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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2001/01/29/grapplers-narrowly-edge-out-penn/)

January 29, 2001

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Grapplers Narrowly Edge Out Penn

By ryan | January 29, 2001

Corey Anderson stood behind the Cornell bench, his son Byron on his shoulders, tugging and smacking the senior tri-captain’s head just as Penn’s Nick Thomas had done earlier in the evening. Anderson won a major decision over Thomas at 197 pounds in the meet’s first match, and the four points from that major decision comprised the Red’s lead going into the final match.

Anderson was watching the final match of the evening intensely. The Quakers and Red split the eight matches between the first and last contests, and the outcome of the first Ivy meet of the year depended on sophomore Randy Stout’s match against Marcus Schontube.

Schontube held off Stout to win the 184 pound match, but thanks to the extra point Anderson earned for Cornell with the major decision, the Red defeated the defending Ivy champs despite both teams winning five matches.

Cornell dropped the two matches after Anderson’s win, but senior Sean Doyle scored a win over Jeff Eveleth at 133

pounds. Then sophomore Tom Waldron (141 pounds) took Penn’s Doug McGraw to a tiebreaker with the score knotted at one. Waldron scored back points on McGraw before McGraw could escape, earning a thrilling win and putting the Red ahead by a 10-6 score.

Penn battled back, winning the next two matches, including the 157 pound match between senior tri-captain Leo Urbinelli, ranked 11th in the country, and the Quakers’ Yoshi Nakamura, the third-ranked grappler. Nakamura’s decision gave Penn a 12-10 lead.

Junior tri-captain Clint Wattenberg put Cornell ahead once again with a narrow win over Tim Ortman. Wattenberg’s third period escape and riding time advantage gave him a 2-1 win and Cornell a 13-12 lead. The Red would not relinquish the lead this time as senior Jim Stanec extended the lead back to four with a decisive win over Josh Henson.

Schontube’s win in the final match garnered three points for the Quakers, finalizing the score at 16-15, with the Red on top.

Cornell will wrestle next on the road, when it takes on Columbia and Hofstra on February 4.

Archived article by Alex Fineman

Related

Seawolves Drop M. Hoops, 91-84

By ryan January 30, 2001

After combining for a measly 79 points in its home-and-home series against Columbia, Cornell more than equaled that total in an 84 point effort last night against Stony Brook. But whatever promise the Red exhibited on the offensive end of the court was negated by a dismal defensive performance. Cornell allowed a season high 91 points as the Seawolves shot 58.2% to give them their twelfth win of the season. The Seawolves have put a premium on improving their basketball team during the last few years. The program has steadily been gaining respect among its peer schools and seems to have broken through this year. Highlights for the team include a win against Columbia and a nine point loss to Connecticut. The Red barely beat Stony Brook in last season’s contest on East Hill, 79-74. Unfortunately for the Red, it could not repeat the result. Cornell came out firing from the start. It shot 12-for-14, giving the Red as much as a nine point lead. However, consistency has been a problem all season and the team could not continue its high level of play, mustering only one more shot before the half ended. Stony Brook took advantage of Cornell’s lapse, taking the lead, 34-32, with fewer than three minutes left in the half. Despite the deficit, the Red’s bettered the hosts shooting percentage by a 61.9% to 60% margin. Cornell found itself trailing by five at intermission, 39-34. As the next twenty minutes began, Stony Brook steadily built upon its tentative lead, culminating at a 81-62 score with 5:05 left. The Red was able to lessen the margin, but only came as close as the final score. Senior tri-captain Ray Mercedes, who had played four minutes in his last two games, came off the bench to score a game-high 17 points for Cornell, equaling Stony Brook’s Rob Hartman. Mercedes carried much of the team’s burden as his classmate tri-captain Greg Barratt and rookie guard Ka’Ron Barnes both fouled out. Senior tri-captain Kevin Cuttica, the team’s three-point specialist, shot 4-7 beyond the arc while garnering 16 points for the Red. Leon Brisport equaled Cuttica’s total and added eight rebounds. Sophomore Luke Vernon was the only other player for Cornell to score in double-digits. Rebounding was scarce as both teams had the hot hand. Nevertheless, the Seawolves beat the Red on the boards, 30-23. The Seawolves edged out the Red in virtually every area, points off turnovers, 24-16, second chance points, 17-8, fast break points, 4-2, bench points, 43-38 and total personal fouls, 18-24. Cornell (5-8, 1-3 Ivy) now finds itself at a paramount point in its season. The team enters the thick of Ivy League competition this weekend when Harvard and Dartmouth visit Newman Area on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Archived article by Amanda Angel
A New Lease on Life

