Columbia University-Barnard College New York, NY

Columbia University Class of 2015

Austin Akins

Matoaca High, VA

2011 4th VA AAA States (47-5 record)

2011 1st Central Region

2010 7th VA AAA States (46-9 record)

2010 2nd Central Region

2010 7th Super 32

Career: 142-40 with 75 pins

Expected College Weight: 184/197

Wyatt Baker

Servite High School, CA

6th place State of California

Southern Section Masters Champion and Third

2X CIF Champion, Runner-up and 2011 Outstanding Wrestler

3X Trinity League Champion and Outstanding Wrester

3X OCWCA All-County Team

2X OCWCA All-Star Participant

5-Counties Champion

Expected College Weight: HWT

Eric Fajardo

Boonton High School, NJ

Freshman Year: District 9 Champ, 2nd in county

Sophomore Year: County Champion, District 9 Champ, Region 3 Champ

Junior Year: 2nd in County, District 9 2nd place, Region 3 2nd place, 4th place in the State

Senior Year: 2nd in County, District 9 2nd place, Region 3 2nd place, 4th place in the State

In Judo, 7 time National Champion, 2 time High School National Champ, 3rd in the Pan-American Games, 3-time 3rd place finisher in the US Open Tournament

Expected College Weight: 149

Shane Hughes

Arrowhead High School, WI

2011 Wisconsin State Runner-Up, 2010 Wisconsin State 5th

2011 Conference, Regional, and Section Champion

2011 Cheesehead, 3rd

2010 Cheesehead, 6th

2010 Wisconsin State Champion Freestyle, Junior 189

2010 Wisconsin State Champion Greco, Junior 189

2010 FloNational All-American, 6th

2010 Member Wisconsin Junior Duals National Championship Greco Team

2010 Member Wisconsin Junior Duals Freestyle Team (4th)

2008 Georgia State Champion Freestyle

2008 Georgia State Champion Greco

2008 Georgia National Greco/Freestyle Cadet Duals Team

Expected College Weight: 174/184

Matt Idelson

Garnet Valley High School, PA

Super 32 Champion

2x Beast of the East Finalist, 1x Champion

PIAA States 5th Place

Expected College Weight: 197

Ryan Ponte

Northfield Mount Herman School, MA

4 Time Class A league Champion.  4 Time New England Finalist and 2X Champion.  4 Time Prep All American.  159-24 career record with 102 pins.

Expected College Weight: 133

Chad Ryan

North High School, IA

State Placing: 4-time Iowa State place winner

3rd--2011

1st--2010

4th--2009

2nd--2008

Career record:

178-13

Expected College Weight: 157

Elijah Sullivan

Iowa City West High School, IA

3x Iowa place winner

2x Iowa State runner-up

3rd place Iowa State

Junior Greco National Champ

7th Greco Junior Fila Nationals

Expected College Weight: 141

Ben Villaret

Monsignor Farrell High School, NY/St. Benedict's Preparatory School, NJ

3x New York State qualifier

4th in Junior Nationals in Greco

2011 2nd in Prep Nationals

Expected College Weight: 165
David and Michael Barry Establish Wrestling Endowment at Coloumbia Univeristy

Gift Will Support an Assistant Wrestling Coach Position
HOBOKEN, NJ - Real estate developers David Barry and Michael Barry have announced a new endowment at their alma mater, Columbia University, which will support the addition of an assistant coaching position.

The David and Michael Barry Assistant Coach of Wrestling will be hired this year through the financial support of the Barrys' $1 million endowment -- the first endowment specifically dedicated to an assistant coaching position in the history of Columbia University athletics.

The Barry brothers, principal owners of Ironstate Development Company, one of the region's largest development and management firms, are both former members of the Columbia wrestling team who have kept in close contact with the program over the years, attending matches regularly, providing professional internships for student-athletes and supporting the team financially. Michael, a Class of 1989 graduate, was a four-year letter winner for the Lions. David, a Class of 1987 graduate, was a first-team All-Ivy League selection as a sophomore, a two-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association place winner and Captain of the team in his senior year.

