The Cornell men’s wrestling team, ranked No. 12 nationally, will begin its 2025-26 season on Sunday at the Clarion Open in Pennsylvania. The team features a roster with ten NCAA qualifiers and two All-Americans, aiming to build on last year’s seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships and its first Ivy League Tournament title.
Head Coach Mike Grey, now in his fifth year leading the program, emphasized the blend of experience and emerging talent within the squad. “We love the balance of this group,” Grey said. “We have veteran guys coming back mid-year, and we also have young talent competing right away. When we’re all back together in December, we expect to keep building momentum and be at our best in March.”
Grey has scheduled matches against some of the top programs in the country, including Oklahoma State and NC State, as well as participation in major tournaments like the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. This approach is intended to prepare athletes for postseason competition. “We’re known for performing in March,” Grey said. “Tough early-season tests sharpen us. It’s about putting our guys in situations to grow, learn and be ready when it matters most.”
Beyond competition results, Grey highlighted values central to Cornell’s program identity: “Our foundation is family,” he said. “From there, it’s commitment, guys being committed to themselves and to this team… accountability, humility and being selfless. If we focus on those values, we can achieve excellence. When you’re only focused on results, you lose freedom, joy and gratitude. We want to build something that lasts.”
Cornell opens at No. 12 in the NWCA Coaches Poll with eight wrestlers ranked among the top 31 by InterMat.
The lineup includes returning All-Americans Meyer Shapiro (157 lbs) and Simon Ruiz (174 lbs). Shapiro will rejoin mid-season after finishing top five at last year’s NCAA tournament; Ruiz returns following an All-America campaign as a sophomore.
At 125 lbs., junior Marcello Milani returns after qualifying for NCAAs last season alongside senior Greg Diakomihalis who will return midyear from injury. At 133 lbs., sophomore Tyler Ferrara and senior Brett Ungar lead a deep field.
Other notable competitors include Josh Saunders (141 lbs.), freshman Jaxon Joy (149 lbs.), Louie Cerchio (165 lbs.), Christian Hansen (184 lbs.), Aiden Hanning (197 lbs.), and Ivy League heavyweight champion Ashton Davis (285 lbs.).
The team’s schedule before full roster reunification includes events such as the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and Journeyman Duals.
“They’re scrappy,” stated Head Coach Grey. “We’ve got some young talent and some honorary old dogs who are going to get in there and scrap. That combination of youth and seasoned guys makes this group feisty and hungry. This season will reflect that.”
