MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's wrestling team treated the home fans to a bunch of bonus points and a lopsided dual win, 42-6 over UW-Platteville Thursday night inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
Coach Brent Hamm's Rams were dominant throughout the quick 65-minute meet, posting 22 takedowns and 36 near-fall points in the home opener, which moved the team to 1-1 on the season.
 
Cornell racked up bonus points in seven of the nine match wins, including a first-period pin by senior 149-pounder Landon Card (5-2) in 1:42. Card's victory gave the Rams a comfortable 19-0 lead through four matches.
 
Junior 125-pounder Jase Van Pelt (6-0) set the tone for the dual with a 15-0 technical fall in 3:23. He tallied 14 first-period points and remained unbeaten on the season.
 
The Rams also received technical falls from freshman Jace Kennel at 141 (18-3), 11th-ranked Treyten Steffen at 197 (20-3) and junior 13th-ranked Jackson Brinker at heavyweight (17-2).
 
Kennel registered four takedowns and improved to 7-1 to start his promising collegiate career. Steffen (4-2) scored 12 near-fall points before ending his bout in the second period. Brinker (2-3) needed only 1:36 to terminate his match against Al Ashauer.   
 
At 165, sophomore Brian Petry (6-1) scored six takedowns in a 22-12 major decision. Cornell 133-pounder Eli Sneed (4-4) earned an 8-2 decision. At 174, Dahson DeJong (6-2) claimed a hard-fought 4-3 decision over Blake Delsman.
 
Cornell's eighth-ranked Cael McLaren (7-0) received a forfeit win at 184.
 
UW-Platteville (0-1) prevailed in the 157-pound bout with a late third-period pin.   
 
Coming up – The Rams return to the mat Friday night with a dual against Simpson in Indianola. First match is 4:30 p.m.