The thriving wrestling legacy of Cornell University has grabbed a new star. Cornell University is one of the most famous institutions and an academic giant in the United States. Its connection with wrestling started back in 1907. The wrestling program has earned laurels, including 20 NCAA champions, 42 Ivy League championships, and 27 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships.
Now, the latest addition to this esteemed team is the promising talent, Alessio Perentin. The young wrestler originates from a prestigious NJ school, which also had Cornell’s current coach. Perentin’s entry into collegiate wrestling has stirred excitement within the sports community. Along similar lines, his pre-university achievements and a new Twitter update have taken the internet by storm.
Coach Mike Grey and wrestler Alessio Perentin making waves in the Wrestling world
Delbarton High School proudly sees two of its alumni making significant headlines in the wrestling arena. Coach Mike Grey and emerging star Alessio Perentin from Delbarton, Ithaca, NJ, have left an indelible mark on the sport. Perentin, fueled by a determination ignited in 2023, achieved a notable victory at the Beast of the East in December.
After a state fourth-place finish in the previous year, he emerged as a State Champion in 2023, reaching a national ranking of #3 at 160 lbs. On 7th October 2023, “TheWrestlingRoom” added a new tweet to their account. It features Alessio Perentin in a poster with a caption that read, “@BigRedWrestling does it again… Alessio Perentin (JR) from Delbarton, NJ is headed to Ithaca! He is a State Champion and ranked as high as #3 nationally at 160 lbs. The Mike Grey effect! “. Here’s the tweet.
🚨🚨🚨@BigRedWrestling does it again…
Alessio Perentin (JR) from Delbarton, NJ is headed to Ithaca! He is a State Champion and ranked as high as #3 nationally at 160 lbs.
The Mike Grey effect! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/c56ULNXW1F
— The Wrestling Room (Pat Mineo) (@MrPatMineo) October 7, 2023
None can deny “the grey effect“. With a career spanning back to 2006, has been instrumental in Cornell University’s ascent to the pinnacle of collegiate wrestling. In just two seasons, Grey boasts two Ivy League and EIWA championships, fostering the development of three national champions, seven All-Americans, and nine EIWA champions.
With this, his impressive coaching record includes being named EIWA Coach of the Year in 2023 and Ivy League Coach of the Year twice (2022, 2023). Here one question looms large, what exactly has hyped the university?
Why the Buzz Around Cornell Ivy League Dominance?
Cornell’s wrestling legacy is nothing short of remarkable, boasting an impressive streak of 17 consecutive Ivy League Championships from 2003 to 2019. The team’s achievements reached new heights in 2005, marking the first instance in team history with four All-Americans. Head Coach Rob Koll earned recognition as the coach of the year for the National Wrestling Coaches Association, division first.
Back in 2007, the university championships-winning journey clinched its first Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championship since 1993, sending eight wrestlers to the NCAA tournament. Jordan Leen and Troy Nickerson contributed to the growing list of national champions in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The pinnacle came in 2010 when Cornell secured a historic 2nd place at the NCAA Championships, with freshman Kyle Dake claiming the national title.
Furthermore, the 2010-2011 season solidified Cornell’s dominance, winning its ninth consecutive Ivy League Championship and fifth consecutive Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championship. This marked a significant shift in the wrestling landscape traditionally dominated by Oklahoma State and Iowa. Lastly, in the 2021-22 season, former assistant Mike Grey took the reins as Head Coach, guiding Cornell to reclaim the EIWA and Ivy League titles. The team’s 7th place finish at the NCAA tournament included three All-Americans, with Yianni Diakomihalis securing his third national title at 149.
In a nutshell, coming back to the 2023 season, wrestling fans await more new updates from the wrestler and team.
