Cornell wrestlers compete under the outdoor lights

MOUNT VERNON - Cornell College has participated in some unique wrestling competitions and hosted high-profile events.

Even the program that has wrestled in non-athletic venues and produced national and international meets will attempt something new.

The Rams will open the season, hosting Simpson in an outdoor dual on the football field Thursday at Ash Park, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The dual will be the first outdoor wrestling event at Cornell.

All wrestling programs will receive free admission.

'We wanted to do something a little different and create more fan interest for our wrestling program,” Cornell 12th-year head coach Mike Duroe said in a news release. 'We want to put our guys on a big stage that will attract some attention. From my perspective, we have a great product to promote and our guys deserve an opportunity to wrestle in front of a big crowd.”

The Rams aren't foreign to wrestling in non-athletic arenas. Last year's dual at Simpson and a dual against Millikin (Ill.) University were in those schools' auditoriums.

'Ever since I've been here, we've talked about hosting a meet in (Cornell's) King Chapel, but we just don't have enough space,” Duroe said. 'We decided to move the meet outdoors under the lights.”

Senior 157-pounder Aaron Engle learned of the plans on social media. He was intrigued by the idea to showcase the program with an outdoor meet.

'I was pretty excited to see that,” Engle said. 'It was awesome.”

The University of Iowa held the first NCAA Division I outdoor meet at football stadium Nov. 14, 2015, beating Oklahoma State, 18-16, in front of a record crowd of 42,287 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.

Engle did not attend that meet, but his former teammate at Staley High School in Kansas City, Mo., Pat Rhoads, wrestled 165 for the Hawkeyes. Engle said it was described as a crazy atmosphere. The outdoor environment is a break from the stuffy gymnasium meets are normally held.

'It makes it seem like a different sport,” Engle said. 'We are still going out and doing the basics of wrestling.”

The mat will be placed at midfield of the football field. It will be on the south side, which is closer to the home stands. The lights were added a little more than two years ago as part of Ash Park renovations.

Fans have made plans to tailgate for the dual. Engle has heard the buzz grow.

'We have a lot of good support here,” Engle said. 'I've heard a lot of support from outside the community.”

In case of rain or cold temperatures, the dual will be moved inside of Small Multi-Sport Center.

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