Cornell wrestling sends three to NCAA Quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WETM) – Cornell wrestling had a strong first day at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City Thursday.

Cornell is currently in eighth place in the overall team standings with 18.5 points. Penn State is in first with 34.5 and both Iowa and Iowa State are tied for second with 24.5 total points.

The Big Red has three wrestlers in the NCAA Quarterfinals Friday with defending NCAA Champion and senior Vito Arujau at (133 pounds), freshman Meyer Shapiro (157 pounds) and junior Julian Ramirez (165 pounds). With a win in the quarterfinals, each will automatically earn All-American status.

Five other Cornell wrestlers are still alive in the consolation rounds with a shot at a podium finish. Brett Ungar (125 pounds), Ethan Fernandez (149 pounds), Chris Foca (184 pounds), Jake Cardenas (197 pounds) and Lewis Fernandes (285 pounds) will compete Friday for The Big Red.

Cornell made history by qualifying all ten wrestlers in their lineup for the tournament but two are already finished in the event. Newark Valley native Ben Baker lost both of his matches Friday to close out his career at Cornell at 174 pounds. Vince Cornella was medically unable to compete due to injury at 141 pounds prior to the start of the tournament.

Last year, Cornell finished third in the country earning their first podium finish since 2010-11. That year, Cornell was second in the country.

Arujau, the sixth seed, looked sharp in his second round win over Campbell’s Dominic Zaccone via major decision 11-1. Vito will next face NC State’s Kai Orine in the quarters for a chance to advance to the semis. Arujau beat #27 Gable Strickland of Lock Haven 17-4 by major decision to start the day.

Shapiro, who’s now won 19 matches in a row, cruised over Tommy Askey of Appalachian State with a technical fall 17-2. Meyer won by pin versus Rider’s Colton Washleski in his opener and takes on Stanford’s Jake Cardenas in the quarters.

Ramirez outlasted Virginia’s Nick Hamilton 5-4 in his first bout Thursday and rebounded with a 9-3 win over Air Force’s Giano Petrucelli 9-3. With a win Friday in the quarters over Iowa’s Mike Caliendo, Ramirez can earn All-American status for the first time in his career.

Below, a breakdown of each wrestler courtesy of Cornell sports information and who they will face next in their respective weights. Action starts at Noon Friday and will be on ESPN and ESPN+

Match-By-Match Results

125 — #17 Brett Ungar (1-1), Overall (18-8) record

First Round: #17 Ungar def. #16 Dean Peterson (Rutgers) 2-1 by decision (TB)
Second Round: #17 Ungar lost to No. 1 Braeden Davis (Penn State) 2-1 by decision 
Consolation Second Round: #17 Ungar vs. #18 Michael DeAugustio (Michigan)

133 — #6 Vito Arujau (2-0), Overall (15-2)
First Round: #6 Arujau def. #27 Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) 17-4 by major decision 
Second Round: #6 Arujau def. #22 Domenic Zaccone (Campbell) 11-1 by major decision 
Quarterfinal Match: #3 Aruaju vs. #3 Kai Orine (North Carolina State)

149 — #9 Ethan Fernandez (1-1), Overall (23-7)
First Round: #9 Fernandez def. #24 Caleb Tyus (SIUE) 7-2  by decision 
Second Round: #9 Fernandez lost to #8 Casey Swiderski (Iowa State) 8-5 by decision (TB)
Consolation Second Round: #9 Fernandez vs. #7 Tyler Kasak (Penn State)

157 — #3 Meyer Shapiro (2-0), Overall (25-2) 
First Round: #3 Shapiro def. #30 Colton Washleski (Rider) by fall in 4:17
Second Round: #3 Shapiro def. #19 Tommy Askey (Appalachian State) 17-2 by tech fall
Quarterfinal Match: #3 Shapiro vs. #6 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford)

165 — #3 Julian Ramirez (2-0), Overall (24-2)
First Round: #3 Ramirez def. #30 Nick Hamilton (Virginia) 5-4 by decision 
Second Round: #3 Ramirez def. #14 Giano Petrucelli (Air Force) 9-3 by decision
Quarterfinal Match: #3 Ramirez vs. #6 Mike Caliendo (Iowa)

174 — #26 Benny Baker (0-2), Overall (14-14) 
First Round: #26 Baker lost #7 Lennox Wolak (Columbia) 10-1 by major decision 
Consolation First Round: #26 Baker lost to #23 Luca Augustine (Pitt) 8-2 by decision

184 — #14 Chris Foca (1-1), Overall (21-7)
First Round: #14 Foca lost to #18 James Conway (Franklin & Marshall) 5-4 by decision 
Consolation First Round: #14 Foca def. #30 Malachi DuVall (George Mason) 15-0 by tech fall 
Consolation Second Round: #14 Foca vs. #13 Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia)

197 — #5 Jacob Cardenas (1-1), Overall (23-7)
First Round: #5 Cardenas def. #28 Jack Wehmeyer (Columbia) 6-0 by decision 
Second Round: #5 Cardenas lost to #12 Rocky Elam (Missouri) 4-0 by decision 
Consolation Second Round: #5 Cardenas vs. #11 Jaxon Smith (Maryland)

285 — #15 Lewis Fernandes (1-1), Overall (22-11)
First Round: #15 Fernandes def. #18 David Szuba (Rider) 12-2 by major decision 
Second Round: #15 Fernandes lost to #2 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) 20-5 by technical fall 
Consolation Second Round: #15 Fernandes vs. #16 Cory Day (Binghamton)

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