Cornell sweeps all seven semifinals for commanding EIWA lead

Mike Grey in his semifinals victory over Matt Fisk of Lehigh

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Cornell went seven-for-seven in the semifinals to expand its domination of the EIWA Championships on Sunday morning.

Cornell had 124 points after the semifinals, a full 45 points ahead of second-place Lehigh at 79 points. Penn was next with 65 points, followed by Bucknell at 62.5 points and Navy with 60 points.

"I could tell this week our guys were ready," said Cornell coach Rob Koll. "That was a great round. We had a fantastic week in practice. They were focused. We have built all year for this and for the nationals. I have no reason to believe we won't do as well in the next round."

Cornell was favored in six of the seven matches, based upon seed, but even pulled off a mild upset for the perfect semifinal round.

No. 3 Justin Kerber of Cornell scored a takedown in overtime to defeat No. 2 Louis Caputo of Harvard at 184 pounds, pumping his fist to the crown and firing up the Big Red faithful.

'It was a great win for Justin," said Koll. "He has been on the verge all season. He was losing one-point matches to some of the best wrestlers in the nation, and found a way to lose. But, that is how you prepare for big matches like this one."

Returning NCAA champion Jordan Leen (157) qualified for the finals, as did No. 1 seeds Troy Nickerson (125) and Mack Lewnes (165). Also earning semifinal wins were Mike Grey (133), Steve Anceravage (174) and Cam Simaz (197).

In the race for second place, Lehigh won two head-to-head bouts against Penn to jump from third to second in the standings after the semifinals.

The first win came at 141 pounds, when No. 2 Seth Ciasulli defeated No. 3 Rick Rappo, 3-1. In the final semifinal bout of the session at heavyweight, No. 2 Zach Rey defeated No. 3 Trey McLean with an overtime takedown to a pin at 9:32. Lehigh also advanced No. 1 David Craig at 184 pounds, placing three in the finals.

"He doesn't like to shoot, so I was waiting for a smart shot and took it," said Rey. "I have got to get my conditioning better. If I would have been in better condition, it would have ended earlier. Penn was ahead of us before the round, but we beat two of their guys and we are now second."

Penn has one athlete in the finals, returning champion Rollie Peterkin at 125 pounds, who will face former EIWA champion Nickerson in the finals.

"It is the semifinals, in one of the toughest conferences in the nation," said Penn coach Rob Eiter. "We were right in the team race. Certainly, we are disappointed with the semifinal results. We have some guys who are wrestling back tough for us now."

All 10 No. 1 seeds advanced to the finals. The one who has had the most trouble, Richard Starks of Army at 197 pounds, edged Andy Silber of American in the semifinals, 6-5. Silber scored the first takedown in the match and pushed Starks to the limit. Starks needed to go into overtime for his two victories on Saturday.

EIWA finals pairings and semifinal results

125 pounds
FINALS - No. 1 Troy Nickerson (Cornell) vs. No 2 Rollie Peterkin (Penn)

Nickerson pin No. 5 Prescott Garner (Navy), 1:11
Peterkin maj. dec. Derek Reber (Brown), 10-0

133 pounds
FINALS - No. 1 Joe Baker (Navy) vs. No. 2 Mike Grey (Cornell)

Baker dec. No. 4 David Marble (Bucknell), 8-3
Grey dec. No. 2 Matt Fisk (Lehigh), 9-3

141 pounds
FINALS - No. 1 Corey Jantzen (Harvard) vs. No. 2 Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh)

Jantzen dec. No. 4 Trevor Melde (Rutgers), 4-2
Ciasulli dec. No. 3 Rick Rappo (Penn), 3-1

149 pounds
FINALS - No. 1 Matt Kyler (Army) vs. No. 2 Bryce Saddoris (Navy)

Kyler dec. No. 5 Kyle Borschoff (American), 3-2, 2nd t.b.
Saddoris dec. No. 3 Trevor Chinn (Lehigh), 5-3

157 pounds
FINALS - No. 1 J.P. O'Connor (Harvard) vs. No. 2 Jordan Leen (Cornell)

O'Connor dec. No. 4 Scott Winston (Rutgers), 4-2
Leen dec. No. 3 Matt Dragon (Penn), 5-1

165 pounds
FINALS - No. 1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) vs. No. 2 Andy Rendos (Bucknell)

Lewnes pin No. 4 Matt Pletcher (Rutgers), 2:39
Rendos maj. dec. No. 3 Mike Galante (Lehigh), 8-0

174 pounds
FINALS - No. 1 Mike Cannon (American) vs. No. 2 Steve Anceravage (Cornell)

Cannon dec. No. 4 Luke Rebertus (Navy), 4-3
Anceravage dec. No. 3 Scott Giffin (Penn), 0-2

184 pounds
No. 1 David Craig (Lehigh) vs. No. 3 Justin Kerber (Cornell)

Craig major dec. No. 4 Casey Caldwell (Navy), 8-0
Kerber dec. No. 2 Louis Caputo (Harvard), 5-3, s.v.

197 pounds
No. 1 Richard Starks (Army) vs. No. 2 Cam Simaz (Cornell)

Starks dec. No. 5 Andy Silber (American), 6-5
Simaz dec. No. 6 Thomas Shovlin (Penn), inj. dft. 2:46

285 pounds
No. 1 Ryan Flores (Columbia) vs. No. 2 Zach Rey (Lehigh)

Flores pin No. 4 Chris Birchler (East Stroudsburg), 6:44
Rey pin No. 3 Trey McLean (Penn), ot, 9:32