3-21-23 entire issue hi res

The Corne¬ Daily Sun

Legal Cannabis for Cornellians

By DUNIA MATTA Sun Contributor

It was a day of celebration for William Durham, his team and many Ithacans as William Jane, Ithaca’s first marijuana dispensary, opened at 119 E. State St. on March 16. It is the first dispensary in Upstate New York to be licensed and supported by the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund — a New York partnership intended to finance the development of conditional adult-use retail cannabis establishments — and the fifth legal dispensary in the state of New York. It will operate as a pop-up store for about 30 days, after which it will close and reopen once all renovations are completed.

Until its opening, Ithacans and Cornellians looking to purchase cannabis had only a few options to choose from, such as sticker shops — unlicensed cannabis retail operations in which customers purchase stickers and are gifted marijuana products upon checkout — or black-market dealers. While many locals previously utilized trusted friends who produced and sold marijuana, all adults aged 21 and older can now buy weed with a guarantee of product safety.

Durham, William Jane’s owner, is a Binghamton local entrepreneur and businessman who was previously convicted of marijuana possession at age 23. With the help of the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, Durham

was awarded his retail cannabis license last year. To be eligible for a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries license, you must be justice involved, have prior qualifying business experience with sole control of the business and have a significant presence in New York State.

With its 2021 legalization of cannabis, New York is prioritizing those most affected by the prohibition of marijuana.

Tompkins Detox Center Prepares To Serve County

By ELIZABETH GARDNER Sun Contributor

Editor’s Note: This article contains a discussion of substance abuse.

The Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County is preparing to open a new open access, detox and stabilization center in Tompkins County this April, intending to help people with substance abuse issues.

“When we open it will have three levels of care: open access, medically supervised withdrawal and stabilization,” said Angela Sullivan, executive director of the ADCTC.

The open access unit is used for critical cases and is nonresidential. Sullivan explained that patients can walk into the open access facility at any time and receive information, medication assisted treatment, assessment for substance abuse disorders and other forms of care.

Junior Stars on "American Idol"

Amara Valerio '24 receives a golden ticket to Hollywood

By MARIAN CABALLO Sun Assistant News Editor

A viral TikTok video and powerful voice landed Amara Valerio ’24 in front of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on the “American Idol” stage, where she left with a reaffirmed passion for music and a golden ticket to Hollywood.

Valerio, an American studies major in the College of Arts and Sciences, was selected to perform "The Star Spangled Banner" at her high school graduation when she was only a junior. The event went awry when a senior forcibly took the

microphone from Valerio and sang the national anthem instead. In July 2022, Valerio shared a video of the incident on TikTok, which led to over 10.1 million views and an Instagram message from an “American Idol” producer encouraging her to audition for the show.

“I posted the video mostly as a joke,” said Valerio, who occasionally shares singing videos on social media. “Singing is a huge passion of mine, so it was surreal getting asked to audition. I was equal parts shocked and excited.”

Valerio, from Yonkers, New York, used to watch “American Idol” as a child and had even auditioned for the

show back in 2020. After a successful online audition for the show last summer, Valerio was flown out to Las Vegas in the fall and performed “Bust Your Windows” by Jasmine Sullivan for the celebrity judges.

Receiving a “yes” from all three judges, Valerio will soon compete against other golden-ticket recipients in the Hollywood rounds.

“Before I walked in the room, I was really, really nervous. But once I walked in, I realized that this is such an amazing opportunity, no matter what the outcome is,” Valerio said. “I get to do something I love in front of three icons. This is something I’ve dreamt about since I was a little girl, and something I’ve worked towards for such a long time.”

Valerio, who grew up listening to rhythm and blues and soul artists, said she chose to sing “Bust Your Windows” because of the song’s attitude and confidence. When the audition aired last Sunday, Valerio’s family, friends and hometown neighbors gathered to support her performance.

“My mom was going crazy,” Valerio said. “Even though I’m not [back home], everyone that lived on my block hosted a watch party at the bar from where I live.”

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

The patient can then go into detox, if needed, or a stabilization period. Detox aims to remove alcohol and drugs from the body, which can be done via medically supervised withdrawal. The stabilization period prepares the patient to be discharged and varies based on the individual.

