Benny Baker, Lewis Fernandes and Wyatt Yapoujian had memorable Senior Day victories in the No. 9 @BigRedWrestling team's strong finish to the regular season on Sunday afternoon. #YellCornell🐻
— Cornell Big Red (@CornellSports) February 25, 2024
Recap/Notes⬇️ https://t.co/LKTcmHvlBz
ITHACA, N.Y. - Benny Baker, Lewis Fernandes and Wyatt Yapoujian had memorable Senior Day victories in the No. 9 Cornell wrestling team's strong finish to the regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Friedman Wrestling Center.
The Big Red defeated in-state EIWA foe Binghamton 33-6 in front of an energetic crowd, capping its dual slate with a 12-4 record. Cornell has won that many duals in all three seasons under Mike Grey (36-10 career record), the David Dunlop '59 Head Coach of Wrestling.
The Big Red got on the board at 174 pounds with Baker's 4-1 win over Dimitri Gamkrelidze after Binghamton's Brevin Casella started the dual with a 4-2 decision over Brody Oleksak. Baker, who recorded an escape to tie the match at one in the third period, won in sudden victory with a takedown.
Baker has won three straight matches after losing nine in a row entering last weekend's duals at North Carolina State and Appalachian State.
At 285, No. 16 Fernandes won his final collegiate home match against Charlie Tibbitts by fall in 3:55. He has three pins in his last six victories and five on the season.
Yapoujian, who hadn't wrestled in a collegiate dual ahead of Sunday, earned a scrappy 1-0 win over Carter Baer in the final match. Yapoujian earned the win ? the fourth of his career ? with riding time.
At 141 pounds, No. 11 Vince Cornella returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering an injury setback against Missouri on Jan. 28. The sophomore showed few (if any) signs of rust, beating Nate Lucier 9-1 by major decision. Cornella will enter the postseason on a six-match win streak.
Other Cornell Match Notes And Highlights
Freshman Marcello Milani earned his first collegiate dual win, dominating Matt Griffin 17-1 by technical fall.
Fernandes, Cornella, Milani, Brett Ungar and Ethan Fernandez earned bonus points for the Big Red with their victories.
Ungar beat Carson Wagner 17-0 by technical fall, while Fernandez beat Jordan Brown 11-0 by major decision.
Cornell went 7-1 against EIWA opponents in duals this season, its last as a member of the EIWA.
Cornell is 100-6 in its last 106 duals against EIWA teams.
The Big Red is 139-9-1 against EIWA teams since 2004-05, including 126-1 against opponents other than Lehigh.
Cornell has won all 12 of its matchups against Binghamton.
Cornell is 124-2 in duals against unranked teams since 2007-08.
The Big Red is 73-12 in its last 85 home duals dating back to the 2009-10 season. Under Grey, Cornell owns a 17-1 record at home, including 7-0 this season and in 2021-22.
Match-by-match results and running team score: Cornell 33, Binghamton 6
165: No. 18 Brevin Cassella def. Brody Oleksak 4-2 by decision (Binghamton 3, Cornell 0)
174: Benny Baker def. Dimitri Gamkrelidze 4-1 SV (Binghamton 3, Cornell 3)
184: No. 6 Chris Foca def. No. 14 Jacob Nolan 4-2 by decision (Cornell 6, Binghamton 3)
197: No. 9 Lou DePrez def. No. 7 Jacob Cardenas 7-3 by decision (Cornell 6, Binghamton 6)
285: No. 16 Lewis Fernandes def. Charlie Tibbitts by fall in 3:55 (Cornell 12, Binghamton 6)
125: No. 15 Brett Ungar def. Carson Wagner 17-0 by technical fall in 6:35 (Cornell 17, Binghamton 6)
133: Marcello Milani def. Matt Griffin 17-1 by technical fall in 6:59 (Cornell 22, Binghamton 6)
141: No. 11 Vince Cornella def. Nate Lucier 9-1 by major decision (Cornell 26, Binghamton 6)
149: No. 20 Ethan Fernandez def. Jordan Brown 11-0 by MD (Cornell 30, Binghamton 6)
157: Wyatt Yapoujian def. Carter Baer 1-0 by decision (Cornell 33, Binghamton 6)
Up Next
Cornell will prepare for the EIWA Championships on March 8-9 at Bucknell's Sojka Pavilion in Lewisburg, Pa.