Today, David Barry is the Team Leader for USA Wrestling for the 2012 Olympics, a member of the Board of Governors for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and a Board Member of Beat the Streets, a program designed to expand and develop wrestling in the New York City Metropolitan area from youth through the Olympic level.

"Wrestling for Columbia helped me develop the skills and the confidence necessary to be successful in life," David said. "It was one of my most cherished experiences and I want to make sure current and future wrestlers at Columbia have the same opportunities I did. Hiring an assistant coach will help these student-athletes reach their full potential and will go a long way toward developing a championship wrestling program at Columbia."

The Barrys believe their gift will improve Columbia's ability to compete at the highest level and enhance the undergraduate athletic experience for all Columbia wrestlers.

"Having a dedicated assistant coach can greatly improve a program's chances of success," Michael said. "By providing Coach Buckley and the athletic department with access to an important resource, we hope to have a lasting impact on the wrestling program."
Columbia Completes Weekend Sweep With 24-9 Win Over Brown

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Columbia wrestling team won seven bouts, including four by major decision as it defeated Brown 24-9 in Providence R.I. After the weekend sweep, the Lions finish the dual portion of its season 9-6 overall, and 3-2 in the Ivy League.

Columbia jumped out to a 7-0 lead with wins at 125 and 133 pounds.
Penn Gottfried got things started for the Lions with a 5-3 decision over T.J. Popolizio, and Kyle Gilchrist followed that up with with a12-3 major decision over Billy Waterson.

Grant Overshier snapped Columbia's run when he narrowly edged Josh Houldsworth 2-0 at 141 pounds, but the Lions bounced back to win the next three.
Steve Santos had a major decision over Giusseppi Lanzi, defeating him 9-1 at 149 pounds. His classmate Jake O'Hara followed that with an 8-2 victory over Patrick LuBuz at 157 pounds before 165-pounder Eren Civan downed Dave Foxen 7-4 to put Columbia ahead 17-3.

The Bears cut their deficit to eight with back-to-back wins at 174 and 184 to make it 17-9, but that was as close as the home team came as the Lions won the final two matches of the afternoon.

Mike Pushpak dominated Brandon Shull at 197 pounds, defeating him 20-9. Kevin Lester pushed his win-streak to 15 with a 12-3 major decision over Tyler Cowman to close out the match.

Columbia will have a week off from competition in order to prepare for the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships set for March 5-6 at Bucknell.

Columbia 24, Brown 9
125 - Penn Gottfried (C) dec. T.J. Popolizio, 5-3
133 - Kyle Gilchrist (C) major dec. Billy Waterson, 12-3
141 - Grant Overcashier (B) dec. Josh Houldsworth, 2-0
149 - Steve Santos (C) major dec. Giuseppi Lanzi, 9-1
157 - Jake O'Hara (C) dec.Patrick LuBuz, 8-2
165 - Eren Civan (C) dec. Dave Foxen, 7-4
174 - Jeff Lemmer (B) dec. Stephen West, 4-2
184 - Ziad Kharbush (B) dec. Nick Mills, 3-2
197 - Mike Pushpak (C) major dec. Brandon Shull, 20-9
Hwt. - Kevin Lester (C) major dec. Tyler Cowman, 12-3
Columbia Downs Princeton 32-8 at New York Athletic Club

NEW YORK, N.Y. ˜ Before an enthusiastic crowd filling the New York Athletic Club gymnasium, Columbia came from behind to defeat Princeton in a key Ivy League wrestling match, 32-8, on wrestling's homecoming. The Lions won eight of the 10 bouts to improve to 7-5 overall, and evened its Ivy League record to 1-1.

The Tigers took an early 8-3 lead after major decisions at 125 and 141, but Columbia went on to win the next seven matches en route to a hue Ivy League win.

Kyle Gilchrist put the Lions on the board with a 9-4 decision over Tony Comunale at 133 pounds. His classmate, Shane Strumwasser used a six-point third period effort to earn a 10-2 major decision over Jason Ott at 149 pounds.

