BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Cornell won its ninth consecutive EIWA title, matching a school record with five individual champions and comfortably holding off host Lehigh while qualifying eight of its 10 wrestlers for the upcoming NCAA championships in two weeks.

The Big Red won the team title by 30 points over the Mountain Hawks, scoring 176 points - just .5 off its school record. It went 8-1 in the final session, with its only loss an injury forfeit. Cornell won all five finals and three more third place matches. The lone match of the evening that affected the NCAA tournament picture came with Mark Grey punching his ticket at 133 with a third place finish. Needing to top Columbia's Angelo Amenta to automatically qualify, the sophomore did just that with a controlling 7-4 decision.

The night started out with Nahshon Garrett's third EIWA title at 125, scoring the program's seventh straight title at that weight after topping 17th-ranked David Terao of American for the second straight year in the championship match. Garrett dictated the match and won going away, 9-5, earning the Fletcher Award for most career points by a wrestler in the bracket.

While Garrett was honored for his career - still well in motion - sophomore Gabe Dean took home the Coach's Award for Most Outstanding Wrestler after cruising through a brutally tough 184-pound bracket. The top-ranked wrestler in the country narrowly avoided a pair of first period shots against second-seeded and third-ranked Nathaniel Brown of Lehigh in the finals before crusing to an 8-2 victory, his second of the day against a conference wrestler ranked in the top seven nationally.

Chris Villalonga (149) and Jace Bennett (197) completed repeat finishes atop the podium at Eastern's, becoming multiple-time champions along with Garrett and Dean. Villalonga used an escape and riding time to top Princeton's sixth-seeded Chris Perez by a 2-0 score and Bennett knocked off Penn's Canaan Bethea in a competitive match.

Sophomore Brian Realbuto, an NCAA All-American a season ago, won his first Eastern title with a convincing 6-1 triumph over American's John Boyle in the finals.

The most exciting match of the day came in the 174 pound consolation final between Duke Pickett and 17th-ranked Brian Harvey of Army). Each wrestler earned an escape to go into overtime knotted at 1-1. Two sudden victory sessions and four rounds of rideouts ended with the junior making his case for an at-large bid with an early escape that gave him a short riding time advantage. That seven second difference was enough to give Pickett third.

Senior heavyweight Jacob Aiken-Phillips finished third after Lehigh's Doug Vollaro was forced to injury default midway through the second period with the score tied at 0-0. Sophomore Dylan Palacio finished second at 165 after medically forfeiting out of the championship.

The ninth straight win at the meet builds on Cornell's own record and its five champions matched its total from 1993 and 2010.

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Cornell qualified six for the EIWA finals, but it was one wrestler that earned a spot in the third-place match that may have most excited the Big Red faithful on day two of the 2015 EIWA Championships at Lehigh's Stabler Arena.

Senior heavyweight Jacob Aiken-Phillips topped a pair of higher-seeded wrestlers in the consolation bracket to launch himself into the third place match and earn himself a spot at the NCAA championships for the first time in his career. He scored a comeback 7-6 victory over Hofstra's Michael Hughes in the second tiebreaker, using an escape after riding out the Pride grappler for the win. He then used a third period takedown of Columbia's Garrett Ryan, the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, to solidify his NCAA bid and send him into the third place match.

With seven NCAA qualifiers (sophomore Mike Grey could become an eighth at 133 this evening), the Big Red took command of the team lead in the morning session as well. With 151 points, Cornell enters the finals rounds with a 19-point advantage over second place Lehigh and is 65 points clear of third place Bucknell.

Nahshon Garrett had a big third period to pull away from Lehigh's Scott Parker, the first of three semifinal matchups between the two teams. Garrett, the top seed, with face 17th-ranked and second-seeded David Terao of American in the finals.

Chris Villalonga starts a run of five of six finals featuring Big Red wrestlers starting at 149. The senior topped Drexel's Matt Cimato in the semifinals by a 3-1 decision in the second tiebreaker. He will face sixth-seeded Chris Perez of Princeton in the finals.

