Matt Caputo won his matches vs. both Ohio Northern and Concordia (Minn.)
FORT WAYNE, IND. – The Cortland wrestling team posted a 1-2 record during day one of the 24-team National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Div. III National Duals. The Red Dragons, now 4-5 on the season, opened with a 29-12 win over nationally 24th-ranked Ohio Northern before falling to third-ranked Augsburg to drop to the consolation bracket. Cortland lost to Concordia-Moorhead, 34-6.
Originally the Red Dragons would have wrestled a challenge match on Friday, but that schedule has changed, and instead Cortland has completed its competition at the tournament.
In its opening match, Cortland won 7-of-10 weight classes in defeating Ohio Northern, 29-12. Senior Josh Antoine (Brooklyn/Grand Street) earned a forfeit win at 125 pounds before freshman Trey LaFlamme (Adams/South Jefferson) recorded a pin in 2:48 at 133 pounds to give the Red Dragons a 12-0 lead.
After Ohio Northern earned a decision at 141 pounds, Cortland won three consecutive bouts to increase its lead to 23-3. At 149 pounds, junior Matt Caputo (Stony Point/North Rockland) registered a 19-4 technical fall in 5:51. Senior Greg Chery (Ronkonkoma/Connetquot) followed with a 3-2 overtime decision in the first tiebreaker at 157 pounds, earning a penalty point on a stalling call against the Ohio Northern wrestler, and senior Adrian Berry (Uniondale) built a 6-1 lead in the first period and went on to a 7-3 decision at 165 pounds.
The Polar Bears earned a 3-0 decision at 174 pounds, but sophomore J.P. Puca (Huntington) recorded a 15-9 decision at 184 pounds after amassing an 11-3 lead in the first period. Senior Mike Beckwith (Greene) increased Cortland's lead to 29-6, picking up a 3-2 decision at 197 pounds. Ohio Northern closed the match with a pin midway through the third period at 285 pounds for the 29-12 final.
Against Augsburg, which put out all five of its nationally ranked wrestlers, the Red Dragons forfeited two weight classes and also had an injury default. For Cortland, Antoine held an early 4-0 advantage at 125 pounds but eventually lost by fall. At 157 pounds, Chery hung tough against nationally sixth-ranked Ryan Epps, dropping a 5-1 decision. In his bout with nationally seventh-ranked Tanner Vassar, Puca recorded a first-period reversal after he was taken down but ultimately was pinned.
In the match versus Concordia-Moorhead, the Red Dragons fell behind 13-0 after an injury default, a major decision and a decision. Caputo gave Cortland its first points of the match with a 3-1 sudden-victory decision at 149 pounds, earning the decisive points 14 seconds into the first overtime period. Chery then recorded a 7-3 decision at 157 pounds, sealing his victory with two third-period takedowns to pull the Red Dragons to within 13-6. Concordia-Moorhead, however, closed out the match with five straight wins for the 34-6 final.
NWCA Div. III National Duals – Day 1
Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018; Fort Wayne, IN
Cortland Match Results
Cortland 29, Ohio Northern 12
125 – Josh Antoine (CORT) won by forfeit
133 – Trey LaFlamme (CORT) pinned Avory Wynans, 2:48
141 – Noah Mattin (ON) dec. Dustin Harris, 8-4
149 – Matt Caputo (CORT) tech. fall Schuyler Caprella, 5:51 (19-4)
157 – Greg Chery (CORT) dec. Gavin Nelson, 3-2 (ot, tb-1)
165 – Adrian Berry (CORT) dec. Seth Meyer, 7-4
174 – Clayton Davidson (ON) dec. Josh Farrar, 3-0
184 – J.P. Puca (CORT) dec. Alex Bair, 15-9
197 – Mike Beckwith (CORT) dec. Evan Hickey, 3-2
285 – Nathan Barcaskey (ON) pinned Zach Gifford, 6:01
Augsburg 53, Cortland 0
125 – Victor Gliva (AUG) pinned Josh Antoine, 4:30
133 – Sam Bennyhoff (AUG) tech. fall Ben Lloyd, 5:55 (15-0)
141 – David Flynn (AUG) tech. fall Dustin Harris, 2:20 (16-0)
149 – Aaron Wilson (AUG) pinned C.J. Labate, 2:14
157 – Ryan Epps (AUG) dec. Greg Chery, 5-1
165 – Lucas Jeske (AUG) won by forfeit
174 – Tanner Vassar (AUG) pinned J.P. Puca, 2:33
184 – Sebastion Larson (AUG) won by forfeit
197 – Lance Benick (AUG) major dec. Kevin Morgans, 12-4
285 – Ethan Hofacker (AUG) won by injury def. Zach Gifford, 3:05
Concordia-Moorhead 34, Cortland 6
125 - Jake Nohre (C-M) won by injury def. Josh Antoine, :57
133 - Aaron Dick (C-M) major dec. Ben Lloyd, 13-4
141- Cole Kubesh (C-M) dec. Dustin Harris, 6-5
149 - Matt Caputo (CORT) dec. Ty Johnson, 3-1 (sv-1)
157 - Greg Chery (CORT) dec. Cole Sladek, 7-3
165 - Joseph Heinz (C-M) tech. fall Adrian Berry, 7:00 (18-3)
174 - Jake Johnson (C-M) dec. Josh Farrar, 4-1
184 - Ricky Briggs (C-M) won by forfeit
197 - Ethan Kimber (C-M) dec. Mike Beckwith, 10-4
285 - Kody Vandeneykel (C-M) major dec. Sean Dall, 11-3