Columbia took its first lead in a dramatic win by Jake O‚Hara at 157 pounds, and never looked back. O‚Hara led 5-3 after the first period, but Daniel Kolodzik scored the only three points in the second to go ahead 6-5. The match was knotted at 6-6 off a penalty point against the Princeton wrestler, before O‚Hara went ahead on an escape to lead 7-6. Kolodzik reclaimed his lead on a takedown, but O‚Hara managed a late reversal with seconds remaining to make it 9-8, but with 1:27 in riding time for Kolodzik, the match was forced to overtime. It was then that O‚Hara scored a quick takedown for the sudden victory win.

Eren Civan was up next at 165 pounds, and jumped out to a 6-2 lead after the first. He pushed his lead to 18-4 in the second before pinning Seth Hazelton halfway through the third (5:47) to put Columbia ahead 16-8.

A forfeit at 174 pounds was followed by a 6-1 win by Nick Mills at 184 pounds over Travis Erdman, before Mike Pushpak won a close 7-5 battle over Dan Santoro at 197. In the final match of the evening, Kevin Lester dominated from the opening whistle, and went on the claim a 13-4 major decision over Charles Fox at heavyweight.

Following the match, David and Michael Barry were honored in a reception celebrating their commitment to establishing a new endowment in support of an Assistant Wrestling Coach Position.

Columbia (7-5, 1-1 Ivy League) will close out the home portion of it schedule on Saturday, February 12 in University Gymnasium when it hosts Penn at 3 p.m. Prior to the match, the 1961 Ivy League wrestling championship team will be honored.

Columbia 32, Princeton 8
125 - #18 Garrett Frey (P) major dec. Penn Gottfried, 12-3
133 ˆ Kyle Gilchrist (C) dec. Tony Comunale, 9-4
141 ˆ Zach Bintliff (P) major dec. Josh Houldsworth, 12-3
149 ˆ Shane Strumwasser (C) major dec. Jason Ott, 10-2
157 ˆ Jake O‚Hara (C) dec. Daniel Kolodzik, 11-9 (sv)
165 ˆ Eren Civan (C) pinned Seth Hazelton in 5:47
174 ˆ Stephen West (C) wins by forfeit
184 ˆ Nick Mills (C) dec. Travis Erdman, 6-1
197 ˆ Mike Pushpak (C) dec. Dan Santoro, 7-5
Hwt. - #20 Kevin Lester (C) major dec. Charles Fox, 13-4
50 Years Later: A Look Back at Columbia's 1961 Ivy League Wrestling Championship Team

The 1961 Columbia wrestling season was not supposed to be anything special. In 1960, the team had gone 5-5-1, and 2-4 in the Ivy League. Though it was the first relatively successful season for the Lions in almost a decade, and the team was a young one, that didn't mean that Columbia wrestling got any respect from those in the know.

Joe Whritenour, editor of the Bethlehem, Pa. Globe-Times, predicted Cornell to win the Ivy League title, followed by Yale, Harvard, Brown, Penn, Princeton and finally, Columbia.

But under the guidance of a new coach, the Lions didn't see that article as a slight: they saw it as motivation. New head coach Stan Thornton, who had taken over the team in the offseason, placed the article written by Whritenour front and center in the locker room for all to see.

Under the article, Thornton wrote: "There is no doubt in my mind that this is a wrong evaluation - let's keep working hard to prove Joe Whritenour wrong."

For Bob Dickstein, the 157-pound starter for the 1961 Lions, this is a classic example of the type of coach Thornton was.

"On the mat, Coach Thornton had that intangible quality of being able to motivate us," Dickstein said. "Off the mat, he was an exceptionally nice person, very approachable with no ego. The biggest advantage to his coaching style was that he encouraged each wrestler to develop his own style, thus encouraging a wrestler to perfect the areas that he was naturally good at."