“If they’re assessed and what they want is detox, they can go upstairs and be in one of our 40 beds. We have 40 beds that are shared between detox and stabilization,” Sullivan said. “If they come in and they are sick or injured, they could actually get physical healthcare as well as medically supervised withdrawal services.”

After patients are stabilized, which would typically take three to five days according to Sullivan, they can enter a stabilization period in the center before they are ready to be discharged into another program, facility or back into the community.

“We expect [the stabilization period] to probably be mostly about two weeks, but there are stays as long as 45 days,” Sullivan said.

The addition of the open access, detox and stabilization center is critical since it offers services not yet available in Tompkins County.

“The open access, detox and stabilization center is filling a huge gap in the continuum of care here in Tompkins County.” Sullivan said.

According to Brad Walworth, communications manager at Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services, the new detox center will provide a level of care not yet available to residents.

“I've toured it and [it is] going to be an amazing program. It's been something that's so needed,” Walworth said. “Traditionally, unfortunately, in Tompkins County, people that need those services would have to go out of [the] county.”

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Cannabis counter | An employee prepares to serve customers at William Jane, Ithaca's first legal marijuana dispensary.

Golden ticket | Amara Valerio '24 receives a golden ticket after her Las Vegas audition, securing her spot in the upcoming Hollywood rounds.

COURTESY OF AMARA VALERIO '24

Elizabeth Gardner can be reached at eag239@cornell.edu.

Marian Caballo can be reached at mcaballo@cornellsun.com.

“I've toured it and [it is] going to be an amazing program. It's been something that's so needed.”

Brad Walworth

By ISABELA WILSON Sun Staff Writer

After more than a decade since they last qualified, the Cornell University Figure Skating Club plans to jump, spin and spiral at the upcoming 2023 National Intercollegiate Final. The team expressed growing enthusiasm as they are coming out of a pandemic-induced slump in membership.

Hosted by the United States Figure Skating Association, the National Intercollegiate Final is an annual competition featuring the country’s top undergraduate figure skating teams. It will take place from April 14 to April 16 at the University of California in Los Angeles.

Cornell’s team won the NIF during their first visit in 2003. They qualified again in 2008, where they placed fifth overall. The 2022-2023 season is the team’s first qualification in fifteen years.

stantial expansion. Following restrictions on ice time during the COVID-19 pandemic, the club saw a resurgence in membership as the University reopened to normal operations.

Some members attribute this growth to the CUFSC’s recent competitive success.

Figure Skating Team Advances Ithaca Joins Four NY Cities with Legal Weed Dispensaries

“There are so many more people for competitions, and we do so much better because of our numbers,” said Grace Yao ’23, a competitor who joined during her freshman year.

Julia Forte ’24, one of CUFSC’s captains, noted the club’s potential for future success.

“The club is mostly freshmen and sophomores, which is good because they will be here [to compete] after we graduate,” Forte said.

The competing skaters have a diverse range of skating experiences. Tory Watnick ’23, Forte’s co-captain, attended a commuter school to pursue her figure skating career before transferring to Cornell her sophomore year.

“Joining [the CUFSC] was a way for me to still be a part of skating, but in a less intense manner,” Watnick said.

Karen Chen ’25 has competed and medaled in multiple national figure skating competitions and the Olympic Games. This year will be her first time competing in the NIF with the CUFSC.

Continued from page 1

“With the opening of William Jane in Ithaca, we’re continuing to build an adult-use cannabis industry in our state that works to offset the harms caused by disproportionate arrests made during cannabis prohibition,” Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) said in a press release announcing the dispensary. “As more dispensaries like this open across New York State, consumers now have the option to buy legal, safer products while also reinvesting in their communities.”

locations where people [can] start new businesses for their families and friends, but more importantly, employment opportunities with the community serving good cannabis that is tested and high quality.”

William Jane is still in the process of hiring more employees. Not only does it offer job opportunities for many locals, but it allows people to be a part of a new change in the Ithaca community.

The team and their coach Robyn Bentley have undergone a lengthy competition process to qualify for the Final. The nation’s undergraduate figure skating clubs are divided into regional leagues of Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Pacific Coast.

