ONEONTA, N.Y. – Nationally fourth-ranked Cortland overcame an early 7-0 deficit and the Red Dragons defeated host Oneonta, 27-13, in a dual match. Cortland improved to 12-2 with the win and Oneonta is now 4-8.

Oneonta won the first two matches – an 8-6 win by Zachary Aal at 125 pounds and a 12-4 major decision by Ben Mikac at 133 pounds. Cortland answered with three straight victories to take a 14-7 lead. Junior Brian Bistis (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central), ranked eighth nationally at 141 pounds, pinned his opponent with 31 seconds left in the match. Freshman Bobby Dierna (Webster/Wayne), ranked third nationally at 149 pounds, posted a 12-2 major decision and senior Troy Sterling (Uniondale), ranked eighth in the nation at 157 pounds, outlasted his opponent, 7-5.

Shaun Gillen's 8-4 decision at 165 pounds kept Oneonta within four at 14-10, but sophomore Lou Puca (Huntington) pinned his opponent at 174 pounds in 3:43 to increase the Cortland lead to 20-10. Puca is ranked seventh nationally.

Oneonta stayed alive with a 4-3 win by Greg Du Vall at 184 pounds, but Cortland clinched the victory when senior and nationally top-ranked Jared Myhrberg (Queensbury) recorded a 10-2 major decision at 197 pounds. Senior Corey James (Kingston) concluded the evening with a 2-1 decision at 285 pounds.

With their victories, Bistis improved to 16-5 on the season, Dierna is now 23-1 and Sterling is 12-6. Puca upped his season mark to 20-3, Myhrberg improved to 24-1 and James is 16-3.

Cortland will compete at the Messiah College Wrestling Open on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m. More than 200 wrestlers have registered for the tournament.

Cortland 27, Oneonta 13

125 – Zachary Aal (ONE) dec. Tanavung Tim, 8-6
133 – Ben Mikac (ONE) major dec. David Occhipinti, 12-4
141 – Brian Bistis (CORT) pinned Sean Hanson, 6:29
149 – Bobby Dierna (CORT) major dec. Noah Valastro, 12-2
157 – Troy Sterling (CORT) dec. Dan Graff, 7-5
165 – Shaun Gillen (ONE) dec. James Ondris, 8-4
174 – Lou Puca (CORT) pinned Donnie VanBuren, 3:43
184 – Greg Du Vall (ONE) dec. Will Parks, 4-3
197 – Jared Myhrberg (CORT) major dec. Chad Obzud, 10-2
285 – Corey James (CORT) dec. Jake Smith, 2-1

Exhibition:
285 – Andy Scopino (CORT) major dec. Jacob Freudenberg, 13-4