CORTLAND, N.Y. – Sophomore Bobby Dierna (Webster/Wayne) and freshman Nick Bellanza (East Northport/John H. Glenn) each won by pin as part of Cortland's eight victories as the nationally fifth-ranked Red Dragons defeated Wesleyan University, 37-12, in their home finale. Cortland improved to 13-3 on the season with one dual remaining Feb. 19 at Ithaca.

Wesleyan dropped 5-11 with the loss. The Cardinals will host the NCAA Div. III Northeast Regional qualifiers, which Cortland will be competing at, March 1-2 in Middletown, Conn.

The match opened with a piece of history as Cortland sophomore Nyasa Bakker (New York/Wingate Campus) became the first woman to wrestle in a Red Dragon uniform. She lost to Wesleyan's James Hamilton by pin in 1:02.

Cortland won the next four matches, starting with a 4-2 decision by junior Paul Fields (New City/Clarkstown North) at 133 pounds. He recorded a first-period takedown and a third-period reversal before giving up a reversal with 1:05 left for the final margin.

Senior Brian Bistis (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Westfield), ranked fifth nationally at 141 pounds, won by forfeit. Dierna, ranked first nationally at 149 pounds, pinned his opponent in 1:38, and senior James Ondris (Massapequa Park/Massapequa) earned a 6-1 decision at 157 pounds after taking a 4-1 lead on two first-period takedowns.

Wesleyan's Taran Carr was trailing 8-3 in the second period in the 165-pound match before rallying to register a pin in 4:32 and cut Cortland's team lead to 18-12.

The Red Dragons, however, won the last four bouts. Junior Lou Puca (Huntington), ranked fifth nationally at 174 pounds, earned an 8-0 major decision. Bellanza then pinned his opponent in 2:17 at 184 pounds and sophomore Joe Giaramita (Elwood/John H. Glenn), ranked third at 197 pounds, took a 5-1 lead early in the second period en route to an 8-4 decision. Junior Lance Moore (Johnson City), the eighth-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds, won by forfeit to conclude the match.

Prior to the match, Cortland honored its three seniors – Bistis, Ondris and Sean Kempf (Wantagh/MacArthur).


Cortland 37, Wesleyan 12

125 – James Hamilton (WES) pinned Nyasa Bakker, 1:02
133 – Paul Fields (CORT) dec. D.J. Lemieux, 4-2
141 – Brian Bistis (CORT) won by forfeit
149 – Bobby Dierna (CORT) pinned Chris Siracusa, 1:38
157 – James Ondris (CORT) dec. Edward Pierce, 6-1
165 – Taran Carr (WES) pinned Mike Beckwith, 4:32
174 – Lou Puca (CORT) major dec. Ryan Sblendorio, 8-0
184 – Nick Bellanza (CORT) pinned James Kellner, 2:17
197 – Joe Giaramita (CORT) dec. Josh Roometua, 8-4
285 – Lance Moore (CORT) won by forfeit

(no exhibitions)

Records after match: Cortland (Red Dragons) 13-3 (ranked 5th in Div. III), Wesleyan (Cardinals) 5-11