WHEATON, Ill. – Sophomore Brian Petry reached the finals at 165 pounds and fifth-year Treyten Steffen collected his 100th career victory, heading a strong two-day performance by Cornell's men's wrestling team at the Pete Willson Invitational.
 
The No. 21 Rams had six individuals place in the top eight at the 30-team tournament, which featured eight nationally-ranked programs.
 
Coach Brent Hamm's squad finished a strong fourth in the team standings with 94.5 points. Cornell trailed only No. 6 UW-Eau Claire (150.5 points), No. 12 UW-Whitewater (142.5) and No. 2 UW-La Crosse (112.5).
 
Petry (26-7) knocked off two nationally-ranked opponents on his path to the 165-pound title match, where he fell 5-1 to UW-Whitwater's No. 11 Brayden Peet.
 
Petry finished 4-1, recording bonus points in all four of his victories. He dominated UW-Eau Claire's No. 8 Preston Carlisle with a 16-3 major decision in the quarterfinals. Petry then majored Roanoke's No. 9 David Reid in the semifinals, 9-1.
 
Steffen, ranked No. 5 nationally at 197, became the 14th member of Cornell's 100-win club during a busy 6-2 weekend and placed fourth in his bracket. Steffen rattled off five consecutive victories on the consolation side, including two major decisions and two technical falls. He lost 21-5 to North Central's Casey Aikman in the third-place bout.
 
The team leader in wins this season, Steffen (27-5) improved his career record to 103-48.
 
Senior 149-pounder Landon Card placed fourth with a 3-2 mark. Card (24-7) added two more technical falls to his single-season school record total, giving him 12 on the year. He lost by medical forfeit in the third-place match.
 
Junior 125-pounder Jase Van Pelt (22-6) had a strong 6-2 tournament and secured fifth place with a 3-2 decision over Rhode Island's Fred Luchs. Van Pelt won five matches in the consolation rounds.
 
Cornell's sixth-ranked Cael McLaren (24-3) placed eighth at 184. Junior heavyweight Jackson Brinker (13-11) also took eighth.   
 
Cornell placewinners
125 – Jase Van Pelt (5th, 6-2). 149 – Landon Card (4th, 3-2). 165 – Brian Petry (2nd, 4-1). 184 – Cael McLaren (8th, 3-2). 197 – Treyten Steffen (4th, 6-2). 285 – Jackson Brinker (8th, 3-3).
 
Coming up – The Rams host UW-Oshkosh (0-9) at 7 p.m. Friday on Senior Night in the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.