CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Ithaca wrestling team erased an early deficit and earned a close 24-21 victory over Cortland Wednesday night at Corey Gymnasium as part of the Rumble and Tumble event that also included the women's gymnastics team competing. The Bombers improved to 11-4, while the Red Dragons fell to 6-2.

Cortland opened up a 10-0 lead after the first two bouts of the night. Sophomore Ryan Burgbacher (Medford/Patchogue-Medford) earned a 10-1 major decision at 141 pounds, and junior Chandler Merwin (Walton) recorded a pin with two-tenths of a second remaining in his bout at 149 pounds after holding a narrow lead. Merwin improved to 25-5 on the season with the win.

Ithaca pulled to within 10-6 on a pair of decisions. Junior Adam Wagner (Lodi/South Seneca) recorded a 5-2 decision at 157 pounds, and freshman Jackson Gray (Pittsburgh, PA/Mount Lebanon) earned an 8-3 win at 165 pounds. 

After nationally ninth-ranked Demitreus Henry (Brooklyn/Grand Street Campus) improved his record to 25-2 with a 5-1 decision at 174 pounds, the Bombers took control of the match with an 18-0 run to build a 24-13 lead. Nationally third-ranked Eza Chukwuezi (Fredricksburg, VA/Fredricksburg Christian) ran his record to 29-0 with an injury default win at 184 pounds after building an 8-1 lead. Graduate student Jordan Wallace (New Rochelle) followed with a pin in 2:29 before graduate student Edwin Rubio (Huntington Station/John Glenn) registered a fall in 5:18 at 285 pounds.

Freshman Cody Merwin (Walton) improved to 20-5 on the season with a 12-2 major decision at 125 pounds to make it a 24-17 score. Sophomore J.C. Cardenas (Brooklyn/Grand Street Campus), ranked seventh nationally at 133 pounds, erased a 7-2 deficit after one period and earned a 17-7 major decision at 133 pounds to close out the match, improving his season record to 13-3.
  
Ithaca 24, Cortland 21
 
141 - Ryan Burgbacher (CORT) major dec. Travis Jones, 10-1
149 - Chandler Merwin (CORT) pinned Matthew Beyer, 6:59.8
157 - Adam Wagner (ITH) dec. Markel Browne, 5-2
165 - Jackson Gray (ITH) dec. Steven Gazzillo, 8-3
174 - Demitreus Henry (CORT) dec. Adrian Rosario-Beato, 5-1
184 - Eza Chukwuezi (ITH) injury default Brian Torres
197 - Jordan Wallace (ITH) pinned Chris Bold, 2:29
285 - Edwin Rubio (ITH) pinned Ben Klei, 5:18
125 - Cody Merwin (CORT) major dec. Matt Griffin, 12-2
133 - J.C. Cardenas (CORT) major dec. Luis Hernandez, 17-7