Cornell uses middleweight bonus points to beat Army 25-13
Three technical falls and a major decision in the upper middleweights supplied the margin at Friedman Wrestling Center in Ithaca on Jan. 16, 2026.
ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell defeated Army 25-13 at the Friedman Wrestling Center on Jan. 16, 2026.
Army took the early edge when Charlie Farmer delivered a 14-4 major decision at 125 pounds, turning late-third-period offense that included a takedown to open a 4-0 team lead.
Cornell answered at 133 when Tyler Ferrara edged No. 12 Ethan Berginc 4-3 in triple overtime. The bout went through multiple tiebreaker sessions before Ferrara scored the decisive point in the third sudden-death period.
The dual swung decisively in the upper middleweights. No. 2 Jaxon Joy ended a 149-pound match by technical fall, 17-1, after a first-period nearfall and follow-up scoring in the second and third periods. No. 7 Meyer Shapiro recorded an 18-3 technical fall at 157, using first-period takedowns and second-period bonus scoring and riding time to reach the threshold. No. 2 Simon Ruiz closed the sequence with a 20-4 technical fall at 174, collecting multiple takedowns and a third-period finishing takedown.
Cornell added a 13-3 major decision at 184 when No. 17 Christian Hansen combined second- and third-period takedowns with an escape to build the 10-point margin.
Army collected four wins on the night — including the opening major at 125 and decisions at 165, 197 and 285 — but the run of bonus-point victories in the middleweights produced the bulk of Cornell’s team scoring and put the dual out of reach.
The Big Red staged the meet as its home opener and Military Appreciation Night at Friedman Wrestling Center, a setting noted in event coverage from both programs’ releases. The outcome left Cornell with a win at home and Army with a competitive showing despite the loss.