In the five years prior to the 1960-61 season, Columbia won a combined total of five Ivy League matches. Under new guidance, people were ready to see the team move in a different direction in the standings: up. The team had a solid lineup, and finishing in the middle of the Ivy League seemed to be a logical goal for the Lions.

But logic had nothing to do with what the 1961 squad set out to achieve. The team started off with a pair of duals against local teams CCNY and Brooklyn Poly, easily defeating both 24-6 and 33-3, respectively.  Columbia suffered its first setback on December 17 when it lost to a talented Rutgers team 23-6. But the Lions put that behind them, and were ready to kick off the Ivy League portion of the schedule.

Columbia hit the ground running, and set the tone early in the season with a decisive 22-8 victory over Princeton. They followed that up with a thumping of Brown, 26-9, two weeks later. By this point, people started to take notice of the noise the Lions were making.

After falling in a tough match to Army, Columbia once again bounced back, with two critical conference wins. This time the victims were the Crimson and the Bulldogs. The Lions defeated Harvard 21-12 on February 2, and Yale 17-12 in a battle on February 11. With the pair of wins, Columbia took over control of first place in the Ivy League with a conference-best 4-0 record, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown against Cornell in a battle of two unbeaten teams.

The Lions were able to notch one more win before the big Cornell match, as Columbia pulled out a win over Colgate, narrowly edging the Raiders 15-14. The team's ability to come out on top in a close battle would prove invaluable the following week.

The stage was set. 4-0 Columbia versus 2-0 Cornell, in a battle of unbeaten Ivy League teams that was slated to take place February 25, in Columbia's University Gymnasium. Columbia was becoming the "Cinderella team" of the Ivy League, surpassing everyone's expectations, and putting together its best record since the 1932-33 season. Cornell, on the other hand, was looking for its fifth-straight Ivy League title, after winning 28 consecutive conference matches.

On the morning of February 25, Coach Thornton had something to show his wrestlers: an Ivy League championship medal, leant to him by Irv DeKoff, the Columbia fencing coach at the time. The team now literally had their eye on the prize, and it was go-time.

After Columbia jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, the two teams went back and forth, and eventually the score was knotted at 12-12 after Columbia's Bob Asack had an 8-2 win over Philip Oberlander at 191 pounds. The scene couldn't have been scripted better: the match came down to the heavyweight bout, and this time it was Bob's brother, Lou, who took to the mat.

Lou fell in a 3-0 hole to begin the match, but the 6'6", 235-pounder managed a reversal, followed by a half-nelson and crotch hold. The sudden swing in momentum drew hundreds of fans to the edge of the mat, just in time for Asack to pin William Werst in 7:18, marking the first time all season a Cornell wrestler had been pinned. As if that wasn't enough, not only did he win the bout, he sealed the 17-12 team win for the Lions, ultimately giving the team at least a share of the Ivy League crown.

Fifty years later, that overwhelming sense of emotion is still there for Dickstein when he recalls that unforgettable match.

"The first two words that hit me are ecstasy and euphoria," Dickstein said. "This is especially true because all of the experts on Ivy League wrestling gave us no chance at the beginning of the season. But some time during the middle of the season, we were gaining confidence and honestly believed we could win. And then before a packed gymnasium we pulled it off and the ecstasy and euphoria set in."

"We're Ivy League champions, and nobody's going to take that away from us!" exclaimed Bob Asack from the locker room. "We're going down to Penn next week and wrap up that title."

Asack was right, but in order to win the title outright, the Lions had one more fierce competitor in their way - the Penn Quakers.

On March 4 the team traveled to Philadelphia and once again the fate of the Lions fell in the hands of the Asack brothers. In a must win situation, both Bob and Lou picked up decision wins, giving Columbia its first Ivy League wrestling title in program history.

It was a storybook ending to a Cinderella season. So how do you describe the team that shocked the Ivy wrestling world back in 1961?

