The Big Red (10-2 overall, 3-0 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association [EIWA]) lived up to its billing. Cornell pulverized the Tigers (2-16, 1-7), winning by pin in four of the seven contested matches.
Sophomore 149-pounder Daniel Kolodzik, senior 157-pounder and captain Marty Everin and freshman 184-pounder Kurt Brendel picked up the Tigers’ best results of the day.
“They’re no joke,” head coach Chris Ayres said of the Cornell wrestlers. “I knew it was going to be a tough dual meet. I don’t think we competed really well that match, but they’re really good.”
Kolodzik gave Princeton its best chance to win, keeping it close against Cornell’s Eric McGill. But the sophomore let the match get away, ultimately losing 5-0.
Everin faced with the gargantuan task of wrestling Jordan Leen, the 2008 NCAA national champion at 157 pounds. Everin gave up a takedown early and then was immediately put on his back. The ensuing 8-0 deficit proved insurmountable. Everin lost by technical fall in three minutes, 48 seconds.
Brendel, who currently sits second on the team in wins, had a similarly difficult time against No. 15 Justin Kerber. The freshman was defeated 13-3.
“The guy just took control of the match,” Ayres said. “Then you’re trying to fight back, and it just opens yourself up. Got down early, trying to come back, it’s just hard. He wrestled him tough, though. A few mistakes against these guys lead to a lot of points.”
At 125 pounds, junior Robert Benitez was pinned in 1:34 by No. 1 Troy Nickerson. At 165 pounds, junior Mike Alvarez was pinned in 1:17 by No. 1 Mack Lewnes. Sophomore Travis Erdman was pinned in 1:46 by No. 7 Steve Anceravage, and junior Zack Morse was pinned in 4:01 by No. 14 Cam Simaz. Princeton was forced to forfeit the 133-pound, 141-pound and heavyweight brackets due to injuries.
The Tigers were considerably more successful on Sunday afternoon against Columbia (3-12, 1-3) and Drexel (9-14). Everin swept his two matches, while Kolodzik, Brendel and Alvarez picked up single victories.
Everin knocked off Columbia’s Derek Sickles 8-2, then bested Drexel’s Billy Haydt in an 8-0 major decision. Everin now leads the team with 14 wins this season as he works to position himself for a postseason run.
“That was the best I’ve ever seen [Everin] wrestle,” Ayres said. “He dominated that kid [Sickles]. Then the next kid was pretty good, and he did the same thing to him. He just put the match right where he wanted it. That’s what the good guys do.”
Kolodzik held off Columbia’s Matt Dunn 4-2 before falling 5-2 to Drexel’s Robert Robinson.
“[Kolodzik] also put the match in a place where he wanted it to be. I still think he’s better than he’s shown and shouldn’t have lost to the second guy. He’s sort of been a one-trick pony with a front head lock,” Ayres said. A tough start to the weekend didn’t deter Alvarez from producing an impressive result in his final match. After being pinned by Lewnes on Saturday, he lost 12-5 to Columbia’s Eren Civan. He then pinned Drexel’s Scott Hunter in 5:50.
“He wrestled really good,” Ayres said. “The match was close at the time of the pin, but he had been the aggressor and active and got the job done.”
Brendel defeated Columbia’s Kenji Porter 7-4 before losing to Drexel’s Justin Wieller 10-7.
Benitez was defeated 17-1 by Columbia’s Kyle Gilchrist and 16-1 by Drexel’s Michael Gomex. Erdman dropped his first match 3-1 to Columbia’s Mike Wolfer before losing 6-0 to Drexel’s Dave Woodall. At 197 pounds, Zach Morse lost 10-3 to Columbia’s Lou Miller and 21-6 to Drexel’s No. 17 Jon Oplinger.
Freshman heavyweight Stephen Turner returned from injury on Sunday and had a tough outing. Turner was pinned in 1:33 by Columbia No. 13 Ryan Flores, and was then pinned again by Drexel’s Kyle Frey in 4:50.
The Tigers return home this weekend for their final two dual meets of the season against Boston University and Sacred Heart. Neither team has any ranked wrestlers. Princeton will then have two weeks to prepare for the EIWA Championships, a two-day tournament in Philadelphia.
Read More
Preview: Football names captains and looks ahead to their first game
Lily PampolinaPrinceton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
Princeton football kicks off their season Saturday at noon at home against University of San Diego. The team hopes to get back on track after a disappointing season last year.
By the Numbers: Goals and medals for the Tigers’ start to the fall
Harrison BlankThis week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
This week in By the Numbers, women’s cross country took first in their first two meets, led by sophomore Meg Madison. Amid these accomplishments, the Tigers won over three-fifths of their games and had winning records both at home and on the road.
Late goals lift men’s soccer past University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2–0
Harrison Blank and Matthew YiMen’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.
Men’s soccer overcame a slow start to beat the Minutemen.