Cornell competes in the Northeast Conference, which held three competitions at New York University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at the Skating Club of Utica, New York. At the Utica competition from March 10 to March 12, the team placed third, securing a trip to the NIF alongside Boston University, NYU and Sacred Heart University.

Club members emphasized the team’s self-sufficiency in the competitive league. Lynah Rink’s limited availability hinders competitors’ abilities to frequently practice. The club is granted two full-body practices during the week and one competition-only practice on Saturdays.

Figure skating is not recognized as a varsity sport by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, placing the team into club status. This deprives the CUFSC of direct University funding that would pay for full-time coaching, travel expenses and competition fees. As a result, the club must rely on club dues and donations to fund its endeavors.

Despite these setbacks, CUFSC has seen sub-

“I know it will be a lot of fun,” Chen said. “At all of these other competitions, we bring a lot of energy and team spirit. We’re definitely going to bring that to nationals as well.”

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun.com.

Ducson Nguyen, the Common Council’s alderperson for the 2nd Ward, concurred with Hochul’s statements at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“To focus on those who are harmed by that failed war [the War on Drugs] with an emphasis on lifting people of color and other communities that were harmed by that legislation is really gratifying to see,” Nguyen said. “I really look forward to the vibrancy that this business and other businesses like it will bring to Ithaca in particular, but Upstate [New York] in general, which certainly needs it.”

A few hours prior to William Jane’s grand opening, the city, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance and Durham held a press conference.

“You think about Ithaca. You think about Harlem. You think about Binghamton,” DIA executive director Gary Ferguson said, referring to locations in New York with legal weed dispensaries. “You know these are great

“We want to have a lot of fun at the end of the day,” Durham said. “Cannabis is something that we used to have to hide. [Recreational cannabis in] New York became legal recently, and now we actually have a clean product that we can actually all enjoy.”

While he acknowledged that cannabis is still a big concern for many parents, Durham understood the importance of having locally sourced and tested products that are safe for the community of Ithaca. He also has some fun events planned for his dispensary, including jazz and art shows.

“With a lot of college kids being in the area and their parents are still kind of worried about some of the products that they’re smoking, you know this is something you don’t have to worry about [at William Jane],” Durham said.

To continue reading this article, please visit www.cornellsun. com.

Gliding to nationals | Cornell’s figure skating team prepares for its national debut at the National Intercollegiate Final, its first appearance in over a decade.

COURTESY OF THE CORNELL UNIVERSITY FIGURE SKATING CLUB

Isabela Wilson can be reached at iwilson@cornellsun.com.

Dunia Matta can be reached at dm674@cornell.edu.

“At all of these other competitions, we bring a lot of energy and team spirit. We’re definitely going to bring that to nationals as well.”

Karen

Chen ’25

CANNABIS

New Black Student Majorette Ensemble Breaks Barriers

By ERICA YIRENKYI Sun Contributor

Cornell University is home to over 1,000 different clubs and student organizations. However, none of these organizations personified the art and dancing style of majorettes until now.

Beginning in New Orleans in the 1960s, the majorette dance style became famous for its high-energy movements infusing jazz, West African and hip-hop dance styles. Majorette dance teams often perform alongside a marching band, flipping and showcasing other gymnast moves in glittery outfits.

The new Black Student Majorette Ensemble announced its founding

on Cornell’s campus this semester. The ensemble, which goes by the acronym BSE, was instituted to provide a helpful and educational space for women of color to feel represented on campus through the majorette art form.

Members of the BSE said their mission is to educate Cornellians on the majorette dance style and empower students with the confidence to be themselves and move freely.

BSE President Aissata Maiga ‘25 described her background as a majorette.

“I would say most of my majorette experience is self-taught. I am from New York City, and majorette is typically used in the South,”

Maiga said. “However, I still appreciate the art and think it should be shared with the whole school. So we decided to create a club that embodies that.”

Maiga explained the challenges that BSE encountered in the process of launching the club.

“The biggest issue was finding a space to perform and convincing the athletics department or others in charge of these performances to join us,” Maiga said. “What we’re doing is technically taking white space, which was kind of like our mission and what we wanted to do. There aren’t many performances during homecoming that have Black people dancing or have some of our cultures, and we wanted to change

that.”

