Cortland Standard .net

Though nationally-ranked wrestlers Joe Giaramita and Lance Moore finished up Wednesday night’s clash of upstate rivals with victories, it could not save the day for SUNY Cortland.
Visiting Ithaca College built an early 15-6 lead and held on to knock off the Red Dragons 18-15 in a showdown of nationally-ranked squads, the victorious Bombers considered the ninth best squad in the nation and Cortland ranked 27th going into the Corey Gymnasium match.
The Red Dragons (9-4) were within 15-9 heading into the final three weight classes, starting with a big confrontation at 184 pounds. That’s where nationally eighth-ranked Ithaca sophomore Carlos Toribio pulled out a 13-11 sudden-death victory over fourth-ranked Tyler Beckwith from Cortland.
Toribio barely avoided being pinned by Beckwith in the second period and held an 11-9 advantage late in the third period until Beckwith registered a takedown at the buzzer to send the bout into overtime. Toribio quickly recorded a takedown for the decision and an 18-9 Ithaca team lead.
At 197 pounds, junior and nationally third-ranked Giaramita came through with a 10-4 decision victory over Greg DuVall and improved to 23-1 on the season. That pulled Cortland within 18-12.
Needing a pin or technical fall to pull even, the match ended as Cortland’s nationally 10th-ranked senior Johnson City posted a 4-0 shutout decision over Dan Glinko at 285 pounds to improve to 23-5 on the year.
With the victory, Ithaca improved to 11-2 in duals.
The Bombers opened with a 7-3 decision victory by nationally 10th-ranked sophomore Jimmy Kaishian at 125 pounds as he improved to 28-6 on the season. After the Red Dragons earned a forfeit win by senior Paul Fields at 133 pounds, Ithaca captured the next four weight classes by decision to build the 15-6 advantage.
Ithaca sophomore Nick Wahba won 8-4 at 141 pounds to improve to 23-5 on the year, junior Eamonn Gaffney raised his record to 26-7 with a 5-1 decision at 149 pounds and senior Kevin Collins won 7-2 at 157 pounds.
At 165 pounds, Ithaca freshman Nick Velez held on for a tight 3-2 decision over Cortland sophomore Colin Barber. Velez led 3-1 late and, with seconds remaining, avoided a takedown by Barber as he surrendered a point for a violation.
Cortland junior Joe Cataldo ended Ithaca’s run with a 6-4 decision over freshman Nik Hansen at 174 pounds. After allowing a third-period takedown that tied the score at 4-4, Cataldo was awarded an escape and clinched the win with riding time to make it 15-9 heading into those final three weight classes.
Cortland is now off until the NCAA Division III National Qualifier being hosted by Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island, the weekend of Feb. 28 and March 1.