Arujau advances to NCAA final, Cornell wrestling strong

Andy Malnoske
·2 min read
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WETM) – Cornell’s Vito Arujau earned redemption Friday night.

Arujau, the defending NCAA Wrestling Champion at 133 pounds, beat previously unbeaten Ryan Crookham of Lehigh via major decision 13-3 in the NCAA Championship Semifinals in Kansas City. It was the first win in three bouts over Crookham for Arujau, who lost just two weeks prior to him in the EIWA Championship 10-6 at Bucknell University.

For the first time this season, Arujau (17-2) believes he is competing fully healthy and with his mind in the right competitive space. Vito looks to cap off his final season in a Big Red singlet with a win over Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix (21-0) in the finals Saturday night. The championship finals will begin at 7 PM Saturday on ESPN.

Arujau beat Fix last year on his way to his first national title by major decision 11-3 in the NCAA Semis. Friday, Arujau became the ninth four-time All-American in Cornell wrestling history.

Cornell is currently in sixth place in the team standings with 58.5 points. Penn State has already locked up the NCAA Championship heading into Saturday’s final day of competition. It’s the 11th national crown for Penn State since 2011 and third in a row.

Two more Cornell wrestlers are still alive in the consolation round looking for high place finishes. Freshman Meyer Shapiro (27-3) will compete for a chance at third place at 157 pounds and senior Jake Cardenas will do the same at 197 pounds for The Big Red.

Shapiro will square off with Virginia Tech’s Bryce Andonian (20-6) for a shot to compete for third or fourth place. The loser of the bout drops to the fifth and sixth place match. Shapiro has won both meetings with Andonian, an All-American, this season.

Cardenas (27-7) will face Missouri’s Rocky Elam (14-4) for an opportunity to wrestle in the third place match. Elam beat Cardenas 4-0 in the second round of the tournament. Prior to that match, Cardenas beat Elam in the Cornell vs. Missouri dual meet back in January by the same score of 4-0.

Cornell’s Julian Ramirez (165 pounds) and Chris Foca (184 pounds) were beaten in the blood round, the round where you must win and advance to earn All-American status (top eight in the country).

(PHOTO: Cornell Athletics)

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