CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally seventh-ranked Cortland wrestling team dominated its opponents, beating Niagara C.C.C. 51-0 and RIT 37-7, Saturday afternoon at Corey Gymnasium. The Red Dragons improved to 9-2 with the two victories, the Thunder Wolves split their matches and sit at 5-3 while the Tigers dropped to 3-10 after their two losses.

Cortland opened up a quick 12-0 lead after forfeit victories at 125 and 133 pounds. Sophomore Matt Norris (Homer) earned Cortland a 5-3 decision over freshman John Reina (Garden City) of Niagara at 141 pounds. Norris recorded a takedown with 46 seconds remaining in the third period to take the lead and held on for the victory. Cortland was up 21-0 through four weight classes after Niagara forfeited at 149 pounds.

Junior Bobby Dierna (Webster/Wayne) earned a 15-3 major decision at 157 pounds for the Red Dragons to improve to 12-2 on the season. Cortland then recorded three straight pins. Junior Colin Barber (Westfield, NJ) pinned his opponent in 44 seconds at 165 pounds, fourth-ranked senior Lou Puca (Huntington) recorded a pin at 4:29 in the 174-pound weight class and junior Mike Beckwith (Greene) took 1:19 to pin his opponent at 184 pounds. Senior Joe Giaramita (Elwood/John H. Glenn), ranked 4th nationally at 197 pounds, won by technical fall, recording a score of 19-3, 2:33 into the match for the Red Dragons. Junior Tyler Lilly (New Rochelle) capped off the match with a 6-1 decision in the heavyweight division, leaving the score 51-0.

Cortland jumped out to an 8-0 lead over RIT in its second match after junior Erick Orellana (Brentwood) earned a 16-9 decision at 125 pounds and classmate Andrew Roden (Kings Park) won on a technical fall after recording a score of 18-2 3:58 into the 133-pound match. Junior Jake Sepor (Stafford/Pavilion) defeated Norris 3-2 to earn the decision for RIT at 141 pounds. Freshman Austin Whitney (Mexico/Mexico Academy), ranked 10th nationally, earned a sudden-victory decision over freshman Dempsey King (New Hartford) at 149 pounds. Whitney recorded a takedown late in the third period to force overtime, then recorded another for a 6-4 victory for the Red Dragons. 

Freshman Kirkland Feeney (Lockport) brought the Tigers within four points of Cortland after a 13-0 major decision at 157 pounds, but the Red Dragons won the remaining matchups. Barber defeated sophomore Joe Cutugno (Ventnor, NJ/Atlantic City) 3-1 in sudden victory at 165 pounds and Puca followed with a 16-1 technical fall in 4:14 at the 174-pound weight class. RIT forfeited the 184, 197 and heavyweight classes giving Cortland the 37-7 victory. 
    
Cortland 51, Niagara C.C.C. 0

125 – Erick Orellana (CORT) won by forfeit
133 – Andrew Roden (CORT) won by forfeit
141 – Matt Norris (CORT) dec. John Reina, 5-3 
149 – Greg Chery (CORT) won by forfeit
157 – Bobby Dierna (CORT) major dec. Zach Colgan, 15-3   
165 – Colin Barber (CORT) pinned Noah Jones, :44
174 – Lou Puca (CORT) pinned Alex Kelly, 4:29 
184 – Mike Beckwith (CORT) pinned Anthony Liberatore, 1:19
197 – Joe Giaramita (CORT) tech. fall Griffin Kent, 19-3 (2:33)
285 – Tyler Lilly (CORT) dec. Marshall Taylor, 6-1 

Cortland 37, RIT 7

125 – Erick Orellana (CORT) dec. Andrew Flanagan, 16-9
133 – Andrew Roden (CORT) tech, fall. Cortez Harris, 18-2 (3:58)
141 – Jake Sepor (RIT) dec. Matt Norris, 3-2
149 – Austin Whitney (CORT) dec. Dempsey King, 6-4 (SV-1)
157 – Kirkland Feeney (RIT) major. dec. Adrian Berry, 13-0   
165 – Colin Barber (CORT) dec. Joe Cutugno, 3-1 (SV-1)
174 – Lou Puca (CORT) tech. fall John Donahoe, 16-1 (4:14)  
184 – Mike Beckwith (CORT) won by forfeit 
197 – Joe Giaramita (CORT) won by forfeit
285 – Tyler Lilly (CORT) won by forfeit

Niagara C.C.C. 28, RIT 27

125 – Andrew Flanagan (RIT) won by forfeit
133 – Cortez Harris (RIT) won by forfeit
141 – Jake Sepor (RIT) dec. John Reina, 9-7 (SV-1) 
149 – Dempsey King (RIT) pinned Chris Rivera, 2:10
157 – Zach Colgan (NCCC) pinned Kirkland Feeney, 2:23   
165 – Joe Cutugno (RIT) pinned Noah Jones, 4:47 
174 – Alex Kelly (NCCC) maj. dec. John Donahue, 19-10  
184 – Anthony Liberatore (NCCC) won by forfeit
197 – Griffin Kent (NCCC) won by forfeit
285 – Marshall Taylor (NCCC) won by forfeit

Exhibitions

157 – Emanuel Romeo (CORT) dec. Coty Lutz (RIT), 8-6
157 – Tristan Broddus (CORT) tech. fall Andrew Patterson (RIT), 18-2 (5:06)
157 – Ezekial Thomas (RIT) dec. Emanuel Romeo (CORT), 7-3 
157 – Greg Chery (CORT) major dec. Coty Lutz (RIT), 11-1 
165 – Ryan Gerena (CORT) major dec. McKenzie Callahan (RIT), 12-4
184 – Anthony Liberatore (NCCC) dec. Brett Lewis (CORT), 6-5
285 – Marshall Taylor (NCCC) dec. Nicholas Lupi (CORT), 3-1 

Records after match: Cortland (Red Dragons) 9-2 (ranked 7th in Div. III); RIT (Tigers) 3-10; Niagara C.C.C. (Thunder Wolves) 5-3