Columbia University-Barnard College New York, NY
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.
Columbia Class of 2013 Ranks in Top 25
NEW YORK ˆ Head coach Brendan Buckley has announced that a talented group of eight newcomers will take to the mat for the Lions next fall. This class was ranked #23 in the country by WIN Magazine as Columbia was one of two Ivy League schools to make the Top-25 rankings.
"The class of 2013 comes to us with an amazing amount of potential, said Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling.
„Considered one of the top 25 recruiting classes in the country, we believe this class is much better than it looks on paper. They bring a wealth of success, but more importantly have the work ethic, drive and mentality that it takes to be successful at this level. We expect this group of young wrestlers to come in and have an immediate impact on our team in both training and in competition."
The eight student-athletes hail from six different states including a pair from New Jersey and California.
The class of 2013 is listed below with a statement on each incoming student-athlete from Coach Buckley:
Ryan Doyle ˆ Clemmons, N.C. ˆ Forsyth Country Day School (141)
"Ryan is a wrestler who is committed year-round. He is a true student of the sport, competing in all three styles of wrestling throughout his career. A highly successful student and wrestler, he will add depth at 141 pounds."
Robert Dyar ˆ Birmingham, Ala. ˆ Vestavia Hills (125)
"Robert, a member of the Asics Dream Team as well as a participant in the "Dapper Dan Classic," has been among the best in the nation in every style of wrestling. His level of dedication to the sport and his drive to be successful will be a valuable asset to the team."
Chris Manna ˆ Franklin Lakes, N.J. ˆ Blair Academy (Hwt.)
"After a successful high school career, Chris spent this past year training with the best high school team in the country as a post-graduate. A highly touted football recruit, Chris has decided to commit himself to wrestling in college and will bring tremendous depth at heavyweight."
Nick Mills ˆ South Euclid, Ohio ˆ University School (184)
"Nick comes to us from Ohio having wrestled in some of the toughest competitions in the country. He is an outstanding athlete and he will be an immediate factor at 184 pounds this year. We are looking for big things from him.
Jake O'Hara ˆ Mountaintop, Pa. ˆ Crestwood (141)
"Wrestling in arguably the toughest weight class in any state tournament this past season, Jake comes to us as one of the most underrated wrestlers in the country. A highly technical wrestler and battle-tested competitor, we have high expectations for Jake in the coming years."
Steve Santos ˆ Brick, N.J. ˆ Brick Memorial (149)
"Steve made his mark in New Jersey by going undefeated this season as well as winning a state title in dominant fashion. An intense wrestler with a huge gas tank, Steve will push himself and the team to work harder every day. The sky is the limit for Steve and we are excited to have him in the wrestling room."
Tyler Sheridan ˆ Concord, Calif. ˆ De La Salle (157)
"Another incoming freshman who is a year-round wrestler, Tyler brings a wealth of experience in all three styles of wrestling. He is a tough competitor and has the potential to be a highly successful collegiate wrestler. We expect Tyler to challenge for a spot at 157 pounds."
Stephen West ˆ Fresno, Calif. ˆ Buchanan (165)
"Our other California native, Stephen comes to us from Buchanan High School, located in the state‚s most competitive area for wrestling, the central valley. This is also where 2009 EIWA conference champion Ryan Flores went to high school. Highly decorated in both freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, he is expected to challenge at 165 pounds this year. Stephen is a wrestler with the potential to be a highly successful Division I competitor."