Ohio State at Cornell
  Jan. 26, 2003  Friedman Wrestling Center  Ithaca, N.Y.   
  Cornell has bumped its way into the nation's elite this season. The Big Red placed sixth last weekend at the National Duals last weekend. While the team did not wrestle up to its No. 4 seed, it did prove that the Big Red is here to stay.    Cornell will also be competing in the Friedman Wrestling Center, a state-of-the-art wrestling facility that was completed this year. Coaches, alumni and fans are thrilled to be able to wrestle a team of Ohio State's caliber in the new building.    Ohio State entered the National Duals seeded fifth, and placed fourth. The Buckeyes and Big Red separated in the consolation round when Ohio State pounded the Big Red 28-12. But, Cornell All-American Travis Lee forfeited at 125 lbs. while Ohio State's Jesse Leng had to injury default at 133 lbs., helping to change the landscape of that dual. For this dual, Lee will return, but Leng will not.    Rankings based on the Jan. 22 TheMat.com Division I Coaches Individual Poll    125: Nathan Costello (Ohio State) vs. #2 Travis Lee (Cornell)  Costello has struggled all season long. The redshirt freshman has given up at least 16 points to all ranked opponents who have defeated him in regulation. In the other losses to ranked opponents, he has been pinned. Costello will need to bring his top game this weekend against one of the top talents in the nation. If he doesn't, this could be at least four points for the Big Red. Lee will still be hampered by a torn meniscus suffered at the National Duals, but he plans to step on the mat for this dual. Lee is one of the best wrestlers in the nation pound-for-pound. Technically, he has made dramatic strides this season. Athletically, he is as good as they come. A 50% Travis Lee is still better than most 125-pounders at 100%. His quickness and desire to win should get him through this match. Cornell needs a major decision in this dual. If the Big Red can get one here, things could be looking good in the new Friedman Wrestling Center.  TheMat.com Prediction: Lee    133: Rob Rosenfeld (Ohio State) vs. Alejandro Alvarez (Cornell)  Rosenfeld saw his first action of the year last weekend at the National Duals, stepping in for the injured Jesse Leng, who dislocated his shoulder. Rosenfeld was pinned in his only match. It is also possible that Ryan Derr could start this match for the Buckeyes as well. Either way, it is a good match for Ohio State to have a backup in the lineup. Alvarez has struggled tremendously this season. A lot of times he finds himself giving up position on bottom and getting turned. He has improved defensively on his feet as the season has gone on, but Alvarez needs to dictate the offense in this match. This could be another weight where Cornell could earn bonus points, and Alvarez needs to make every attempt possible to score them for his team.  TheMat.com Prediction: Alvarez    141: #14 Jeff Ratliff (Ohio State) vs. Byron Warner (Cornell)  Ratliff has been inconsistent all season long, but he has turned things up a notch in January. Against some of the top wrestlers in the nation, Ratliff has more than held his own. He has gotten his offense back on track and has gained a confidence that he can score on anybody. Now, he must begin to shut his opponents down. He gives up too many takedowns and sometimes struggles on bottom as well. He defeated Warner 8-4 in the National Duals. Nearly all his points came on takedowns. The uplifting part for Buckeye coaches and fans is that Ratliff did not surrender a takedown. Warner has really struggled this year  on the mat and on his feet. Like Alvarez, Warner needs to pick up his intensity level a little to help this team win a conference title this year. Look for Ratliff to control the action while on their feet, but Warner can stay in this match by being smart on bottom, not getting turned and earning quick escapes. If Warner can do that, he can keep the score at a regular decision. If Ratliff gets hot while on top, the Buckeyes could have some bonus points at the end of this match.  TheMat.com Prediction: Ratliff    149: Josh Daugherty (Ohio State) vs. #5 Dustin Manotti (Cornell)  Daugherty seems to be finally getting comfortable with this weight class. He struggled through parts of this season, but had a huge win over Manotti in the consolation round. Daugherty was tough on his feet and from the top position, which proved to be the difference in that match. Daugherty needs to continue to be strong on his feet in this match. If he can continue to score takedowns, he could come away with his second upset over the freshman. Manotti wasn't on anyone's radar list to begin the year, but this freshman has taken to East Coast by storm. He has proven himself as a legitimate All-American candidate, but he appeared tired at the National Duals. That is a grueling tournament to put a freshman through. Manotti should be in much better shape in this match. He has not developed yet physically, but his long body makes him tough to score on. He is consistent on his feet, and for a freshman, makes very few mistakes. Expect Manotti to have more of an offense in this dual. This could result in more bonus points for Cornell if Manotti wrestles the match he is capable of.  TheMat.com Prediction: Manotti    157: #3 Keaton Anderson (Ohio State) vs. Gabe Webster (Cornell)  Anderson has been on top of his game this season. He is very good from the top position, and when he locks up a cradle, there is no chance of escaping. He has been able to dominate this season, which has been the main difference in his wrestling. Anderson moved up in weight this year and it seems to be helping his stamina and wrestling immensely. Webster has struggled to be competitive at times this season. His performance has at times hurt this team, and if Cornell plans to win a conference title this year, Webster is one wrestler that needs to begin to step it up. Against Anderson, he was destroyed on his feet, but also was turned with a cradle. Surely that match helped Webster more than it did Anderson. Webster needs to stay smart on his feet. He doesn't necessarily need to initiate the offensive action, but the best way to beat Anderson is to score takedowns on him and don't get on bottom. Now that Webster knows what to expect out of this opponent, he should be able to keep this match much closer than his 10-1 loss at the National Duals to Anderson.  TheMat.com Prediction: Anderson    165: #5 Johnny Clark (Ohio State) vs. #19 Scott Roth (Cornell)  Clark has turned into a powerhouse this year, but at the same time, he is the last name mentioned when it comes to national title contenders. That is a big mistake, because Clark is just as good as any of the wrestlers mentioned ahead of him. Technically, he does not make many mistakes. He is good on his feet and has improved his mat wrestling tremendously. He has also learned how to dominate and finish off his opponents, which has made him more dangerous this year. Roth has not wrestled much this year. He is better than advertised as he comes into this dual ranked very low. Roth missed most of December and most of January before competing at the National Duals last weekend. While Clark did dominate the match last weekend 15-6, this weekend should be a different story. Roth needed some time to shake the rust off. He is good on his feet and solid on the mat, but he possesses good quickness which should help him against Clark in this match. Look for Clark to try to s