Realbuto had a dominant semifinal win over 17th ranked Russell Parsons of Army, knocking off the No. 4 seed by a 12-3 major decision. He will wrestle for his first Eastern title tonight against American's John Boyle.

Dylan Palacio will have a chance to claim his first EIWA title as well when he meets No. 1 seed Peyton Walsh of Navy after avening one of his two losses this season with a 5-3 semifinal victory over Army's Coleman Gracey.

Both Gabe Dean (184) and Jace Bennett (197) won tight matches against top 10 foes in the semifinals, with Bennett using a late takedown and rideout of No. 10 Elliot Riddick of Lehigh for a 4-2 triumph. He will face fourth-seeded Canaan Bethea of Penn in the finals. Dean, meanwhile, knocked off Penn's Lorenzon Thomas, ranked seventh nationally, by a 10-7 decision in a high scoring bout. He will face Lehigh's third-ranked and second-seeded Nathaniel Brown in the finals in a match that will help determine the meet champion. It is the only finals matchup between the top two teams in the field.

Sophomore Mark Grey and junior Duke Pickett will also wrestle for third place after losses in the semifinals. Grey dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to Lehigh's Mason Beckman after surrendering a riding time point, but bounced back with a win over seventh-seeded Grimaldi Gonzalez of Bucknell in the wrestlebacks. He will face Columbia's sixth seed Angelo Amenta for third place and a guaranteed spot at the NCAA championships this evening. Pickett will also wrestle for third after a 3-2 loss to Jadean Bernstein of Navy in the sems and a 7-1 decision over Columbia's Shane Hughes in the wrestlebacks. Pickett will meet Army's Brian Harvey for third, though just the two two placewinners will earn bids to the NCAAs. Pickett will be a strong candidate for an at-large bid.

The Big Red's 10th placewinner was freshman Dylan Realbuto at 141, who nearly majored sixth-seeded Logan Everett of Army in the seventh place match, picking up a 12-5 win.

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Cornell wrestling team had a fantastic first day at the 2015 EIWA Championships at Lehigh on Friday afternoon, advancing all 10 wrestlers to day two, including eight in the championship semifinals. Despite six falls and 12 bonus wins, the Big Red still finds itself in a dogfight with the host school entering the final day while looking for an unprecedented ninth consecutive crown. Cornell enters day two with a slim five-point lead in Lehigh (93-88), with third-place Columbia more than 30 points in the rearview mirror.

The Big Red advanced top-seeded wrestlers Nahshon Garrett (125), Chris Villalonga (149), Brian Realbuto (157), Duke Pickett (174) and Gabe Dean (184) in the championship bracket, as well as second-seeded Dylan Palacio (165) and Jace Bennett (197) and fourth-seeded Mark Grey (133). Freshman Dylan Realbuto (141) and senior Jacob Aiken-Phillips (285) remain alive in the wrestlebacks and could still place as high as third.

Sophomore Dylan Palacio had an exciting first day, winning his first round match over Franklin & Marshall's Andy Francos in less than a minute before overcoming a 10-4 first period deficit in the quarterfinals to Harvard's Devon Gobbo, scoring 12 straight points before getting him in a cradle for the fall with just 18 seconds left in the match. He will look to avenge one of his two losses this season when he meets third-seeded Coleman Gracey of Army in the semifinals on Saturday morning.

Junior Nahshon Garreett, looking for his third straight EIWA title, earned a first period fall over Princeton's Ryan Cash in the opening round and a tech fall over eighth-seeded Zach Fuentes of Drexel. Garrett and Palacio weren't alone in the perfect first days.

Mark Grey earned a first period fall over Sacred Heart's Timothy Johnson before scratching out a 4-3 triumph over No. 5 seed Josh Terao in the quarters. His reward? A matchup with top-seeded Mason Beckman of Lehigh in tomorrow's semifinals.