BSE Vice President Muhamadou Jobarteh ‘25 said the support they received from the Cornell athletics department has been extremely helpful to getting the club started.

“They were extremely supportive — 1,000 percent. They can’t wait for us to perform. We had to reach out to them, and anything that we said, they made sure was finalized,” Jobarteh said.

According to members of BSE, uniforms play a significant role in majorette ensembles, and BSE’s lack of uniforms due to inadequate funding is a current barrier.

“Getting our uniforms is also a battle we are figuring out because we will not perform without uniforms,”

Maiga said. “[Uniforms] are something we need to not only legitimize our team but also make sure that all of Cornell knows who we are.”

Nonetheless, BSE remains hopeful as they reveal their plans to work through funding issues.

“We will be taking donations and starting a GoFundMe or something like that, which will be through a link on our Instagram. [We are] also [planning] different types of fundraisers,” Jobarteh said. “We’re thinking about having events where people can come and see what we do.”

While they experienced unexpected obstacles, BSE has found confidence through the success of their auditioning process.

“We had 40 applicants and accepted 12 dancers. We were excited because our [recruiting] promotions weren’t as great as we wanted them to be,” Maiga said. “We are still learning the process of running a club, so we are making many mistakes, but we had a ton of auditionees.”

BSE freshman representative Aleeka Prophet ‘26 reflected on BSE’s impact on the cultural community and Cornell.

“With being a freshman representative, you get to see how you can also have an opportunity to be a part of a club and do something meaningful for the community and Cornell, being that BSE is a club that wants to bring young women together and build a sisterhood, a bond and the ability to express ourselves through a form of dance,” Prophet said. www.cornellsun.com

Erica Yirenkyi can be reached at emy28@cornell.edu.

“We’re thinking about having events where people can come and see what we do.”

Muhamadou Jobarteh ’25

& & Atomic Heart is an Unpolished Gem &

When the first teaser of Atomic Heart was dropped back in July 2017, the first impressions of the game appeared to show great potential — a Bioshock -esque, charming role playing game of another apocalyptic world, filled with wacky but cool retro-futuristic technology and hostile killer robots (because who doesn’t love fighting killer robots?) With every trailer that the developer, Mundfish, released, the more the hype around the game grew. From a fairly barebone alternate universe RPG, the trailers began to show a game rich in lore and world building, teasing jaw-dropping sceneries of a futuristic-looking Soviet Union and fascinating, uniquely designed robots. When the game finally released on Feb. 21, the hype was at an all time high. But now, nearly a month later, what happened to Atomic Heart?

The game is set in an alternate universe in the midst of the Cold War, with the protagonist, military investigator P-3, sent on a mission by the Soviet Union to discover what went wrong at the secret experimental Facility 3826. Set in 1955, the game is filled with everything one would expect from developers that were heavily inspired by the Bioshock series, and boy does it deliver — the Soviets, in a burst of technological advancement, created “Polymer,” a liquidized programmable module, as well as a network of artificial intelligence called the “Kollektiv 1.0” that connected a massive population of service and labor robots. It is during the launch of an updated network, the “Kollektiv 2.0”, that everything goes awry.

Atomic Heart is undeniably brilliant, albeit a little unpolished. The graphics are amazing, just absolutely stunning. The different environments look incredible, but the futuristic city in particular is an experience of its own, and if you own a GeForce RTX graphics card, the game is downright uncanny with its realism. Customization within the game is plentiful, with a ton of different weapon mods and choices, so players are guaranteed variability and near endless amounts of exploration. The boss fights are fun and different, with each of them possessing unique fighting styles and robot designs, so you can stare at each of them with awe as they brutally charge at P-3. The best feature of the game, however, is the main gameplay feature of Atomic Heart — a glove on P-3’s left hand with an AI partner installed within it. Not only does the glove utilize polymer

technology for various combat abilities, but the looting mechanic of the game is by far the best out of all the games that rely on loot to progress. Instead of having to dig through drawers and bins by interacting with them or clicking on items individually, the glove uses telekinesis to vacuum all the lootable items in its vicinity directly into your inventory. This not only relieves players of having to perform the arduous task of looting in every room, but also provides a fun interaction every time you do it.

