The first session of the EIWA Championships can set the tone for the tournament, but it does not have to. Teams are looking to score upsets, based upon seeds, and also collect as many bonus points as possible. The first session does not always determine what teams will win this event, but can give a boost in a tight team race. A bad first session can also make a difference.

Pre-event favorite Cornell won all seven of its first-round matches. Included were a number of victories with bonus points.

"It doesn't mean a darn thing," said Cornell coach Rob Koll. "I would have been surprised if we didn't win all of those matches. It is hard to be excited about winning matches we are supposed to win. Ask me next round. If we are undefeated after that, then we have something to talk about.

Scoring pins for Cornell were No. 4 Mike Rodriguez (125), No. 1 Mack Lewnes (165), No. 1 Steve Anceravage (174) and No. 3 Josh Arnone (184). 

Penn, ranked behind Cornell in the final EIWA ranking, also swept all of its six matches of the session. 

"We got all six through, and got majors, technical falls and pins in five of them," said Penn coach Zeke Jones. "We are trying to make up some points on Cornell, but I'm not sure we were able to do that. Overall, we wrestled good, competed hard, executed holds and fought for position. It was a good round. We are executing aggressive wrestling. That is what happens when we are doing the right thing." 

Scoring a pins for Penn was No. 3 Cesar Grajales (149) and No. 3 Zach Shanaman. Scoring a technical fall was No. 1 Rollie Peterkin (125). Winning by major decisions were No. 4 Thomas Shovlin (197) and No. 2 Trey McLean (285). 

Cornell led the team race with 16 points, followed by Penn with 13.5 points. Lehigh was third with 10.5 points. Tied in fourth were American and the U.S. Military Academy with 10 points. Tied in sixth were Bucknell and the U.S. Naval Academy with 7.5 points.

Navy, with a No. 3 ranking coming in, dropped a few matches to higher seeded wrestlers in the session.

"We won the ones we were supposed to. We didn't set the world on fire," said Navy coach Bruce Burnett. "We lost to a No. 3 and a No. 2 seed. We won five of seven. They were a little tight out there. Hopefully, they will open it up more in the next session. We didn't get bonus points, except for Matt Stolpinski, in that first round. We had some tough matches."

Navy's bonus points came from No. 2 Matt Stolpinski (174) by technical fall, plus a major decision by Justin Jacobs (165). 

The second session, including the quarterfinals, will be held at 1:30 p.m. EST.