RESULTS

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Cornell's top-seeded senior Treyten Steffen captured the 197-pound title at the Citrus Invitational, highlighting seven Rams who placed in the top eight over the two-day event in the Sunshine State.
 
The 17th-ranked Steffen finished 4-0 in his weight class, including a 10-4 decision over Castleton's 20th-ranked Darby McLaughlin in the championship match.
 
Steffen (12-1) became Cornell's first Citrus individual champion since 2021 (Casey Allen at 165). He took fourth in the tournament last year, sixth in 2021.
 
Steffen pinned his first opponent in 4:07 and then earned a tight 7-6 quarterfinal win over Roanoke's Lorenzo Pellot. Steffen defeated Castleton's Haven Tatarek in the semifinals, 4-0.   
 
Second-seeded Cael McLaren finished runner-up at 184 with a 4-1 mark. The junior's lone blemish was a 4-0 setback to Castleton's seventh-ranked Sampson Wilkins in the championship. McLaren (7-6) outscored his opponents, 34-5, on his path to the finals.
 
The Rams landed two placewinners at 125 in Jayden Rael and Jase Van Pelt, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Rael received a medical forfeit in the fifth-place bout and improved his season record to 15-3. Van Pelt (7-8) had a pin and technical fall among his three wins.
 
Sophomore Eli Sneed placed seventh at 133 and freshman AJ Parrish took seventh at 141. Parrish (12-11) recorded two pins and two technical falls in an impressive Citrus debut. Sneed moved to 11-6 on the season.
 
At 157, sophomore 16th-ranked Gabriel Smith (14-6) finished eighth with a 4-2 record. He posted bonus points in each of his wins.
 
The Rams totaled 116 points and took fifth in the 15-team field. No. 7 nationally-ranked Castleton won the team title with 197.5 points, followed by Roanoke (144), UNC Pembroke (128.5) and Ursinus (127.5).
 
In Saturday's Warrior Division, Cornell crowned champions in four weight classes. Sophomore Elliot Cooney (141), freshman Braydon Hoffman (197) and freshman Brandon Bray (285) all claimed titles. Austin Wilkins and Drew Deer both went undefeated in the 174-pound bracket.
 
Coming up – The Rams compete at the NWCA National Duals Jan. 5-6 in Cedar Falls. Cornell opens action Friday with a 10 a.m. dual against University of Olivet (Mich.).  
 
Cornell Placewinners (Top 8)
125 – Jayden Rael (5th, 5-2), Jase Van Pelt (6th, 3-2). 133 – Eli Sneed (7th, 3-2). 141 – AJ Parrish (7th, 4-2). 157 – Gabriel Smith (8th, 4-2). 184 – Cael McLaren (2nd, 4-1). 197 – Treyten Steffen (1st, 4-0).