That said, Atomic Heart definitely has some drawbacks. Particular models of regular killer robots are very common, and as result they can be a nuisance at times. Certain gun modding mechanics are also somewhat poorly designed, with an unintuitive user interface making it very difficult to find the menu to attach the modifications — thankfully, they’re not super essential to the gameplay. The dialogue at times is also very, very cringey; to keep things brief, Atomic Heart would have benefited greatly by having a silent protagonist. Furthermore, the open world aspect that many looked forward to was almost great, except for one detail: cameras and drones are everywhere, and every couple minutes P-3 gets chased by a horde of robots with no way of stopping the continuous onslaught. While yes, this is definitely a very realistic and immersive experience, it would be nice to explore the map a little more without being engaged in combat almost all the time.

Aside from the base game, Atomic Heart is a playground for modders. Although it is still a very new game, players can expect great replayability as netizens put out new third party content, and people who were disappointed that the game lacked a very particular six hour cutscene can be rest assured that someone out there will undoubtedly make it sooner or later, making your $59.99 well worth it.

BRIAN LU STAFF WRTER

COURTES¥ OF MUNDFISH

Brian Lu is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at brl6222@cornell.edu.

The Corne¬

Daniel Bernstein Feel the Bern

Daniel Bernstein (he/him) is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at dgb222@cornell.edu. Feel the Bern runs alternate Tursdays this semester.

You Should Love Ithaca

I’m not a hateful person. I make that a point of pride; I try my best to be easy going with the people who irk me, I’m not too picky of an eater and I don’t often complain about the songs I may find annoying. But there’s one thing that absolutely shakes me to my core and burns me down to my wits’ end. It leaves a rotten, dirty taste in my mouth and I have to wash my ears with soap every time I hear about it. There’s nothing I hate like when Cornellians don’t love Ithaca.

I know, I know. There’s hypocrisy in complaining about complaining. But before I’m labeled a hypocrite in the Facebook comments, allow me to take the soapbox. If I, as an old wise senior, may leave any parting message to you youngins, you children who will roam this city after I’m gone, let it be this: love this place. Appreciate it and everything it has to offer.

For starters, appreciate the weather (I’m looking at you West Coasters). The worst part of the winter is not the lake effect snow, or the biting cold or the sun setting at 4:30 pm (although I admit that’s a tough one to beat) — it’s the complaining.

What I love about Ithaca’s winters — what I love about all of Ithaca’s seasons, for that matter — is their intensity. Here, more so than any place I’ve ever been, the seasons feel strong and lifelike. The winters, yes, they’re cold and dark and brutal. But when a sheet of snow covers these streets, all of a sudden you forget any world where it wasn’t there. You can’t imagine life without it. It feels permanent, but not in a bad way. It’s ever-present. It’s pristine, powerful and placid.

The other seasons are the same. When spring blooms and you see the pink redbud trees lining the streets and feel the sun on the back of your neck for the first time in months, the memories of winter disappear. The smells of flowers or rain are almost tangible; you can practically feel them brush against your nose. Any other season is immediately forgotten.

Summer in Ithaca is characterized by the rush of the gorges, the thick greenery that swallows the hills and of course, easier parking. If you are so lucky as to visit Ithaca in the summertime, or God willing stay here for a summer, you’ll find the weeping willows hanging over your barbecue to be your friend for life.

The fall just tastes distinct. “No more the fragrant blooms of spring”, writes the late Ithacan poet Gene Endres, in his poem In the Fall I Dreamed of Apples; instead he reminds us to taste sharp air and blue sky. For a few months, apples and pumpkins are the staple crops of the Finger Lakes and the foliage lasts forever.

I won’t pretend like I don’t get the frustrations of winter. But Ithaca is doing its best! The beautiful bitter winters go hand in hand with the aromatic springs, the peaceful summers and the heavenly falls. Ithaca, however, has much more to offer than the weather.