"Most of the wrestlers on that team came from winning traditions, which transformed to a positive psyche of the team," Dickstein said. "The group of guys was special, in that each wrestler was a good guy and we really enjoyed each other. There were no jealousies. We were rooting for each other, and all had great senses of humor, which translated into a lot of fun."

Fun. Historic. Unexpected.  Special. 1961, a year Columbia wrestling fans will never forget.
Columbia Establishing Endowment of Assistant Coach of Wrestling Position

With respect to our memories of Columbia Wrestling, we look back on a great many everyday experiences, both in the gymnasium and outside. But more importantly, by keeping active with Columbia Wrestling, we have the good fortune of experiencing new memories every year.

-David and Michael Barry
Family can mean so many things to so many people. For David and Michael Barry, they were actual brothers on the Columbia wrestling team in the mid-1980's. But beyond that, they were also part of the Columbia wrestling family, a family they have stayed in close contact with over the years.

Columbia University has announced that David Barry '87CC and Michael Barry '89CC have generously committed to establishing a new endowment in support of an Assistant Wrestling Coach Position.  This endowment will add significant stature to our wrestling program and will allow us to retain and recruit assistant coaches of the highest caliber which will pay tremendous benefits for the student-athletes in our wrestling program.  

"We are thrilled to announce that we will be establishing the Michael and David Barry Assistant Coach of Wrestling position," said Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education.  "This endowment will be the first endowment of an assistant coach position in the department.  We thank David and Michael for their tremendous generosity.  Their leadership gift provides the critical resources necessary to build a championship wrestling program."

"To say Dave and Mike have been instrumental in the progress of our wrestling program would be an understatement," said Brendan Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling.  "Since the day I arrived on campus in 2000, they have financially supported us, provided professional internships for our student-athletes, and demonstrated a strong presence at our wrestling events.  We are incredibly grateful for them taking a big step to endow the first assistant coaching position."

Their partnership on the wrestling mat continued after graduating from Columbia, as both brothers continue to work together, this time on a new team. David is President of Ironstate Development Company, while Michael is President of Ironstate Holdings LLC, (and Applied Property Company), both part of a privately held real estate development and management company based in Hoboken, New Jersey. The company engages in the development of large-scale residential and hotel projects in the Northeast United States.

Michael was a four-year letter-winner for the Lions while David was a first-team All-Ivy League selection as a sophomore, a two-time EIWA place winner, and team captain as a senior. For both of them, wrestling was a huge part of what defined their college experiences.

"Wrestling for Columbia was the cornerstone of my college experience," explained David. "The dedication and commitment required to be a varsity athlete at Columbia greatly enriched the college experience for me and provided me with skills and confidence for being successful in life.  Giving back to the program helps ensure that future students will have similar meaningful opportunities."

Endowed coaching positions are so valuable because in addition to showing continued alumni support for the program, they provide resources that will allow Columbia to continue to build a championship wrestling program.  This gift made by the Barrys, which marks the second wrestling coach endowment in the last six years, will truly have a lasting impact on the program, and will create a legacy that will continue to support Columbia wrestling now and in perpetuity. 

"I am appreciative of the opportunities and experiences Columbia afforded me," explained Michael. "Part of what makes Columbia one of the world's great universities is the caliber and diversity of its offerings. By contributing to Columbia, specifically to the wrestling program, I can help to ensure that the institution will continue to provide the highest level undergraduate experience, with specific focus on the facets of Columbia that are most important to me."
Columbia Wrestling 2010-11 Schedule

NEW YORK - Head coach Brendan Buckley has announced to 2010-11 wrestling schedule. The Lions will travel to five states over the course of the season, and host a total of nine teams in University Gymnasium.

"We are happy with the schedule that we put together for the 2010-11 season," said Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling.
"It is challenging yet balanced and should accomplish our goal of peaking our team for the post-season by pitting us against some of the best teams and individuals in the country. This will put us in a good place to qualify several individuals to the NCAA Tournament in March."

The 2010-11 edition of Columbia wrestling gets underway on the road with the team's annual trip to the Bearcat Open in Binghamton, N.Y. on November 14. The following weekend the Lions travel south to square off against Gardner-Webb, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and The Citadel at the Florida Duals in Orlanda, Fla.

