MOUNT VERNON – Cornell put up a fight against NJCAA's third-ranked Rochester Community & Technical College, dropping a tight 21-17 dual meet Sunday afternoon in the Small Multi-Sport Center.
Evan Husko (SO/Wauconda, Ill.), Bryce Oveson (SR/Wilton, Iowa) and Austin Thomas (SR/Waterford, Wis.) all beat highly-rated opponents, while Cristian Dixon (FR/Saint Joseph, Mo.) and John Marsh (SR/Denver, Colo.) also came away victorious for the Rams (1-1), who split the 10 head-to-head matches with the visiting Yellow Jackets (1-0).
Husko knocked off No. 1-ranked and 2020 all-American Parker Dobrocky by a 4-2 score for a big win at 133 pounds. The Ram sophomore took the lead with a second-period takedown and accumulated riding time for the final margin of victory.
At 184, Oveson scored eight first-period points and controlled second-ranked all-American Gavin Christoffersen for a convincing 9-2 decision. The Cornell senior delivered a six-point move in the initial minute of the match and didn't look back.
Senior 157-pounder Thomas staged a late flurry of points against eighth-ranked Willie VonRuden for a 12-11 comeback win. Thomas tied it with a four-point near fall in the final 10 seconds and accumulated a decisive riding time point.
Freshman Dixon impressed with six takedowns in his 19-4 technical fall over Matt Frost at 141. Marsh also controlled his 174-pound match with Wyatt Simon, earning a 7-2 decision.
The meet boiled down to the heavyweight bout with the Rams leading 17-15. The Yellow Jackets prevailed with a pin in 3:53 from Noah Broderson over Alex Heisdorffer (SR/Walford, Iowa) to take the dual.
Cornell sophomore 149-pounder Jacob Ramirez (SO/Kankakee, Ill.) wrestled tough in a 3-1 loss to Noah Parish that was decided in sudden victory. At 197, Cornell's Trevor Trende (SR/Cresco, Iowa) surrendered a late four-point move in a 10-6 battle with fifth-ranked Tristen Wilson.
Cornell's Casey Allen (JR/Gilberts, Ill.) fell 11-2 to fourth-ranked Seth Brossard at 165. Jonah Kokin (FR/Woodland Hills, Calif.) lost 19-3 to Rochester's Cael Bartels at 125.
The evenly-matched dual had both teams record 15 takedowns. Rochester held a 16-12 advantage in near-fall points.
Coming up – Cornell travels to Indianola Thursday for a 7 p.m. dual meet with Simpson.