For one thing, this city is pretty damn fun. Some of my favorite experiences are entirely void of Cornell: dancing at the

Ithaca Night Bazaar down where the farmers market is and exploring the various Commons festivals — be them applebased or chili-based or anything else. The downtown bars are fun with different crowds from your Level-B usuals, the restaurants outside of collegetown are delicious and fresh and the parks (there are plenty more than just Stewart) are begging to be played in. The vintage shopping and antiquing scene in this city is incredible and fun, the murals and local art scene are beautiful and the State Theater regularly has outstanding performances.

Local Ithacans are among the kindest people one can meet. I’ve made a darts coach out of a friendly regular at the Westy, I’ve been invited to holiday celebrations at the Tibetan monastery and I’ve had wonderful interactions just walking around the streets of Southside or Northside.

I remember one sunny summer afternoon, walking down 1st Street near Gimme! Coffee and Cascadilla Creek. I saw kids excitedly digging through a trash can, and at first I was worried; then I saw

them pull out balls and games and even a pogo stick, and I saw the cardboard sign on the can that read “Neighborhood Toys and Activities! Return in 1 day. Enjoy!” There’s a beautiful and welcoming sense of community in Ithaca, and it lies just under the nose of most Cornellians. Hiding in plain sight.

The countless activities to do in this city and the kindness of its residents I hope aren’t anything new for most readers. Nevertheless, after almost four years on campus, I find that many of my peers haven’t branched out. I still hear people call our town “Shithaca” or rag on Ithacans and call them weird townies or other names.

Frankly, I can’t stand it. I think it comes from an elitist closed-mindedness that persists in the brains of too many Cornellians. There are a lot of people who come here for school but wouldn’t ever consider living in a place like this; they’d gladly step over Ithacans on their way to a post-grad urban paradise.

It’s easy to open your mind and explore outside the bubble that is Cornell. Ithaca will welcome you should you choose to explore. You’ll find kind-hearted people, wondrous adventures and mysteries that you never would have factored into your “Colleges: Pros and Cons” list as a senior in high school. Plus, maybe it’ll help you think about the weather differently — that’s always a positive.

Diary 1

Sudoku Puzzle 1945

WORLD WINE

Fill in the empty cells, one number in each, so that each column, row, and region contains the numbers 1-9 exactly once. Each number in the solution therefore occurs only once in each of the three “directions,” hence the “single numbers” implied by the puzzle’s name. (Rules from wikipedia.org/wiki/ Sudoku)

Daddy

26 APARTMENT FOR RENT

3 Bedroom Apartment Available for the 2023-2024 School Year beginning August 1st. Just a short (5-7 minute) drive to CU campus and located on a main bus line with easy access to all of Ithaca. This property includes ALL utilities (heat, electric, weather and internet) garbage, off street parking and snow removal. Laundry is available on site. This property rents for $ 2,175 a month, with no additional cost. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a tour contact us by email: renting@ithacaLS.com. Please visit our website www.ithacalivingsolutions.com for photos and more information.

1 Bedroom Apartment Downtown Available Aug. 1 (or as early as June 1) Ideal for grad, staff or working professional. Upstairs apartment with full bath, living room, kitchen, bedroom and porch overlooking street. Quiet downtown area on Cascadila St. Bus stop in front of house to Commons, then CU campus. No undergrads, no smokers, no pets. References required. $1025/mo plus util. Info or appointment: email gm27@cornell.edu

cornellsun.com

Diary 2

Diary 3

Wrestling

Two National Champions for Cornell Diakomihalis makes history, wins fourth national championship

By NATE KRACKELER Sun Staff Writer

As senior Yianni Diakomihalis got off the mat after winning his fourth national championship last weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it was clear he’d been in that position before. Unlike many of the day’s other champions who excitedly celebrated their victories, Diakomihalis simply shook his opponent’s hand, thanked the referee and walked off the mat, before hugging his teammates and coaches.

While this lack of celebration was a demonstration of Diakomihalis’s experience, it downplayed the significance of his achievement. After taking down Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso in the finals, Diakomihalis became only the fifth wrestler in NCAA history to win four titles. Fellow four-time national champion and Cornell wrestling icon Kyle Dake ’11 was among the first to congratulate him — the wrestler that Diakomihalis credits with being one of his biggest inspirations.

