Coe takes down Cornell, 44-0, in lopsided dual

CEDAR RAPIDS — It was the kind of performance that could put a smile on the face of any coach.

Well, except for maybe a wrestling coach.

Ninth-ranked Coe College dominated Linn County rival Cornell, 44-0, in a dual Wednesday night at Kohawk Arena, not only winning all 10 matches, but collecting three pins, two technical falls and a major decision in the process.

Coe had 29 takedowns. Cornell had four.

“Now that makes me happier,” Coe Coach John Oostendorp said with a laugh after the shellacking.

In fairness, Oostendorp was happy and even smiled more than once. But ...

“There’s a lot of things we can get better at,” he said. “This time of year your looking for 10 guys wrestling the way they need to wrestle ... it’s not just about winning the match.”

The Kohawks (10-5), who wrap up the regular season Friday at home against Dubuque, are focused on the NCAA regionals (Feb. 25-26) and the NCAA Division III Championships (March 11-12 in Cedar Rapids).

It’s all the matters any time of year.

“I think we can get to where we need to be,” Oostendorp said.

If Wednesday night’s dual was any indication, the Kohawks are ready for the postseason push. Sixth-ranked Alex Friddle opened the dual with a 18-2 first-period technical fall at 125 pounds, scoring three takedowns and 12 nearfall points.

Brock Henderson added an 11-takedown, 25-10, technical fall at 141 and Will Esmoil at 165, Mathieu Arsenault at 197 and second-ranked Kaleb Reeves all scored first-period pins.

Throw in Brady Henderson’s 11-3 major decision at 157 and you’ve got a pretty dominating performance.

The match of the night was at 174, where Coe’s ninth-ranked Tristin Westphal scored a takedown with one second left to topple Jacob Sherzer, 6-4.

“I don’t like to be in that position,” Westphal said, noting he had no idea how much time was left when he collected his second takedown of the bout. “I just go out and wrestle.”

He was confident he’d get in done, though.

“I believe I’m the best in the nation on my feet,” he said.

COE 44, CORNELL 0

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds — Alex Friddle (Coe) tech. fall over Nathan Bednarzyk, 18-2, 2:31 (3,0); 133 — Anthony Gallagher (Coe) dec. Evan Husko, 9-4 (2,1); 141 — Brock Henderson (Coe) tech. fall over Keegan Schultschik, 25-10, 7:00 (11,0); 149 — Riley Wright (Coe) dec. Landon Card, 7-2 (2,0); 157 — Brady Henderson (Coe) dec. Killan Perrigon, 11-3 (2,1); 165 — Will Esmoil (Coe) pinned Spencer Roth, 1:14 (1,0); 174 — Tristin Westphal (Coe) dec. Jacob Sherzer, 6-4 (2,1); 184 — Ryan Schott (Coe) dec. Colin Hondred, 11-5 (3,1); 197 — Mathieu Arsenault (Coe) pinned Treyten Steffen, 3:38 (2,0); Hwt. — Kaleb Reeves (Coe) pinned Zachary Finn, 1:03 (1,0)

TOTALS: Takedowns — Cornell 4, Coe 29; Reversals — Cornell 0, Coe 1; Escapes — Cornell 22, Coe 5; Nearfall points — Cornell 0, Coe 28; Penalty points awarded — Cornell 0, Coe 1; Riding time points — Cornell 0, Coe 5; Total match points — Cornell 30, Coe 99

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