Looking over a team like Cornell, it really puts into perspective how insanely difficult it can be to even crack a lineup. The Big Red is looking very good for the 2026-2027 season & they have some depth. We do lose a few to both graduation/the end of eligibility, as well as to transfer.
What to say about Greg Diakomihalis. It couldn't have been easy being the younger brother of a four-time NCAA DI champion. I can't imagine the kind of pressure & expectation others would have on you and that you would have on yourself. I was really hoping that he'd make the NCAA DI championships this year & as luck would have it, he finished one match shy of that honor. Nonetheless he won some important matches for the carnelian & white. I'd say the highlight of his final season was a 4th place showing at the Southern Scuffle.
Josh Saunders wasn't the starter last season for the Big Red, but he was an NCAA DI qualifier in 2025.
Two time NCAA DI qualifier Brett Ungar is heading to Rutgers
Christian Hanson's season ended prematurely last year due to injury. Before injury he had numerous impressive wins. Zach Ryder, Chris Moore, Jayden Bullock, Aidan Brenot, Ty Bienus, his resume is quite impressive. He was also 4th at the Southern Scuffle. He's heading to North Carolina.
Probably by the time I'm about to post this, or how it usually works, about a day or two after I've already released this, the news about both Ethan Fernandez & Meyer Shapiro will be out too. Personally, I'd love to see Fernandez go to a school where they not only need a 149'er, but they just plain need someone to breathe life into the program. There's a series of schools he could go to. The two-time NCAA DI qualifier, in my opinion has the tools & skills to be an All-American.
UPDATE, UPDATE!! Still no word on Fernandez yet, but 3rd-5th-8th in the DI nation, Shapiro is going to make an excellent addition to Nebraska.
Yes, Cornell did lose some talent, but they aren't hurting anywhere. They're solid, very solid up & down the lineup.
 |
125
Marcello Milani |
Splitting time with Diakomihalis last season, Marcello Milani is going to have to fight just as hard for the starting spot in '26-'27, if not harder. He was an NCAA DI qualifier in 2025 with a 3rd place showing at the Ivy League. A match shy of placing at CKLV this past season, he was 8th there in '25.
 |
125
Isaiah Cortez |
JT1 is notorious for waiting when it comes to true freshmen, but when they're this good & they have
already proven themselves against collegiate competition, that's exception enough. 25-5 Vs collegiate competition to be specific. 4th at the Midlands championships.
 |
133
Tyler Ferrara |
Tyler Ferrara heads into the season now with Ivy League finishes of 2nd & 1st. 24-9 on the year, he was 2nd at the Clarion Open, 3rd at Cliff Keen Las Vegas & 8th at the Southern Scuffle.
 |
133
Elijah Cortez |
As good as Isaiah is, might be even more reason to be excited about Elijah. He was 27-3 on the season Vs Collegiate competition & this included winning both the Clarion Open & Midlands! A 9-5 decision over All-American Carter Nogle speaks for itself & 6-5, 8-3 decisions over Tony Santaniello are pretty impressive too.
 |
141
Vince Cornella |
Could he have a more appropriate name competing for the Big Red? The Colorado native won an Ivy League title & finished off 2026 one match shy of being an All-American.
 |
149
Jaxon Joy |
Some people have the Joy, down, down, down in their heart. Cornell has it in the form of Jaxon at 149 lbs. Only a freshman & I'd still call him one of the best in 2026 not to All-American. Titles won at both the Ivy Leage & in Vegas, he finished one match shy of being top 8 at the national tournament.
 |
157
Benny Rodgers |
It took Benny Rodgers a while to get going, but he finally started to come alive a little bit at the Ivy League tournament. Ironically enough he actually defeated Sean Seefeldt early on in the tournament, but while Seefeldt came back to earn qualification, Rodgers did not. 2nd at the Clarion Open, I do expect him to be a qualifier in 2027.
 |
174
Simon Ruiz |
The two-time Ivy league champion was 5th in the nation in 2025, but came up one match short of All-American honor #2 last year. 19-2 on season.
 |
174
Joe Jeter |
Here's the thing. Joe Jeter has looked very good thus far against collegiate competition, BUT it's mainly been against NCAA Division II & Division III competition. Not that this isn't impressive & not that I doubt his capabilities. But, I still wanna see him against the best of the best in DI before I'm asked to make up my mind.
 |
184
Louis Cerchio |
14 wins on the year for Louis Cerchio who was 2nd in the Ivy League.
 |
197
Mikey Dellagatta |
One of his relatives is a former WWE tag team champion. His Great-Grandpa coached the Philadelphia Eagles. His Dad, is arguably the greatest wrestler to ever come out of the University of Kentucky. Mikey Dellagatta was an NCAA DI qualifier for the Big Red last season.
 |
HWT
Ashton Davis Or Rocco Dellagatta Or Cy Cruse |
We have some depth here at HWT. I do think at the end of the day, it'll come down to Davis or Dellagatta, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize the talent Cy Cruse has. 12 wins on the year, he was 8th at the Southern Scuffle.
When it's all said & done, I think Rocco Dellagatta is going to look back on a very storied & accomplished collegiate wrestling career. I'm very confident about that, but I also know as to '26-'27, Ashton Davis isn't going to be a pushover. The Tennessee native may have just barely missed out on NCAA DI qualification last season finishing 3rd at the Ivy's, but keep in mind that he did win an Ivy League title in 2025. I could be wrong, but I think the wrestle-off between the two will be competitive.
|
