Coolidge's overtime win keys dual victory at Dubuque

The 13th-ranked Rams rallied from an early deficit to post a 22-16 Iowa Conference dual win over 25th-ranked Dubuque Friday night at the Stoltz Sports Center in Dubuque.

After dropping the first two matches, Cornell took control by winning six of the next seven bouts and secured its first victory over the Spartans since 2006.

The Rams improved to 14-7-1 overall and remained tied with Coe in the IIAC standings at 6-1. Cornell reached the 14-win mark for the fifth time in six seasons under head coach Mike Duroe.

“We won the matches we were supposed to win,” Duroe said. “Dubuque dictated the pace of some of the matches and we didn't wrestle to the best of our abilities. But I have to give our guys credit for winning some of the close matches.”

One of the tight bouts occurred at 197 pounds, where freshman Alex Coolidge (Gillette, Wyo./Campbell County) helped turn momentum with a 3-1 overtime win over Sam Johnson. Senior Robert Widmer (Malcom/Montezuma) followed with a 6-3 decision that evened the dual score at 6-6.

“The Coolidge match was big, and a pivotal match that put us on the board,” Duroe said. “Widmer took care of business at heavyweight.”

Dubuque (7-5, 3-3 IIAC) regained the lead at 10-6 after a major decision at 125. Cornell came back with four straight wins. Tigue Snider (Wilton/Wilton) won by forfeit at 133 and 141-pounder Kevin Donahue (Mechanicsville, Va./St. Christopher's) rolled to a 13-2 major decision to put Cornell ahead 16-10.

The Rams stretched the lead to 22-10 after getting an 8-7 win from Jacob Schwebke (Aplington/AGWSR) at 149, and then a 7-5 victory from seventh-ranked Nicholas Loughlin (Cherokee/Washington) at 157. The Spartans won the final match of the night at 165 by injury default.

Cornell sent 10 wrestlers to the non-scored Duhawk Open Saturday, hosted by Loras in Dubuque. The Rams came away with six placewinners, highlighted by a runner-up performance from 133-pound freshman Ben Rosen (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West).

Rosen advanced to the finals with wins over Coe's Jake O'Brien (9-6) and Loras' Matt Holmes (8-6 SV1). He lost by fall to University of Iowa's J.J. Krutsinger in the championship match. Rosen ran his season record to 23-11.

Senior Cody Backhaus (New Boston, Mich./Huron) had a solid tournament, placing third at 157. He finished 4-1, capped by a first-period fall over Luther's Shaun O'Neil in the third-place match.

Sophomore Ryan Roberts (Ackley/AGWSR) took fourth at 149. The Rams got sixth-place finishes from Micky Spiwak (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) at 133, Micah Flora-Swick (Gardner, Kan./Gardner-Edgerton) at 141 and Carl Gaul (Woodinville, Wash./Woodinville) at heavyweight.

Coe Dual – Cornell resumes its storied wrestling rivalry with fifth-ranked Coe (15-5, 6-1 IIAC) Friday night in Cedar Rapids. The winner will take sole possession of second place in the final conference dual standings.

With a victory, the Rams can tie the 2005-06 squad (15-9-1) for the most dual wins in a season. Cornell is also seeking its first win over the Kohawks since 1999. Coe won last year's meeting in Mount Vernon, 33-10. The Kohawks prevailed 21-19 two years ago in Cedar Rapids.

“Coe has a very good team with depth. They continue to get stronger,” said Duroe. “We're definitely the underdogs on paper. That should give us added incentive to wrestle well. There's a lot at stake from a team element, individual (conference) seeding and pride.”

#13 Cornell 22, #25 Dubuque 16

Friday, Feb. 4

Stoltz Sports Center

Dubuque, Iowa

Match results

174 – Derick Minch (Dub) dec. Derek Munsey, 10-8 OT. 184 – Logan Einerson (Dub) dec. Andrew Roberts, 7-3. 197 – Alex Coolidge (Cor) dec. Sam Johnson, 3-1 OT. 285 – Robert Widmer (Cor) dec. Tyler Hoerner, 6-3. 125 – Andre Taylor (Dub) maj. dec. Timothy Hood, 12-2. 133 – Tigue Snider (Cor) won by forfeit. 141 – Kevin Donahue (Cor) maj. dec. Eric Powell, 13-2. 149 – Jacob Schwebke (Cor) dec. Kris Powars, 8-7. 157 – #7 Nicholas Loughlin (Cor) dec. Ryan Warczynski, 7-5. 165 – #3 Josh Terrell (Dub) won injury default Joe Hambleton.

Duhawk Open

Loras College

Saturday, Feb. 5

Dubuque, Iowa

Cornell results

125 – Jordan Ng – lost dec. Caravellis (Wis), 1-0; lost maj. dec. Louie (WP), 10-2.

133 – Ben Rosen (2nd place) – dec. O'Brien (Coe), 9-6; dec. Holmes (Loras), 8-6 SV1; pinned by Krutsinger (Iowa), 2:42.

133 – Micky Spiwak (6th place) – lost maj. dec. Krutsinger (Iowa), 14-2; pinned Schumacher (Dub), 3:39; dec. Schneider (WP), 6-4.

141 – Micah Flora-Swick (6th place) – lost dec. Mozley (WP), 7-0.

141 – Tom Speulda – pinned by Glenn (Wis), 1:19; pinned by Schneider (Dub), 1:38.

149 – Ryan Roberts (4th place) – dec. Gossen (Lor), 6-3; lost dec. Wood (Lor), 6-2; dec. Duke (Upper Iowa), 2-1; pinned by George (Lut), 2:34.

149 – Zach Wilson – pinned by Burgey (WP), 3:34; pinned by Duke (Upper Iowa), 1:13.

157 – Cody Backhaus (3rd place) – dec. Jarvis (Lor), 12-7; dec. Cordell (Wheat), 10-5; lost tech fall Lofthouse (Iowa), 17-1 (3:38); won def. Seibert (Lut); pinned O'Neil (Lut), 2:52.

165 – Dan Gratz – pinned by Moore (Iowa), 1:42; lost maj. dec. Taylor-Ohmes (Coe), 18-5.

285 – Carl Gaul (6th place) – pinned by Klein (Lor), 2:01; pinned Henry (Lor), :20; pinned Levin (Wis), 3:15; pinned by Sander (Coe), 2:20; lost dec. Stika (Upper Iowa), 12-6.