ITHACA, N.Y. – The No. 19 ranked Ithaca College men's wrestling team put up a dominating performance on Wednesday evening in Ben Light Gymnasium as they shutout crosstown rivals SUNY Cortland, 51-0. With the victory, the Bombers improved to 15-2 in duals on the year and was the second time since 2018 that they shutout the Red Dragons.
 
The bouts began at 125 pounds with first year Tomah Gummow facing Cortland's Christian Lievano. The pair felt each other out, with neither able to score in the first period. Gummow earned the first point by escaping within the first 20 seconds of the second period and accumulated significant riding time. In the last minute of the match, Gummow held his opponent on the mat and earned a near fall, while scoring the 5-0 decision.
 
Returning All-American Isaias Torres squared off against the Red Dragon's Culley Bellino at 133 pounds. Bellino scored three points with a shot, but Torres quickly earned an escape point. Torres secured a big takedown just as time expired in the first period and earned a near fall, leading 8-3 entering the second. Torres continued to dominate, building a 15-3 lead and ultimately winning 18-3 by technical fall.
 
At 141 lbs., junior Matt Haycook battled Cortland's Shane Walczyk. Haycook earned a quick takedown in the first period and another takedown later, though his opponent quickly escaped. Haycook continued to push, taking down Walczyk again to lead 9-2. Starting the second period on bottom, Haycook quickly earned an escape point within the opening 10 seconds. He continued to dominate, winning 21-4 by technical fall.
 
Senior Wenchard Pierre-Louis faced off against Red Dragon's David Ensminger at 149 pounds. Pierre-Louis showcased his prowess with back-to-back takedowns and continued to attack his opponent's leg. With under a minute left in the period, he earned another near fall. Pierre-Louis was the most impressive wrestler so far, earning a technical fall (19-4) for the Bombers.
 
Junior 157-pounder Brian Bienus squared off with Justin Klein in the fifth match of the night. Bienus carried a 6-1 advantage into the second period, where he reversed and scored three more points to lead 11-2. Bienus continued to control the tempo, winning 21-4 by technical fall.
 
The Bombers carried a 23-0 team advantage into the 165-pound bout between Konrad Parker and Cortland's Jack Pickersgill. Parker came out strong, capitalizing on three attacks and gaining an early 9-2 lead. It was a technical masterclass by Parker, who won 20-5 by technical fall in the first period.
 
Senior Jackson Gray faced Gavin Seiler in the 174-pound match. Gray quickly exploded for an early takedown, a near fall, and another takedown to lead 10-2 halfway through the opening period. Shortly after, he pinned his opponent to win via fall.
 
Senior Xavier Pommells took on Tymothey Murrell at 184. Pommells scored a near fall after taking down his opponent halfway through the first period and earned another near fall before winning 19-1 by technical fall.
 
Next, Ryan Galka squared off against Elijah Myers at 197 lbs. Myers capitalized on a mistake by Galka to take an 8-5 lead. However, Galka fought back with a reverse roll at the end of the period, entering the second with Myers leading 8-7. Myers was charged with a stalling point, and shortly after, Galka connected on a shot to ground his opponent and go up 11-8. Galka continued to dominate, taking down Myers to extend his lead to 14-9 and eventually earning a pin in the third period.
 
In the final match of the night, sophomore Charlie Turner faced Cortland's Seth Parker. In arguably the most competitive bout of the evening, neither scored in the opening period. Turner escaped halfway through the second and then took down Parker to lead 4-1. In the third and final round, Turner earned a victory by pin, completing the Bombers 51-0 shutout against the Red Dragons.
 
The Bombers, now 15-2, will next host the St. John Fisher University Cardinals for Senior Day at 7 p.m. on February 19 at home in the Ben Light Gymnasium.