Cornell Drops Season Opener to NC State, 25-9

ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell wrestling had its streak of nine-straight season opening victories broken on Saturday, Nov. 23, falling to #9 North Carolina State by a final score of 25-9. Senior Chas Tucker and freshman Jonathan Loew each picked up individual victories for the Big Red. NC State came up big in the close matches, securely late third period takedowns on several occasions.
The dual started with a highly anticipated match-up at 184 pounds, with No. 3-ranked Ben Darmstadt facing No. 12-ranked Trent Hidlay. Darmstadt trailed, 4-3, heading into the second period before a stalling call tied the bout at 4-4. Hidlay fired off a barrage of shots in the third, with Darmstadt doing well to fend off the first two, but Hidlay converted on the third to take a 7-4 lead over the Big Red sophomore late in the third period. Darmstadt gained a point back for riding time, but ultimately was defeated by Hidlay, 7-5.
In his first dual action as a member of the Big Red, Loew electrified the crowd with a first period fall at 197 pounds, defeating Tyrie Houghton with 1:25 remaining in the first period. Loew's fall gave Cornell an early 6-3 lead over the Wolfpack heading into the heavyweight bout.
Cornell dropped a close one at 285, with Brendan Furman losing to Deonte Wilson, 3-1, on a takedown in the final 10 seconds of the match. Dominic LaJoie was unable to get to his offense at 125, falling to #15 Jakob Camacho, 8-4, with his four points being scored on escapes.
Down 9-6, the Big Red got back into the win column at 133 pounds, where No. 6-ranked Tucker defeated #14 Jarrett Trombley, 4-1. Tucker had an active first period where he nearly picked up a takedown on two separate occasions, but was unable to finish them. A single second period escape gave Tucker a 1-0 advantage heading into the final two minutes of the match. Starting in the top position for period three, Tucker rode Trombley tough for 52 seconds before he broke free. As the PA Announcer called for 30 seconds remaining in the bout, Tucker added a late takedown to gain a 3-1 lead. Tucker amassed exactly 1:00 of riding time to take the 4-1 victory.
At 141 pounds, Noah Baughman was defeated by #11 Tariq Wilson, whose first period takedown was the only offensive points scored in the bout. Wilson escaped to start the second and added riding time to secure the victory. Baughman opened the third period on bottom, but was returned to the mat twice by Wilson and couldn't escape his grasp.
Hunter Richard wrestled A.J. Leitten close at 149 pounds, but ultimately came up short, 6-5. Following an escape to start the second period, Richard tied the match up at 2-2 before converting on a single leg and tripping Leitten to get the takedown and a 4-2 lead. Leitten picked up two escape points to even the bout at 4-4, before taking Richard down with 1:20 to go in the third period. Richard escaped quickly, but was unable to find a bout-clinching takedown before the buzzer sounded.
Up against the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 165 pounds in the countey for his dual debut, Colton Yapoujian was defeated by Hayden Hidlay, 4-0. Yapoujian had underhooks in on Hidlay during the first, but was unable to use them, keeping the score at 0-0 heading into the second. Hidlay escaped to start the second and responded with a takedown to secure a 3-0 lead over the freshman before riding time was added.
Making the start at 165 pound was Adam Santoro, who fell to #14 Thomas Bullard by major decision, 9-0. In the final bout of the afternoon, Brandon Womack was defeated by #17 Daniel Bullard in a close, 5-4, match. Bullard took a 5-3 lead over Womack with a reversal to open the third period. Womack was able to roll out of it following a restart, but couldn't find a takedown in the final minute to give himself the lead.
Up Next: Cornell will compete at the Cornell Open, hosted in Barton Hall on Sunday, Nov. 24 before resuming the dual season at Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 1.
#16 Cornell Big Red (0-1) vs. #9 NC State (5-0)
1 PM // Nov. 23, 2019 // Newman Arena at Bartels Hall
Final: NC State 25, Cornell 9
125: #15 Jakob Camacho dec. Dominic LaJoie, 8-4
133: #6 Chas Tucker dec. #14 Jarrett Trombley, 4-1
141: #11 Tariq Wilson dec. Noah Baughman, 4-0
149: A.J. Leitten dec. Hunter Richard, 6-5.
157: #1 Hayden Hidlay dec. Colton Yapoujian, 4-0
165: #14 Thomas Bullard major dec. Adam Santoro, 9-0
174: #17 Daniel Bullard dec. #11 Brandon Womack, 5-4
184: #12 Trent Hidlay dec. #3 Ben Darmstadt, 7-5
197: Jonathan Loew def. Tyrie Houghton, fall (1:35)
285: Deonte Wilson dec. Brendan Furman, 3-1