WILLIAMSPORT, PA. – The Cortland wrestling team opened up the dual-match portion of its schedule at the Lycoming College Rennie Rodarmel All State Duals, dropping a pair of matches, 22-16, to Centenary and, 22-12, to host and 25th-ranked Lycoming.
 
In their opening match versus Centenary, the Red Dragons fell behind, 13-6, midway through the match. The Cyclones opened with a 10-0 major decision from Jack Thode at 125 pounds before Cortland junior J.C. Cardenas (Brooklyn/Grand Street Campus), ranked first in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Mideast Region and fourth by D3wrestle.com at 133 pounds, earned his eighth pin of the season in just 19 seconds to raise his record to 18-0.
 
The Cyclones won the next three weight classes to build their lead. Xavier Pena, ranked second in the Mideast Region and seventh by D3wrestle.com, handed Cortland junior Cahal Donovan (Marietta/Marcellus) his first loss of the season with a 4-0 decision at 141 pounds. Donovan entered the bout ranked third in the Mideast Region with a 14-0 record. Mark Venson and Cameron Bruffy followed with close decisions at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively.
 
Cortland answered with a 4-3 decision from sophomore Hunter Hughes (Selden/Newfield) in his first action of the season at 165 pounds and a 15-6 major decision from Nick Ross (Woodstock/Onteora) at 174 pounds to even the match at 13-13. Justin Hopman followed with a late pin at 184 pounds, and Keevon Berry scored the decisive points in the match with a 16-10 decision at 197 pounds for Centenary. Senior Dylan Houseknecht (Odessa/Odessa-Montour) closed out the match with a 4-1 decision at 285 pounds for Cortland in his first bout of the season for the 22-16 final.
 
Against Lycoming, Cortland jumped out to a 12-3 lead following the first five bouts. After the Warriors earned a 9-4 decision by Kaden Majcher at 125 pounds, the Red Dragons ran off four straight decisions. Sophomore Cody Merwin (Walton) won 3-1 at 133 pounds with a late takedown. Cardenas moved up a weight to post a scrappy 15-9 decision at 141 pounds. Junior Ryan Burgbacher (Medford/Patchogue-Medford) registered a gritty 5-3 win at 149 pounds, and junior Kyle Klein (Miller Place) raised his season record to 16-5 with a 6-4 decision at 157 pounds that included four key back points.
 
From that point, however, Lycoming took over the match by closing out the contest with five consecutive individual victories. Preston Rogers earned a 10-4 decision at 165 pounds followed by a 15-3 major decision from Eli Crum at 174 pounds to make it a 12-10 score. James Ellis put the Warriors back in front with a 17-10 decision at 184 pounds before Gable Crebs, ranked second in the Southeast Region and eighth overall by D3wrestle.com, sealed the win with a pin at 197 pounds. In the final bout of the match, Houseknecht hung tough with John Fuller, the top-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds in the Southeast Region and fourth ranked by D3wrestle.com, dropping a tight 2-0 decision for the 22-12 final.
 
Cortland next competes at the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 6-7 before returning to Lycoming on Jan. 13-14 for the Budd Whitehill Duals.
  
Centenary 22, Cortland 16
125 - Jack Thode (CEN) major dec. Christian Lievano, 10-0
133 - J.C. Cardenas (CORT) pinned Daniel Haws, :19
141 - Xavier Pena (CEN) dec. Cahal Donovan, 4-0
149 - Mark Venson (CEN) dec. Angelo Centrone, 3-2
157 - Cameron Bruffy (CEN) dec. Michael Barker, 3-1
165 - Hunter Hughes (CORT) dec. Perry Maio, 4-3
174 - Nick Ross (COR) major dec. Angelo Piazza, 15-6
184 - Justin Hopman (CEN) pinned Tyler Goodemote, 6:38
197 - Keevon Berry (CEN) dec. Steven Gazzillo, 16-10
285 - Dylan Houseknecht (COR) dec. Dalton Deevey, 4-1
Record after match: Cortland (Red Dragons) 0-1, Centenary (Cyclones) 1-0
 
Lycoming 22, Cortland 12
125 – Kaden Majcher (LYC) dec. Justin Amendola, 9-4
133 – Cody Merwin (CORT) dec. Jaciah Whitcomb, 3-1
141 – J.C. Cardenas (CORT) dec. Wiley Kahler (LYC), 15-9
149 – Ryan Burgbacher (CORT) dec. Logan Bartlett, 5-3
157 – Kyle Klein (CORT) dec. Hunter O'Connor, 6-4
165 – Preston Rogers (LYC) dec. Hunter Hughes, 10-4
174 – Eli Crum (LYC) major dec. Pat Ross, 15-3
184 – James Ellis (LYC) dec. Tyler Goodemote, 17-10
197 – Gable Crebs (LYC) pinned Steven Gazzillo, 5:00
285 – John Fulmer (LYC) dec. Dylan Houseknecht, 2-0
Record after match: Cortland (Red Dragons) 0-2, Lycoming (Warriors) 4-2
 
Exhibition Matches:
125 – Justin Amendola (CORT) pinned Brayden Newman (LYC), 1:36
125 – Christian Lievano (CORT) tech. fall Lenny Cocca (LYC), 5:12 (20-5)
133 – Cody Merwin (CORT) tech. fall Anthony Coukart (LYC), 3:58 (21-3)
141 – Cooper Gilham (LYC) dec. Shane Walczyk, 9-4
184 – Dan Cassera (CORT) pinned Nick Parrella (LYC), 5:32
285 – Robert West (LYC) major dec. Roman Jellick, 11-0