WILLIAMSPORT, PA. – The nationally seventh-ranked Cortland wrestling team finished in fourth place at the 20-team Budd Whitehill Duals after losing two close matches during the second day of competition. The Red Dragons dropped a 21-19 decision to 22nd-ranked Springfield College in the semifinals and lost 20-19 to 24th-ranked Ohio Northern in the third-place match. The Red Dragons are now 13-2 in dual matches this season.

Cortland and Springfield each won five individual bouts in the semifinal match, but the Pride picked up key extra points with two pins compared to Cortland's one pin and major decision. The Red Dragons took an early 7-0 lead on a Jared Lemke (Alden) 7-6 victory at 125 pounds and a Sean Kempf (Wantagh/MacArthur) 10-1 major decision at 133 pounds.

Springfield won the next five matches, two by pin, and led 21-7 with three matches remaining. Senior Carl Korpi (Miller Place) pinned his opponent in 1:10 at 184 pounds to bring the Red Dragons within 21-13. Jared Myhrberg (Queensbury), ranked third nationally at 197 pounds, won 10-3 at 197 pounds – one point shy of a major decision – to cut the Springfield lead to 21-16. Corey James (Kingston) concluded the match with a 1-0 win at 285 pounds to create the final margin.

Cortland also split its 10 matches with Ohio Northern. Kempf won 9-3 at 133 pounds to tie the match at 3-3. Sophomore Brian Bistis (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) earned an 8-0 major decision at 141 pounds and junior Andre Berry (Uniondale) pinned his opponent in one minute at 149 pounds and Cortland led 13-3.

The Polar Bears responded with three straight wins, one by pin and one by technical fall, and took a 17-13 lead. The Red Dragons regained the lead at 19-17 when Myhrberg won 10-4 at 197 pound, but Ohio Northern won the final match at 285 pounds by a 2-1 decision to earn the team victory.

Wisconsin-Whitewater won the team title with a victory over Springfield in the championship match.

Cortland competed without two of its three nationally ranked wrestlers – Nigel McNeil (Huntington Station/Huntington) (fourth at 125 pounds) and Troy Sterling (Uniondale) (third at 157 pounds) – not available for the weekend.

Cortland Match Results

SEMIFINALS:
Springfield 21, SUNY Cortland 19

125 – Jared Lemke (CORT) dec. Tom Casper, 7-6
133 – Sean Kempf (CORT) major dec. Jesse Sgaglione, 10-1
141 – Joseph Grippi (SPRING) dec. Brian Bistis, 6-1
149 – Eric Hamrick (SPRING) pinned Andre Berry, 6:10
157 – Ryan McGilvray (SPRING) pinned Adam Willman, 4:36
165 – Derrick Longo (SPRING) dec.  Jonathan Conroy, 5-3
174 – Michael Fish (SPRING) dec. James Ondris, 8-4
184 – Carl Korpi (CORT) pinned Jason Barriault, 1:10
197 – Jared Myhrberg (CORT) dec. Jeremy Burns, 10-3
285 – Corey James (CORT) dec. John Gabordi, 1-0

THIRD-PLACE MATCH:
Ohio Northern 20, SUNY Cortland 19

125 – Cole Cochran (ONU) dec. Jared Lemke, 5-0
133 – Sean Kempf (CORT) dec. Jeremy Jones, 9-3
141 – Brian Bistis (CORT) major dec. Nick Pataro, 8-0
149 – Andre Berry (CORT) pinned Kyle Brezovec, 1:00
157 – Mick Letcher (ONU) pinned Adam Willman, 3:49
165 – Billy Painter (ONU) dec. Jonathan Conroy, 4-3
174 – Kyle Kwiat (ONU) tech. fall James Ondris, 16-0
184 – Carl Korpi (CORT) dec. D.J. Recknagel, 6-2
197 – Jared Myhrberg (CORT) dec. Michael Pawlitz, 10-4
285 – Cody Lovejoy (ONU) dec. Corey James, 2-1


Exhibition Matches (Friday and Saturday)


125 – Josh Boyes (WAB) dec. Paul Fields (CORT), 12-5
125 – Jordan Poirier (WSP) dec. Paul Fields (CORT), 7-4
125 – Paul Fields (CORT) dec. Cody Barbiche (LYC), 4-3
125 – Nick Rea (YORK)  dec. Paul Fields (CORT), 6-4
157 – Eric Kaufman (CORT) dec. Thomas Decker (UWW), 8-6
174 – Alex Meyers (CORT) dec. Ryan Aprahamian (UWW), 6-4
197 – Jeff Bradens (SPR) inj. def. Vinny Buttice (CORT), 2:20
197 – Chris Brown (CORT) pinned Justin Birschbach (UWW), :47
197 – Justin Birschbach (UWW) dec. Chris Brown (CORT), 6-3
197 – Vinny Buttice (CORT) dec. Dylan Clucas (WSP), 8-2
197 – Vinny Buttice (CORT) dec. Dylan Clucas (WSP), 10-3
197 – Chris Brown (CORT) tech. fall Max Begovich (TRI), 16-0 (3:42)
285 – Joey Giaramita (CORT) major dec. Adam Datema (WILL), 11-1