Bonus points earn Coe another win over Cornell

MOUNT VERNON — Andrew Holladay was just trying to do his part, do what every wrestler tries to do when he steps on the mat.

'I was just trying my hardest, doing what I can,' said the Coe College sophomore from Marion. 'Just helping the team out.'

Holladay did just that Thursday night.

The former Linn-Mar prep scored six points in the final minute for a 13-5 major decision over Cornell's Ben Bergen at 197 pounds, lifting the No. 15 Kohawks (11-5) to a 23-22 win over their Linn County rivals at the Small Multi-Sport Center.

Cornell's Eric Tucker won the night's final bout, 7-2, over Creighton Fox, but Fox fought off late takedown attempts to seal Coe's 16th win in the last 17 duals with the Rams.

'They found a way to get it done,' Coe Coach John Oostendorp said.

The teams split the 10 bouts with Coe getting a pin from Jan Rosenberg at 125 and technical falls from the top-ranked duo of Farai Sewera and Ryan Harrington at 165 and 174, respectively, to go along with Holladay's major.

'Bonus points are so big in a match,' Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said. 'If we don't give up a major (at 197) and get a major (at heavyweight) ....'

The Rams (10-7) did their damage early, getting back-to-back pins from Josh Martin at 141 and Trevor Engle at 149 and a major from Aaron Engel at 157, pulling ahead, 16-9, after five bouts. But the technical falls from Sewera and Harrington put Coe back on top, 19-16, heading into the final three bouts.

Cornell's Joseph Keller scored two takedowns in the final 24 seconds for an 8-6 win over Casey Rohret to tie the dual at 19 before Holladay's heroics.

'I thought we were going to need bonus points where we could,' Holladay said.

Cornell, ranked 11th, has not beaten Coe since 1999, managing only a tie in this series since.

'I really felt we could win,' Duroe said,

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