Cornell Rams ready for tough tests at NCAA Championships

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cornell College Coach Mike Duroe admits the Rams received a tough draw.

In a tournament that features the nation's top wrestlers, there are no easy ones, especially for the competitors that face the Rams.

'We're the bad draw,' Duroe said of the program's philosophy. 'Regardless of seed, school, reputation or whatever you're looking at, it's man against man. The way it's set up it's the toughest competition of the year.'

Four Rams will compete at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the U.S. Cellular Center, beginning Friday at 11 a.m. Three of Cornell's qualifiers open with top-six seeds, including four-time NCAA qualifier Trevor Engle facing top-seeded Derek Arnold, of Ursinus, at 149 pounds.

Engle's twin brother, Aaron (21-14), will make his NCAA debut, taking on College of New Jersey's No. 6 Antonio Mancella at 157. Cornell's Josh Martin (22-11 at 141) faces Elmhurst's second-seeded Jimmy Nehls, a 2014 All-American for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Phillip Opelt (18-8) is making his second trip in three years, wrestling in a pigtail bout against Joseph Ferinde, of Johnson & Wales, at 133. The winner faces McDaniel's No. 3 seed Ryan O'Boyle.

The road just to reach the national tournament has prepared the Rams, including a tough regional tournament with Iowa Conference schools.

'We're battle tested,' Duroe said. 'We've had some really close matches with guys who have high seeds in the tournament, so I'm optimistic and like how our guys have been training and where they are mentally.'

Trevor Engle (15-5) is the first four-time NCAA qualifier for the Rams since current assistant and national finalist Nick Nothern did it from 2007-10. He has yet to reach the podium. Duroe said the lighter Engle is focused and has had a positive frame of mind throughout the last two weeks of training.

'Obviously, he knows he has unfinished business,' Duroe said. 'He had high aspirations coming to Cornell and thought he'd be on the podium every year. Just the fact that he hasn't made it he's even more hungry.'

Interestingly, all four qualifiers are in consecutive weights, giving the Rams a strong core of talent who train together. It is no surprise they bang heads in practice, pushing each other to a higher level. Duroe said that is a staple of many good programs.

'They challenge each other a lot,' said Duroe, praising Trevor Engle and Opelt for their hard work and leadership as captains. 'Aaron and Trevor have wrestled hundreds of times,' Duroe said. 'There is a sibling rivalry, for sure. That's kind of a natural thing. These guys were fighting years before they came to Cornell.'

LUTHER'S HERMAN RETURNS

Luther heavyweight Conner Herman earned his third trip to the NCAA Championships and is one of six Norse in the field.

Herman, a former state champion for Cedar Rapids Jefferson, was an All-American last season, placing eighth, despite a record of just 16-8. He has overcome injuries that have plagued his career after reaching the 2012 NCAA tournament as a freshman.

Herman is 12-3 this season, entering his first match against Jake Benedict (16-3), of Springfield (Mass.).

Luther national runner-up Drew Van Anrooy is back in the 141-pound bracket. He is the top seed with a 20-0 mark. Dakota Gray (149), Tristan Zurfluh (157), 174-pounder Javier Reyes and Justin Kreiter at 184 also qualified for Luther, which finished ninth last year.

KNIGHTS TRY TO RECLAIM CROWN

Top-ranked Wartburg is attempting to regain the national team title that rival Augsburg (Minn.) wrestled away from the Knights last year.

Wartburg, the 2015 runner-up, won four straight titles from 2011-14, claiming seven of the last 10 NCAA Division III team championships.

The Knights have nine qualifiers, including former Solon state champion Lance Evans (31-1) at heavyweight and defending 149-pound NCAA champion Kenny Martin. Wartburg returns four All-Americans to the field from last season.

Second-ranked Wabash (Ind.) has six qualifiers, including two-time NCAA champion Riley Lefever (184).

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