Villalonga grinded out a pair of victories in typical fashion, besting Lehigh's Drew Longo 8-2 in the opener and moving onto the semifinals with a 3-1 triumph over Drexel's Matthew Cimato. Brian Realbuto also won a pair to advance in the championship bracket, topping Bucknell's Rustin Barrick 6-3 in the first round and eighth-seeded Brooks Martin of Penn by major decision in his second match of the day.

Pickett won a major decision over Jason Grimes of American after an exciting first period, then grinded out a 5-4 victory over Brown's Richard McDonald in the quarters.

Dean was his usual dominant self, earning a first period fall over Hofstra's Jermaine John for the second time this year before taking a 20-7 major over Navy's eighth-seeded Mike Woulfe to reach the semis.

Rounding out the eight wrestlers guaranteed a spot on the podium was Bennett, who pinned Hofstra's Mike Oxley in the second period and then dominated seventh-seeded Matt Idelson of Columbia 8-0 in the quarters.

Dylan Realbuto, a late add to the championship lineup, lost in the first round to second-seeded Jamel Hudson of Hofstra, but won an 8-2 decision over Franklin & Marshall's Robert Ruiz before advancing to Saturday with a medical forfeit in the consolation second round. Aiken-Phillips won his first match of the day before falling to second-seeded Joe Stolfi of Bucknell. He stayed alive with a 10-0 major decision over Navy's Colynn Cook in the consolation bracket.

Regardless of tomorrow's results, Brian Realbuto at 157 and Jace Bennett at 197 have already qualified for the 2015 NCAA championship as they can finish no lower than sixth. The 157-pound allocation from the NCAA is seven places deep and the 197-pound allocation is six athletes deep. A win tomorrow by Dylan Realbuto and Jacob Aiken-Phillips in the wrestlebacks would give Cornell 10 placewinners for the second consecutive season.

Advancing to the finals in every weight class guarantees an NCAA bid, so each of the eight semifinalists can punch their ticket to the big dance by winning their first matchup. All but 174 can advance to the NCAAs through the wrestlebacks. All 10 wrestlers have the opportunity to qualify for NCAAs on Saturday.

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125 - #5 Nahshon Garrett
First Round: #5 (1) Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) won by fall over Ryan Cash (Princeton), 1:26
Quarterfinals: #5 (1) Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) won by technical fall over (8) Zach Fuentes (Drexel), 15-0
Semifinals: #5 (1) Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) won by decision over (4) Scott Parker (Lehigh), 12-5
Finals: #5 (1) Nahshon Garrett (Cornell) won by decision over #17 (2) David Terao (American), 9-5

133 - #18 Mark Grey
First Round: #18 (4) Mark Grey (Cornell) won by fall over Timothy Johnson (Sacred Heart), 2:15
Quarterfinals: #18 (4) Mark Grey (Cornell) won by decision over (5) Josh Terao (American), 4-3
Semifinals: #10 (1) Mason Beckman (Lehigh) won by decision over #18 (4) Mark Grey (Cornell), 2-1
Consolation Semifinals: #18 (4) Mark Grey (Cornell) won by decision over (7) Grimaldi Gonzalez (Bucknell), 4-3
Third Place Match: #18 (4) Mark Grey (Cornell) won by decision over (6) Angelo Amenta (Columbia), 7-4

141 - Dylan Realbuto
First Round: #14 (2) Jamel Hudson (Hofstra) won by major decision over Dylan Realbuto (Cornell), 13-5
Consolation First Round: Dylan Realbuto (Cornell) won by decision over Robert Ruiz (Franklin & Marshall), 8-2
Consolation Second Round: Dylan Realbuto (Cornell) won by medical forfeit over #13 (1) Todd Preston (Harvard)
Consolation Quarterfinals: (5) Tyler Smith (Bucknell) won by decision over Dylan Realbuto (Cornell), 2-0
Seventh Place match: Dylan Realbuto (Cornell) won by decision over (6) Logan Everett (Army), 12-5

