ITHACA, NY – Four Cortland wrestlers are still alive, including two in the semifinals, after the first day of competition at the NCAA Division III Region 2 Wrestling Championships, hosted by Ithaca College. The regional concludes on Saturday and the top-three placewinners in each weight class will advance to the NCAA Division III Championships.
 
Senior Angelo Centrone (Mahopac) moved onto the semifinals after a 3-0 day at 149 pounds. Centrone opened with a pin in 1:51 over Centenary's Mason Johnson, then had a 19-4 win in 4:11 by technical fall over Kyle Meyer of Alfred State. His quarterfinal match lasted all three periods, but Centrone had a comfortable 15-6 win by major decision over Rudy Brown of Penn State Behrend. He will face Ryan Santiago of Wilkes in the semifinals on Saturday. 
 
Freshman Colton Havens (Canisteo/Canisteo-Greenwood) also advanced to the semifinals, wrestling to a 2-0 record on the day. He had a 17-2 win by technical fall over Andy Beras of New Jersey City, and then won 4-1 with a takedown early in the sudden victory overtime period to claim the upset over Tyler Rossini of Brockport. Havens is matched up with Paul Lichter of St. John Fisher in the semifinals tomorrow.  
 
Senior Christian Lievano (East Setauket/Ward Melville) is alive in the consolation bracket at 125 pounds after a 2-1 showing on Friday. He opened with a 15-0 technical fall over Muhamadu Konteh of Hunter, lost to Evan Whiteside of Penn State Behrend by 16-9 decision, and pinned Cade Stern of Pitt Bradford in 1:47. He will face Charles Piccione of Stevens tomorrow, needing to win three matches to finish in third place. 
 
Junior Rocco Futia (Wallkill) is also in the consolation bracket at 133 pounds, going 2-1 on the day. He opened with a win by a 17-2 technical fall in 7:00 over Brockport's Kolton Kelley, but lost a 9-6 decision to Jay McDonnell of Ithaca. Futia then earned a major decision over Vincent Principe of Stevens. He will face Derek Bernardino of St. John Fisher tomorrow, also needing to win three matches for a third-place finish. 
 
Six Red Dragons were eliminated during Saturday's competition.
 
Junior Robby Cunningham (Miller Place) finished 1-2 at 184 pounds. He dropped his first match, but responded with a pin over Gavin Gomes of Penn College, before losing the following match via decision. Junior Culley Bellino (Canastota) went 0-2 at 141 pounds, while Jack Pickersgill (Holtsville/Sachem East) was 0-2 at 165 pounds. Freshman Luke Chernaski (Merrick/Kellenberg Memorial) was 0-2 at 174 pounds, Nicholas Rose (Lindenhurst) was 0-2 at 197 pounds, and Chris Ayala (Brentwood) finished 0-2 at 285 pounds.  
 
Cortland is 12th out of 20 schools in the team standings after Day 1 with 42.5 points. Ithaca leads with 94 points.
 
 
CORTLAND RESULTS
 
125 pounds
Christian Lievano
tech. fall vs. Muhamadu Konteh (Hunter), 15-0 (5:30)
lost to Evan Whiteside (Penn State Behrend), 16-9
pinned Cade Stern (Pitt Bradford), 1:47
 
133 pounds
Rocco Futia
tech. fall vs. Kolton Kelley (Brockport), 17-2 (7:00)
lost to Jay McDonnell (Ithaca), 9-6
major dec. vs. Vincent Principe (Stevens)
 
141 pounds
Culley Bellino
lost to Joseph Innamorato (Centenary), Pin, 3:51 
lost to Major Lewis (Lycoming), 15-12 (SV-1) 
 
149 pounds
Angelo Centrone
pinned Mason Johnson (Centenary), 1:51
tech. fall Kyle Meyer (Alfred State), 19-4 (4:11)
major dec. vs. Rudy Brown (Penn State Behrend), 15-6
 
157 pounds
Colton Havens
tech. fall Andy Beras (New Jersey City), 17-2 (3:14) 
dec. vs. Tyler Rossini (Brockport), 4-1 (SV-1)
 
165 pounds
Jack Pickersgill
lost to Tyler Roe (Stevens), tech. fall, 17-0 (4:24)
lost to Mason Grodzki (RIT), 11-5 
 
174 pounds
Luke Chernaski
lost to Gavin McLaughlin (Brockport), 12-5
lost to Anthony Salvini (Penn State Behrend), Pin, 3:35
 
184 pounds
Robby Cunningham
lost to Xavier Pommells (Ithaca), 11-1
pinned Gavin Gomes (Penn College), 4:41
lost to Lucas Miller (Wilkes), 3-2
 
197 pounds
Nicholas Rose
lost to Angelo Piazza (Centenary), 14-10
lost to Simon Lingle (Brockport), 2-1
 
285 pounds
Chris Ayala
lost to Kenny Jackson (Oneonta), Pin, 1:15
lost to John Robyck (Elmira), 14-4