Cornell wrestling closes out EIWA Tournament as champions
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LEWISBURG, Pa. (WETM) – Cornell wrestling saved the best for last.
The Big Red, wrestling in their final EIWA Wrestling Tournament, closed out with their third consecutive team title Saturday night at Bucknell University. Cornell earned the EIWA Championship with 164.5 total team points besting second place Lehigh who had 159.5. It was the 28th overall EIWA Championship for Cornell who will enter in the inaugural IVY League Tournament next year.
Cornell secured three individual champions in Ethan Fernandez (149 pounds), Meyer Shapiro (157 pounds) and Julian Ramirez (165 pounds). The Big Red also earned several second place finishers with Brett Ungar (125 pounds), Vito Arujau (133 pounds) and Jake Cardenas (197 pounds).
Newark Valley native Ben Baker earned a hard-fought third place finish for Cornell after a clinching an NCAA Tournament spot at 174 pounds. Lewis Fernandes also placed third at heavyweight and Chris Foca placed fourth at 184 pounds.
One match that all eyes were on was the 133 pound final pitting Arujau vs. Lehigh redshirt freshman Ryan Crookham of Lehigh. In a rematch from November, Arujau tried to avenge his only loss of the season which came at the hands of Crookham.
But lightning struck twice for Crookham as he surged past Arujau late 10-6. Crookham previously won 8-4 over Arujau at The Journeymen Classic. In Saturday’s match, Vito scored the opening takedown to take a 3-0 lead.
Arujau ranked second in the country, nearly handed the top-ranked Crookham his first loss of the season but it was not destined to be. Crookham secured a late takedown in the third period to close out the win and earned Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament by winning 10-6.
18 Sports will have plenty more on the EIWA Championships in the coming days. Below, full team standings and photos from the tournament.
1. Cornell – 164.6
2. Lehigh – 159.5
3. Army – 95.5
4. Columbia – 90.5
4. Penn – 90.5
6. Navy – 79.5
7. Bucknell – 72
8. Binghamton – 68.5
8. Princeton – 68.5
10. Harvard – 52
11. Brown – 35
12. Drexel – 28.5
13. American – 27
13. Franklin & Marshall – 27
15. Long Island University – 25
16. Hofstra – 15
17. Sacred Heart – 9.5
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