Cornell took on a major challenge at Sunday’s Wisconsin Wrestling Showcase, dropping a 38-6 dual to third-ranked UW-La Crosse inside UW Field House.
The Rams (3-2) opened the meet with two impressive wins. UW-La Crosse (7-0), which has already beaten three Top 15 teams this season, went on to score bonus points in the final eight matches.
Freshman 125-pounder Jase Van Pelt (3-2) highlighted Cornell’s day, knocking off ninth-ranked Brandon Murphy by a convincing 8-3 score in the opening bout.
Cornell extended its lead with a 5-0 decision from senior 133-pounder Evan Husko (6-3), pushing the Rams ahead 6-0 through two matches.
UW-La Crosse sent six nationally-ranked wrestlers to the mat in the last eight matches. The Eagles earned major decisions at 149 (No. 7 Tyler Goebel 10-0 over Jacob Ramirez), 157 (No. 3 Nolan Hertel 8-0 over Gabriel Smith), 197 (No. 5 Ben Kawczynski 12-2 over Treyten Steffen) and heavyweight (No. 9 Mike Douglas 13-3 over Landen Schemmel).
The Rams lost by technical fall at 141 (Sam Lorenz 17-0 over Eli Sneed) and 174 (No. 2 Seth Brossard 22-5 over Dahson DeJong). Ninth-ranked Noah Leisgang pinned Cory Stewart in 2:40 at 165. Kalyn Jahn won by fall in 2:02 over Cael McLaren at 184.