CORTLAND, N.Y. - The nationally seventh-ranked Cortland wrestling team won the final three weight classes to break a 12-12 tie and on went on to defeat Oneonta, 25-12, Wednesday night at Corey Gymnasium. The host Red Dragons improved to 14-2 in dual matches with the win, while the visiting Red Dragons fell to 5-7.

Freshman Paul Fields (Clarkstown/Clarkstown North) gave Cortland a 3-0 lead in the match with an 8-4 decision at 125 pounds, earning the final six points in the bout. Oneonta sophomore Ben Mikac (Lackawanna/Williamsville East) earned a 6-2 decision at 133 pounds to even the match at 3-3.

Cortland sophomore Brian Bistis (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) followed with a pin of his opponent in 48 seconds, and Cortland led 9-3. Oneonta answered with a 10-4 decision by junior Matt Eberlein (Levittown/Island Trees) at 149 pounds and a 7-3 decision by sophomore Dan Graff (LaGrangeville/Arlinton) at 157 pounds to even the match at 9-9 halfway through the contest.

Junior Jonathan Conroy (South Plainfield, NJ) responded with a 6-1 win at 165 pounds for the host Red Dragons, and Oneonta senior Jimmy Neal (Glens Falls) earned an 8-6 decision over junior Alex Meyers (Morrisville/Morrisville-Eaton) to make it a 12-12 match with three weight classes remaining.

Freshman Mike McGrath (Kingston) gave Cortland the lead for good with a 13-3 major decision at 184 pounds before nationally third-ranked Jared Myhrberg (Queensbury) pinned his opponent in 4:45 at 197 pounds to seal the victory. Junior Corey James (Kingston) finished the night for Cortland with a 5-0 decision at 285 pounds.

Two nationally ranked wrestlers for Cortland, third-ranked junior Troy Sterling (Uniondale) at 157 pounds and fourth-ranked freshman Nigel McNeil (Huntington Station/Huntington) at 125 pounds, did not compete. 

Cortland 25, Oneonta 12

125 - Paul Fields (CORT) dec. Carlos Soto, 8-4
133 - Ben Mikac (ONE) dec. Sean Kempf, 6-2 
141 - Brian Bistis (CORT) pinned Brian Barry, :48
149 - Matt Eberlein (ONE) dec. Brian Vutianitis, 10-4 
157 - Dan Graff (ONE) dec. Adam Willman, 7-3
165 - Jonathan Conroy (CORT) dec. Frankie Provenzano, 6-1
174 - Jimmy Neal (ONE) dec. Alex Meyers, 8-6
184 - Mike McGrath (CORT) major dec. Stephen Provenzano, 13-3
197 - Jared Myhrberg (CORT) pinned Anthony Paratore, 4:45
285 - Corey James (CORT) dec. Vincent Barber, 5-0

Exhibition Matches

133 - Alex Bossert (CORT) pinned Joey Thompson, 2:58
133 - Alex Bossert (CORT) tech. fall Alex Pugh, 17-2 (6:05) 
157 - Eric Kaufman (CORT) major dec. Donnie VanBuren, 11-3


Records after match: Cortland (Red Dragons) 14-2 (ranked 7th in Div. III); Oneonta (Red Dragons) 5-7