149 - #5 Chris Villalonga
First Round: #5 (1) Chris Villalonga (Cornell) won by decision over Drew Longo (Lehigh), 8-2
Quarterfinals: #5 (1) Chris Villalonga (Cornell) won by decision over Nick Tighe (Binghamton), 3-1
Semifinals: #5 (1) Chris Villalonga (Cornell) won by decision over (4) Matthew Cimato (Drexel), 3-1 tb2
Finals: #5 (1) Chris Villalonga (Cornell) won by decision over (6) Chris Perez (Princeton), 2-0

157 - #4 Brian Realbuto
First Round: #4 (1) Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by decision over Rustin Barrick (Bucknell), 6-3
Quarterfinals: #4 (1) Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by major decision over (8) Brooks Martino (Penn), 12-2
Semifinals: #4 (1) Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by major decision over #17 (4) Russell Parsons (Army), 12-3
Finals: #4 (1) Brian Realbuto (Cornell) won by decision over (6) John Boyle (American), 6-1

165 - #9 Dylan Palacio
First Round: #9 (2) Dylan Palacio (Cornell) won by fall over Andy Francos (Franklin & Marshall), 0:43
Quarterfinals: #9 (2) Dylan Palacio (Cornell) won by fall over Devon Gobbo (Harvard), 6:42
Semifinals: #9 (2) Dylan Palacio (Cornell) won by decision over (3) Coleman Gracey (Army), 5-3
Finals: #15 (1) Peyton Walsh (Navy) won by medical forfeit over #9 (2) Dylan Palacio (Cornell)

174 - Duke Pickett
First Round: (1) Duke Pickett (Cornell) won by major decision over Jason Grimes (American), 17-9
Quarterfinals: (1) Duke Pickett (Cornell) won by decision over (8) Richard McDonald (Brown), 5-4
Semifinals: (4) Jadaen Bernstein (Navy) won by decision over (1) Duke Pickett (Cornell), 3-2
Consolation Semifinals: (1) Duke Pickett (Cornell) won by decision over (6) Shane Hughes (Columbia), 7-1
Consolation Semifinals: (1) Duke Pickett (Cornell) won by decision over #17 (2) Brian Harvey (Army), 3-2 tb-3

184 - #1 Gabe Dean
First Round: #1 (1) Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by fall over Jermaine John (Hofstra), 1:21
Quarterfinals: #1 (1) Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by major decision over (8) Mike Woulfe (Navy), 20-7
Semifinals: #1 (1) Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by decision over #7 (4) Lorenzo Thomas (Penn), 10-7
Finals: #1 (1) Gabe Dean (Cornell) won by decision over #3 (2) Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh), 8-2

197 - #9 Jace Bennett
First Round: #9 (2) Jace Bennett (Cornell) won by fall over Mike Oxley (Hofstra), 3:56
Quarterfinals: #9 (2) Jace Bennett (Cornell) won by major decision over (7) Matt Idelson (Columbia), 8-0
Semifinals: #9 (2) Jace Bennett (Cornell) won by decision over #10 (3) Elliot Riddick (Lehigh), 4-2
Finals: #9 (2) Jace Bennett (Cornell) won by decision over (4) Canaan Bethea (Penn), 4-2

285 - Jacob Aiken-Phillips
First Round: (7) Jacob Aiken-Phillips (Cornell) won by decision over Joseph Goodhart (Drexel), 8-3
Quarterfinals: (2) Joe Stolfi (BUcknell) won by major decision over (7) Jacob Aiken-Phillips (Cornell), 12-2
Consolation Second Round: (7) Jacob Aiken-Phillips (Cornell) won by major decision over Colynn Cook (Navy), 10-0
Consolation Quarterfinals: (7) Jacob Aiken-Phillips (Cornell) won by decision over (6) Michael Hughes (Hofstra) 7-6 tb2
Consolation Semifinals: (7) Jacob Aiken-Phillips (Cornell) won by decision over (4) Garrett Ryan (Columbia), 5-4
Third Place Match: (7) Jacob Aiken-Phillips (Cornell) won by injury default over (3) Doug Vollaro (Lehigh)