Gotto sparks Coe as Kohawks handle Cornell

MOUNT VERNON – Coe's Jimmy Gotto had some giant shoes to fill, but they seem to fit just fine.

The sophomore 125-pounder is replacing the most decorated Kohawk wrestler in two-time NCAA champion, three-time finalist and four-time All-American Clayton Rush.

Sixth-ranked Gotto showed glimpses of his predecessor, beating third-ranked Tim Hood and sparking third-ranked Coe to a 27-9 victory over rival No. 6 Cornell Friday night in an Iowa Conference dual in front of 1,015 fans at Small Multi-Sport Center. It was the final IIAC dual meeting between the two schools with Cornell returning to the Midwest Conference next year.

Gotto mentored under Rush last season and continues to work with him now that he is in his first season as a Kohawk assistant.

“I couldn't ask for a better workout partner, better coach and better friend,” Gotto said. “I don't have any problem stepping up and filling those shoes. I take the challenge. I love the challenge.”

Gotto improved to 26-7 with a 10-3 victory, overcoming an early 3-1 deficit that including a 1:30 disadvantage in riding time early in the second period. Rush has helped Gotto fine-tune technique and tweak things. Good teachers and just as good of a student have led to a good season.

“He's got two great lightweight coaches,” Coe Coach John Oostendorp said of Kohawk assistants Rush and Eric Casey. “He'll do everything you ask of him all the time.”

Gotto surrendered the opening takedown, but stormed back with a takedown in the second, turning Hood for two back points giving him the lead for good. He added a five-point move late in the match, taking Hood down to his back on the edge of the mat.

“We came out with a game plan to keep attacking, coming across hard and keep my offense going,” Gotto said. “I knew if I got back on my feet and kept attacking, kept on him, I was going to get him.”

Not only did he overcome a deficit, but he overturned an earlier decision to Hood, who beat him at Cornell's Matman Invitational in January.

“He's continuing to make gains throughout the year,” Oostendorp said. “He's getting more confidence with every win and has beaten a number of ranked guys.”

The route was on for the Kohawks (11-3, 6-1 IIAC). Coe notched seven wins, including a pin from Dale Handley at 157 and a technical fall from heavyweight Alex Burkle.

The Rams tied the score at 3-3 before Coe won five of the next six matches. Chris LeClere (141) scored the first eight points, including six nearfall points, for an 8-2 win over Michael Buhr. Fourth-ranked James Locke added a major decision at 149 before Handley's fall made it 16-3 halfway through the dual.

Scott King, ranked fifth at 174, and Ethan Ball (184) added consecutive decisions and Burkle capped the night with an impressive 21-4 win over Carl Gaul, tallying seven takedowns.

Oostendorp said it was good to see his team enacting on what he preaches, which is to get everything you can out of every second, either in practice or a match.

“We saw a lot of that tonight,” Oostendorp said. “We finished off matches, getting bonus points at a couple matches or maybe making a match closer than it needed to be.”

The Rams (11-4, 6-2) had a hard time matching Coe's intensity throughout the dual.

“They come out and wrestle hard from the very first whistle,” Cornell Coach Mike Duroe said. “Some of our guys were able to weather the storm, but most of them weren't.

“I give Coe a lot of credit. They came here to take care of business and pretty much did.”

Cornell's ninth-ranked 133-pounder Tigue Snider scored a takedown, two nearfall and a penalty point all in the third period for a 5-2 win over No. 10 Jordan Westfall. Fifth-ranked Joe Hambleton edged Jason Taylor-Ohmes 6-5, at 165, pulling the Rams with 16-6.

They couldn't close the gap any more, adding a decision by No. 8 Alex Coolidge at 197.

“We got our tails kicked tonight,” Duroe said. “We have to figure out what we can do in the next week-and-a-half.”

The next competition for both teams will be the IIAC Championships hosted by Coe on Friday, Feb. 24, starting at 10:30 a.m.

#3 Coe 27, #6 Cornell 9

At Mount Vernon, Iowa

(Small Multi-Sport Center)

125 – #6 Jimmy Gotto (Coe) dec. #3 Timothy Hood, 10-3. 133 – #9 Tigue Snider (Cor) dec. #10 Jordan Westfall, 5-2. 141 – Chris LeClere (Coe) dec. Michael Buhr, 8-2. 149 – #4 James Locke (Coe) maj. dec. Jacob Schwebke, 8-0. 157 – #6 Dale Handley (Coe) pinned Josh Guenther, 3:53. 165 – #5 Joe Hambleton (Cor) dec. Jason Taylor-Ohmes, 6-5. 174 – #5 Scott King (Coe) dec. Patrick Loughlin, 8-4. 184 – Ethan Ball (Coe) dec. Andrew Roberts, 10-3. 197 – #8 Alex Coolidge (Cor) dec. Donnie Horner (Coe), 3-1. 285 – #5 Alex Burkle (Coe) tech fall Carl Gaul, 21-4 (6:58).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – Cornell 5, Coe 18; Nearfall points – Cornell 2, Coe 28; Reversals – Cornell 4, Coe 0; Escapes – Cornell 8, Coe 12; Penalty points – Cornell 4, Coe 2; Riding time points – Cornell 0, Coe 5.

Referee: Curt Frost. Length of match: 1:38. Attendance: 1,015.