on Friday night at the Friedman Wrestling Center.

The Big Red, 8-4 overall in duals this season, won seven of 10 matches, including three by technical fall, two by major decision and one by fall. Cornell has won 37 consecutive duals against Columbia.

In a matchup of two 2023 NCAA qualifiers, Cornell sophomore Brett Ungar led off the dual with a 6-2 win over Nick Babin. Three-time All-American and 2023 national champion Vito Arujau earned bonus points for the Big Red in the next match with a 17-2 technical fall over Sulayman Bah.

Mark Botello lost by decision to Kai Owen in the 141-pound match, but the Big Red got back on track at 149 pounds, as Ethan Fernandez built an early lead against Richard Fedalen and kept adding en route to a 20-6 major decision. Freshman Meyer Shapiro (157) and junior Julian Ramirez (165) then earned more bonus points for the Big Red with 17-2 technical falls.

After seniors Benny Baker (174) and Chris Foca (184) lost their matches by decision, seniors Jacob Cardenas (197) and Lewis Fernandes (285) finished strong for the Big Red. Cardenas beat Jack McGill 14-6 by major decision, and Fernandes pinned Billy McChesney in just more than two minutes.

Cornell Notes

The Big Red has won 105 of its last 106 Ivy League duals, including 13 in a row since losing to Princeton in 2020.

Cornell is 315-53-1 all-time against Ivy League opponents.

Cornell is 95-13 all-time against Columbia and has won 37 straight duals in the series.

Arujau moved into a tie for ninth in program history in wins by technical fall (15).

Fernandez has won his last five matches.

Shapiro pushed his winning streak to 10 matches. He has not lost since the Cliff Keen Invite in early December.

Of Cardenas' 16 wins this season, 11 have earned the Big Red bonus points. He leads the team in total wins (16) and bonus-point wins.

Fernandes has won his last three matches by fall.

Arujau (6-0) and Shapiro (10-0) remained unbeaten in duals.

Match-by-match results: Cornell 32, Columbia 9 (rankings from InterMat.com)

125: No. 16 Brett Ungar def. Nick Babin 6-2 by decision
133: No. 2 Vito Arujau def. Sulayman Bah 17-1 by technical fall
141: Kai Owen def. Mark Botello 4-1 by decision
149: No. 26 Ethan Fernandez def. Richard Fedalen 20-6 by major decision
157: No. 7 Meyer Shapiro def. David Berkovich 17-2 by technical fall
165: No. 4 Julian Ramirez def. Andy Garr 17-2 by technical fall
174: No. 20 Lennox Wolak def. Benny Baker 8-5 by decision
184: No. 29 Aaron Ayzerov def. Chris Foca 4-0 by decision
197: No. 7 Jacob Cardenas def. Jack McGill 14-6 by major decision
285: No. 18 Lewis Fernandes def. Billy McChesney by fall

Up Next

Cornell faces Princeton on Friday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Princeton, New Jersey.

Cornell faces Penn on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7:00 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.