By ryan January 30, 2001

Last April, Coach Scott Thompson was concerned that his immune system was getting weaker. After six months of chemotherapy, tests showing cancerous activity confirmed his apprehensions. Having concealed his cancer from his basketball team throughout the 2000 season, Thompson could no longer postpone the inevitable. On May 12 of last year, he told his players about his battle with colon cancer and of his intention to take the next six months off. “I felt that it was in my and Cornell men’s basketball’s best interest that I stepped away because it had really affected me last season and I think it reflected the way I coached and how we performed,” Thompson said. In the six months preceding his announcement, Thompson made a pledge to himself and his family that he would better himself physically and mentally to beat the cancer. He exercised more, ate healthier and whole-heartedly embraced life. His improved outlook precipitated his passionate involvement in Coaches vs. Cancer, a national organization designed to raise funds for cancer research. Norm Stewart, the former head coach at the University of Missouri who survived colon cancer, helped start Coaches vs. Cancer in 1993. Coaches vs. Cancer partnered with the American Cancer Society to raise money and provide educational forums for the public. About 250 coaches across the nation are involved in this program, including Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, whose program raises close to a half a million dollars a year. “When I came down with cancer, I realized that cancer research and cancer screening has helped save my life,” Thompson said. “I’m very involved in the fight against cancer, especially with the educational programs.” The coach is a leading spokesperson for Coaches vs. Cancer as he regularly gives speeches advocating the importance of getting an annual physical, especially for those over the age of 40. His cancer was found during a regular checkup, and at the time of the discovery, he exhibited no signs or symptoms. “If they had found it one year later, we may not be talking right now,” Thompson said. Besides his involvement with Coaches vs. Cancer, he is working in conjunction with athletic director Andy Noel to boost support for Cornell sports. He speaks to alumni groups endeavoring to garner financial support as well as to pique their interest in the success of Cornell teams. “I am thankful that Andy has helped me transition in other areas,” Thompson said. “I am so happy to still be involved.” Since his leave from the basketball team, Thompson’s test and CAT scans have improved significantly. His blood tests show that the cancer is not growing and his doctors feel that if the cancer does not come back within two years of its discovery, his chances of survival are excellent. Two integral reasons for his success, which are intertwined, are his positive outlook on life and the support of his wife, Rebecca. His wife has been a great strength throughout his battle, which has consequently given him the emotional assistance to have a positive outlook on life. Nevertheless, many others have had their lives cut short from cancer. Lute Olson, the legendary coach of the Arizona Wildcats and a former coach of Thompson’s at Iowa, lost his wife, Bobbi, this month to ovarian cancer. Thompson later was an assistant on Olson’s staffs at Iowa and Arizona. Other well-known people such as Charles Schultz and Jim Valvano are no longer with us. The list unfortunately keeps going on and on, which is why Thompson is on a crusade to raise money for cancer research. “I think they will find a cure sometime sooner than later,” Thompson said. “If there is some way we can help, it will save a lot of people.” Thompson is an inspiration to all those around him. His spirit, dedication and courage throughout this difficult time reflect Thompson’s tireless effort to raise funds for cancer research. This Friday night, when the Cornell men’s basketball team takes on Harvard, University President Hunter Rawlings will be competing against two students and one other fan in a halftime shoot-out, with all proceeds going to American Cancer Society and Coaches vs. Cancer. To honor Thompson’s involvement in such a beneficial foundation, I ask all of you to come to the game Friday night to support a cause which touches us all. Archived article by Jason Skolnik