NEW YORK, N.Y. – Cortland won six of 10 matches as the Red Dragons defeated host Hunter College, 28-14, in dual-match action. Cortland (7-2) and Hunter (10-7) were also each scheduled to face Scranton during the tri-match, but the Royals were unable to attend and those matches were canceled.

Hunter grabbed a 3-0 lead after the 125-pound match, but Cortland tied the score on a 4-2 decision by Paul Fields (New City/Clarkstown North) at 133 pounds. The teams then traded major decisions, with nationally third-ranked Cary Palmer winning 11-1 for Hunter at 141 and Greg Chery (Ronkonkoma/Connetquot) winning 13-5 for Cortland at 149.

Cortland went up 12-7 when Mike Beckwith (Greene) won by technical fall, 16-1, at 157 pounds. Hunter's Jesse Bader, ranked ninth nationally at 165 pounds, battled with Cortland's Colin Barber (Westfield, NJ) through three overtime periods before winning due to riding time criteria after being tied 7-7.

The Red Dragons extended their 12-10 lead to 28-10 with three straight victories featuring bonus points. Gino Gioielli (Brewster) won by a 17-3 major decision at 174 pounds, Brian Bulger (Westfield, NJ) won by forfeit at 184 pounds and Joe Giaramita (Elwood/John H. Glenn) pinned Dennis Melendez in 1:17 at 197 pounds in a battle of nationally ranked wrestlers. Giaramita is ranked third and Melendez eighth in the latest Div. III ratings. Hunter wrapped the match with a major decision at 285 pounds.

Cortland returns to action at nationally 10th-ranked Delaware Valley (Pa.) on Friday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m.

Cortland 28, Hunter 14

125 – Kenny Albert (HUNT) dec. Mat Bradice, 15-9
133 – Paul Fields (CORT) dec. Stephen Drew, 4-2
141 – Cary Palmer (HUNT) major dec. Tony Battista, 11-1
149 – Greg Chery (CORT) major dec. Narankhuu Ganbaatar, 13-5
157 – Mike Beckwith (CORT) tech. fall William Heine, 16-1 (time n/a)
165 – Jesse Bader (HUNT) dec. Colin Barber, 7-7 (3 ot, riding time)
174 – Gino Gioielli (CORT) major dec. Declan Gray, 17-3
184 – Brian Bulger (CORT) won by forfeit
197 – Joe Giaramita (CORT) pinned Dennis Melendez, 1:17
285 – Patryk Kopczynski (HUNT) major dec. Chris Alianakian, 9-0

Exhibitions:
Jarrod Mauge (CORT) pinned David Naupari, 6:33
Chris Fantauzzo (CORT) dec. David Naupari, 7-3
Brian Vutianitis (CORT) pinned Nick Brutus, 1:24

Records after the match:  Cortland (Red Dragons) 7-2; Hunter (Hawks) 10-7