On one of the biggest nights for Cornell sports so far this season, the wrestling team, defending Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) team champions three years running, will be opening its season tonight at 6:30. While the men’s basketball team faces Seton Hall and Lynah fills with faithfuls, Cornell’s wrestlers will go head-to-head with the Maryland Terrapins at the Friedman Wrestling Center.

Last season the team finished with a record of 12-2. They’re starting this season off in strong form with seven wrestlers ranked in the top-6 of their respective weight classes in the EIWA. The Red boasts a national ranking of No. 4 compared to the Terrapins’ No. 10. UMD finished last season with a record of 10-8-1. Head coach Rob Koll says the two teams are well matched with some of Red’s best wrestlers facing the strongest Maryland has to offer.

“There are nine possible toss-ups, which doesn’t happen often.” said Koll, “But our biggest strength is that we don’t have any holes.”

Several wrestlers will compete with Terrapins that they neighbor in the national rankings. At 174 pounds junior Mack Lewnes, ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division I standings according to InterMat, will face UMD’s Mike Letts, a junior ranked at No. 4. Letts redshirted last season but cinched a record of 26-3 in open competition. In Maryland’s most recent dual match on November 7th, Letts pinned his competitor from York in just one minute and nineteen seconds. The Red’s Lewnes, at 174 pounds, is ranked No. 1 in his weight class in the EIWA preseason rankings. He finished off last season as the team leader in falls with 13 and a record of 35-2. He also currently holds two EIWA individual titles.

“It will be sold-out for sure, so if anything Maryland will have a hard time with such a rowdy crowd,” junior D.J. Meagher said.

Another tight match up will be between sophomore Cam Simaz and UMD senior Hudson Taylor in the 197-pound weight class. In his first dual match as a senior, Hudson quickly dominated, pinning his opponent from Drexel in 1:29 and a York wrestler in just 39 seconds. During last season, he was ranked as highly No. 2 and finished with a record of 38-8. Last year Simaz won an EIWA Championship title and finished the season with 35 wins. He was also the only rookie on the team to qualify for Nationals where he placed eighth, taking All-American honors. This year he tops the EIWA rankings in his weight class.

“We have three guys returning who are All-Americans,” said Grey “But they have some All-Americans too… We’ll just have to focus on our strengths.”

Senior Troy Nickerson, the only member to take a NCAA championship title last year, is ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds coming off a perfect personal record of 25-0 from last year. He also racked up 12 falls and won 16 matches with bonus points. Also ranked No. 1 in his class is junior Mike Grey, at 133 pounds, who will face off against UMD senior Steve Bell. In the national rankings, Grey is No. 6 and Bell is No. 8. Rounding out the seven members ranked in the top-6 of their respective weight classes are Meagher, No. 6 at 157 pounds, junior Justin Kerber, No. 2 at 165 pounds, and senior Josh Armone, No. 3 in the heavyweight division.