CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Sophomore Bobby Dierna and freshman Nick Bellanza each won by pin as part of Cortland State's eight victories as the fifth-ranked Red Dragons defeated Wesleyan (Conn.) 37-12 on Sunday in their home finale. Cortland improved to 13-3 on the season with one dual remaining.
Wesleyan dropped 5-11 with the loss.
The match opened with a piece of history as Cortland sophomore Nyasa Bakker became the first woman to wrestle in a Red Dragon uniform. She lost to Wesleyan's James Hamilton by pin in 1:02.
Cortland won the next four matches, starting with a 4-2 decision by junior Paul Fields at 133 pounds. He recorded a first-period takedown and a third-period reversal before giving up a reversal with 1:05 left for the final margin.
Senior Brian Bistis, ranked fifth nationally at 141 pounds, won by forfeit. Dierna, ranked first nationally at 149 pounds, pinned his opponent in 1:38, and senior James Ondris earned a 6-1 decision at 157 pounds after taking a 4-1 lead on two first-period takedowns.
Wesleyan's Taran Carr was trailing 8-3 in the second period in the 165-pound match before rallying to register a pin in 4:32 and cut Cortland's team lead to 18-12.
The Red Dragons, however, won the last four bouts. Junior Lou Puca, ranked fifth nationally at 174 pounds, earned an 8-0 major decision. Bellanza then pinned his opponent in 2:17 at 184 pounds and sophomore Joe Giaramita, ranked third at 197 pounds, took a 5-1 lead early in the second period en route to an 8-4 decision.
Junior Lance Moore, the eighth-ranked wrestler at 285 pounds, won by forfeit to conclude the match.