Next up, the team returns to upstate New York for the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y. on November 28 where the team will meet Virginia, George Mason and Rutgers. They will close out 2010 with the annual trip out west to the always competitive Las Vegas Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev., December 3-4.

The Lions open the new year by hosting a pair of duals in University Gym with Army in its home opener on January 7 and Binghamton on January 8.

After a tune-up at the New York State Tournament on January 22-23, Columbia returns to Morningside Heights for seven duals spread out over four days.

January 29 is an action-packed day as the Lions will face Millersville, Franklin & Marshall and Rider. One week later, Columbia opens Ivy League competition against the Big Red of Cornell on February 5. Next up is Princeton on February 11, followed by Penn and Drexel on the 12th.

The team closes out the dual portion of its season on the road when it travels to Harvard on February 18 and Brown on the 19th.

Columbia will then have a couple weeks to prepare for the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships (EIWA) set to take place in Lewisburg, Pa March 5-6. The season will conclude at the NCAA Championships, March 17-19 in Philadelphia, Pa.
Former University of Maryland All-American Wrestler Taylor Joins Columbia Wrestling Staff

Three-time All-American joins staff as volunteer assistant

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Former University of Maryland All-American wrestler Hudson Taylor has joined the coaching staff at Columbia as a volunteer assistant, the school announced today.

Taylor, a three-time All-American at 197 pounds from 2008-2010, will work primarily with the upper weights at Columbia.

"We are real happy to add Hudson Taylor, one of the nation's premiere 197 pounders over the last several years," said Brendan Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling at Columbia, in a release issued by the school. "As a three-time NCAA All-American, Hudson brings tremendous credentials with him, and will make an immediate impact on our upper weights. Furthermore, we believe he will be an incredible recruiting tool for us, as any upper-weight wrestler will be hard-pressed to find a better workout partner than Hudson."

During his time at Maryland, Taylor re-wrote the school's record books. He finished his career as the all-time winningest wrestler with 165 wins, the all-time pins leader with 87 and as a senior set the school single-season record with 24 pins. His 87 career pins rank fifth in NCAA history. Taylor is a two-time ACC champion at 197-pounds and became the first wrestler in school history to earn All-American honors three times.

Taylor also excelled off the mat, earning All-ACC Academic honors three times. He was named the ACC Wrestling Scholar-Athlete in 2008 and again in 2010 and was awarded the Weaver-James-Corrigan post-graduate scholarship this year.
Columbia 25, Brown 12

NEW YORK - The Columbia wrestling team ended the dual portion of its season on a high, defeating Brown 25-12 in front of a lively crowd in University Gym on Saturday, February 20. The Lions won seven of the 10 bouts to finish 8-10-1 and 2-3 in Ivy League action.

Despite Kyle Gilchrist winning the opening match at 125 pounds, Columbia found themselves trailing 9-3 entering the 149 pound match.
With the crowd behind them, the Lions came alive, winning six of the final seven bouts and outscoring the Bears 22-3 during that stretch.

Steve Santos sparked the run with a convincing 8-0 major decision win over Phil Marano. The Lions reclaimed the lead when his classmate Jake O'Hara picked up a decision at 157 over Bryan Tracy. After a scoreless first, O'Hara escaped and immediately countered with a takedown to open a 3-0 lead. He tacked on one final point after acquiring over three minutes of riding time.

Next to the mat was Eren Civan who battled to a scoreless first period with Jeff Lemmer at 165. Civan scored first by escaping in the second and expanded his lead to 5-0 on a takedown and nearfall, but Lemmer would battle his way back to even the match at 5-5. Civan scored one more takedown, and despite an escape by his opponent, Civan held on for an important 7-6 win.

Leading 4-0 entering the third period, Stephen West had two more takedowns and an additional point for riding time to defeat Jack Roberts 9-3 at 184 pounds. Brown picked up a win at 184 pounds to cut Columbia's run, but the Lions responded with two more victories to take the win.

