Cornely Places Fifth At Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open

DURHAM, N.C. ? Frank Cornely, a former Blue Devil wrestler and current student assistant, continues to serve notice that he will be a factor on the U.S. Freestyle circuit in the coming years, placing fifth at the Sunkist Kids/Arizona State University International Open. The tournament, which was held Oct. 20-22 in Tempe, Ariz., is the most prestigious open in the United States and marks Cornely's second straight top-five finish in the event. Blue Devil senior Levi Craig also competed at the tournament as he prepares for his final season at Duke.

Cornely, wrestling under the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) banner, began the tournament with a dominating 4-0, 7-0 victory over Brandon Sheard of Navy SOPAC. After dropping the first period, 0-4, in his second-round match, the Pennsauken, N.J., native won the second and third periods, 4-2 and 3-2, against Jason Trulson to advance to the quarterfinals. In his quarterfinal match, Cornely squared off against Clint Wattenburg in a rematch of their semifinal bout from last year's tournament. Wattenburg defeated Cornely for the second consecutive year, forcing him into the consolation brackets.

He rebounded with two consecutive wins to advance to the top-six where he would face two-time NCAA champion Chris Pendleton, an Oklahoma State graduate. Cornely nearly became the talk of the tournament, taking the first period, 2-0. He also had a lead late in the third period but could not hold on, losing the match, 2-0, 0-6, 1-3. Cornely's loss marked the second close defeat this year to the pair of wrestlers that matched up for the last two 174-pound NCAA finals. He was also defeated by Ben Askren at the University Nationals earlier this year. After the loss to Pendleton, Cornely scored a victory by injury-default over another NCAA finalist, Greg Parker, to finish fifth at 185 pounds.

Levi Craig, Duke's senior captain, dropped his first-round match to former NCAA champion and top-seeded Joe Heskett, who finished second in the tournament. Craig bounced back to defeat Ty Hiken by an 8-0, 5-3 margin in his second match before falling to another eventual placer, Nathan Coy, who finished fifth at 163 pounds.

Cornely's fifth-place finish at the Sunkist Kids/Arizona State University International Open puts him in the nation's top-10 at 185 pounds.

The Mat.com U.S. Senior Freestyle Rankings
185 Pounds
1. Mo Lawal, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator Wrestling Club)
2. Lee Fullhart, Christiansburg, Va. (Gator Wrestling Club)
3. Andry Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York Athletic Club)
4. Chris Pendleton, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club)
5. Aaron Simpson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Clint Wattenburg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club)
7. Ben Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Tyler Nixt, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye TC)
9. Frank Cornely, Durham, N.C. (New York Athletic Club)
10. Greg Parker, Princeton, N.J. (New York Athletic Club)

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