“Kyle was my hero,” said Diakomihalis in a post-match interview with ESPN. “He paved the way for me, not just by winning, but by being the man that he is.”

Despite having one of the most dominant careers in NCAA history — finishing 115-2 overall — his tournament run was not without obstacles. After easy victories in the first two rounds, Diakomihalis faced a major test in the quarterfinals in the form of Iowa’s Max Murin, but dispatched him 8-7.

After another tough match in the semifinals, Diakomihalis actually trailed 3-1 in the third and final round. However, Diakomihalis domi-

nated the rest of the period to win 8-3 to set up a finals meeting with Sasso.

The champion controlled the bout, constantly attacking his opponent. Although he let a great chance to pin Sasso slip through his fingers when he failed to convert a cradle, the veteran Diakomihalis never looked close to losing, and took the championship, 4-2.

While Diakomihalis’s victory seemed inevitable at points, Cornell’s other national champion, junior Vito Arujau, was a bit of a surprise for many.

ing control of his opponents before using his leverage to pick them up and slam them down on the mat.

After a competitive third round matchup against Virginia Tech’s Sam Latona, who had handed Arujau his only loss of the season, Arujau faced off against Fix in the semifinals. Fix, who lost in the national championship match his three previous seasons, was wrestling in front of a hometown crowd in Tulsa and looked determined to finally achieve his championship dreams.

Arujau’s strong performances throughout the tournament also earned him the NCAA Outstanding Wrestler Award. A student of the game, he attributes much of his success to a strong mentality.

“I believe my mentality plays a large role in all my wins. It’s a source of pride for me as a competitor, and I believe it’s only getting stronger,” Arujau said. “Wrestling is a sport where one imposes their will, so a strong mentality can be the deciding factor in a lot of matches.”

Aside from their two champions, na-

Despite a 20-1 record, Arujau only earned the number three seed in the 133-pound bracket, which featured two undefeated wrestlers — three-time national finalist Daton Fix of Oklahoma State and Penn State’s two-time national champion Roman Bravo-Young.

Arujau commented on his very difficult weight class before the tournament.

“One hundred and thirty-three is definitely a competitive weight this year. There will be a ton of high level wrestling on display,” Arujau said. “The sport of wrestling has taught me that I can never be certain… but what I am sure of is that my training and preparations have made me ready to win.”

Arujau breezed through the early rounds of the tournament. Showcasing his superior strength, he scored many of his points by gain-

This determination may have been Fix’s downfall, as he came out very aggressive in the first round, looking to finish the match early. Arujau was ready and able to survive a dangerous attack and secure a takedown, before using Fix’s momentum against him to take a 4-0 lead through a reversal. After a cagey second round, Arujau once again punished Fix’s attacks in the third, dominating the round and winning the match, 11-3.

In the finals, Arujau faced Roman Bravo-Young, who was coming off back-to-back national championships.

Bravo-Young rode a 56-match winning streak into the finals, the longest in Division 1 wrestling. Arujau was unphased, however, and looked strong from start to finish. He won the match through his speed and intelligence, as he repeatedly circled his opponent, waiting for him to change his stance before darting forward and attacking Bravo-Young’s legs.

After two rounds, Arujau led 8-2, and a disciplined third round performance gave Bravo-Young no chance to win the match through a pin, as Arujau took the match and the title, 10-4.

“I believe my mentality plays a large role in all my

It’s a source of pride for me as a competitor, and I believe it’s only getting stronger...Wrestling is a sport where one imposes their will, so a strong mentality can be the deciding factor in a lot of matches.”

tionals was an excellent end to the season for Cornell wrestling, placing third as a team. Sophomore Chris Foca also took third place in his division, earning All-American honors, along with junior Jacob Cardenas, who earned eighthplace and All-American honors. And head coach Michael Grey ’11 earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors.

Wrestling powerhouse | Cornell produced two national champions and earned third-place as a team at the national championships.

Nate Krackeler can be reached at nkrackeler@cornellsun.com.

“Kyle was my hero...he paved the way for me, not just by winning, but by being the man that he is.”

Yianni Diakomihalis ’23

wins.

Vito Arujau ’24