Wrestling in his final match in University Gym, Lou Miller used everything he had to defeat Branden Stearns 5-4 at 197 pounds. Kevin Lester closed out the match in dramatic fashion, pinning Larry Otsuka in 2:17.

Columbia (8-10-1, 2-3 Ivy League) will have a week off before traveling to Bethlehem, Pa. for the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships, March 6-7.

Columbia 25, Brown 12
125 - Kyle Gilchrist (Columbia) dec. Greg Einfrank, 4-1
133 - Cort Choate (Brown) dec. Andrew Grabfelder, 4-2
141 - Zack Kulzycki (Brown) pinned Ryan Doyle, 2:57
149 - Steve Santos (Columbia) major dec. Phil Marano, 8-0
157 - Jake O'Hara (Columbia) dec. Bryan Tracy, 4-0
165 - Eren Civan (Columbia) dec. Jeff Lemmer, 7-6
174 - Stephen West (Columbia) dec. Jack Roberts, 9-3
184 - Bran Crudden (Brown) dec. Cary Aldrich, 6-2
197 - Lou Miller (Columbia) dec. Branden Strearns, 5-4
Hwt. - Kevin Lester (Columbia) pinned Larry Otsuka, 2:17
Columbia Downs George Mason, Falls to No. 3 Ohio State

NEW YORK - The Columbia wrestling team split a pair of duals in its home opener on Sunday, January 3. The Lions defeated George Mason 27-11 in the first match, but fell 37-0 to No. 3 Ohio State in the night cap.

The Lions held a slim one-point lead (12-11) over the Patriots after the first six bouts, but first-year Stephen West‚s sudden victory win at 174 pounds prompted four straight wins by Columbia, who went on to defeat George Mason, 27-11.

After the score was knotted at 8-8 after three exciting periods of wrestling, West scored a takedown early in the overtime period to defeat a talented Mendbagana Tovuujav, 10-8. That victory seemed to sway the momentum in favor of the Lions, as senior co-captain Cary Aldrich followed that up with a 4-0 win over Jimmy Webb.

Next up for Columbia at 197 pounds was senior Lou Miller. In his first dual action of the season, Miller had a huge 7-3 win over Bill Widener to push the Lions lead to 21-11 heading into the final bout.
Sophomore heavyweight Kevin Lester needed just 1:44 to pin Hunter Manspile, sealing the second dual win of the young season for Columbia.

The two teams split the first six bouts of the match as Kyle Gilchrist (125) decisioned Brian Wright, 10-4, Jake O‚Hara (141) pinned Shohei Takagi in 2:22, and senior co-captain Matt Dunn (157) defeated Aaron Keeton, 6-3. The Patriots earned a technical fall at 133 and a pair of decisions at 149 and 165.

For their second match of the day, the Lions faced off against the Buckeyes of Ohio State, currently ranked third in the nation. The Buckeyes, who defeated George Mason 46-0 in the second match of the day, won all 10 bouts against the Lions, for a final score of 37-0.

Columbia kept things interesting against one of the top teams in the country, as the four of the six final matches were decided by three points or less. Dunn lost a tight 4-2 battle to Sean Nemec at 157 pounds, and Civan and Aldrich both dropped 5-2 decisions at 165 and 184, respectively.

The most exciting match of the dual was at 197 pounds between Miller and Cody Magrum. After each wrestler earned a single point for an escape, it appeared as though the match was headed to overtime. But Magrum scored a takedown in the final seconds of the third period, defeating Miller 3-1.

Columbia (2-2-1) returns to action next weekend when it takes on Eastern Michigan, No. 25 University of Pittsburgh, and Waynesburg at the Pitt Duals. The team will then face Duquesne in a dual meet later that evening.

Columbia -27, George Mason - 11
125 ˆ Kyle Gilchrist (Columbia) dec. Brian Wright, 10-4 (3-0)
133 ˆ Zachory Huxford (George Mason) tech. fall Robert Dyar, 17-2 (3-5)
141 ˆ Jake O‚Hara (Columbia) pinned Shohei Takagi, 2:22 (9-5)
149 ˆ Brandon Bucher (George Mason) dec. Steve Santos, 8-4 (9-8)
157 ˆ Matt Dunn (Columbia) dec. Aaron Keeton, 6-3 (12-8)
165 ˆ Frankie McLaughlin (George Mason) dec. Eren Civan, 3-2 (12-11)
174 ˆStephen West (Columbia) dec. Mendbagana Tovuujav, 10-8 (SV)
184 ˆ Cary Aldrich (Columbia) dec. Jimmy Webb, 4-0
197 ˆ Lou Miller (Columbia) dec. Bill Widener, 7-3
Hwt. ˆ Kevin Lester (Columbia) pinned Hunter Manspile, 1:44

Columbia - 0, Ohio State - 37
125 ˆ Nikko Triggas (OSU) tech. fall Kyle Gilchrist, 17-0 (4:23)
133 ˆ Ian Paddock (OSU) pinned Robert Dyar, 1:11
141 ˆ #1 Reece Humphrey (OSU) tech. fall Jake O‚Hara, 25-10 (6:45)
149 ˆ #4 Lance Palmer (OSU) major dec. Steve Santos (Columbia), 20-6
157 ˆ Sean Nemec (OSU) dec. Matt Dunn, 4-2
165 ˆ #7 Colt Sponseller (OSU) dec. Eren Civan, 5-2
174 ˆ Dave Rella (OSU) dec. Stephen West, 9-3
184 ˆ T.C. Pendelton (OSU) dec. Cary Aldrich, 5-2
197 ˆ Cody Magrum (OSU) dec. Lou Miller, 3-1
Hwt. ˆ Corey Morrison (OSU) dec. Kevin Lester, 10-4
Columbia to Host No. 3 Ohio State, George Mason in January

NEW YORK Mark your calendars Columbia wrestling fans for January 3, 2010! The Lions will host a tri-meet in University Gymnasium for their 2009-10 home opener. Columbia will wrestle both George Mason and No. 3 The Ohio State University.

The Lions will first take to the mat against the Patriots of George Mason at 1 p.m., followed by George Mason against Ohio State at 3 p.m. In the nightcap, Columbia and the Buckeyes will battle it out at 4:30 p.m. No. 3 Ohio State, the runner-up to National Champion Iowa at the 2009 NCAA Championships, boasts six wrestlers in the top-20 national rankings, including top-ranked Reece Humphrey at 141 pounds.

Admission to the event is free. Contact Danny Spiegal at das2145@columbia.edu for more details.
Roman Fleszar Joins Columbia Coaching Staff

NEW YORK - Two-time All-American Roman Fleszar has joined the Columbia wrestling coaching staff, head coach Brendan Buckley announced today.

"We are very excited to have Roman Fleszar joining our staff," said Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling. "He grew up not too far from Columbia where he won two state titles for Kittatinny High School in New Jersey before he went on to be a two-time NCAA All-American at Hofstra University. We feel Roman has a tremendous amount of knowledge to share with the team."

Wrestling at 133 pounds, the Newton, N.J., native was a two-time All-American, placing seventh as a junior and fifth as a senior for the Pride. He was also a three-time East Coast Wrestling Association conference champion.

Fleszar arrives to Morningside Heights after coaching at Centenary College for one season. Prior to his stint with the Cyclones, Fleszar worked closely with the Stillwater-Fredon Youth Wrestling Club where he built and aligned a youth program focusing on training and technique.

"Roman will serve as a terrific role model and mentor for the young men on our team. We know he will have an immediate impact on our program and are eager for him to begin work immediately," added Buckley.

In addition to his two state titles at Kittatinny, Fleszar was a three-time state finalist and Beast of the East Champion as a senior.

A 2001 graduate of Hofstra, Fleszar majored in video/television with a minor in art history.
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