NEW YORK — On the night where Columbia Wrestling (4-8, 4-5 EIWA, 2-3 IVY) honored its four seniors, the Lions dominated a pair of Ivy League foes, with a 27-3 win over Harvard (1-5, 1-5 EIWA, 0-3 IVY) and a 37-0 demolishing of Brown (2-8, 1-6 EIWA, 0-4 IVY) to wrap up the 2021-22 home schedule in style Friday night on Schiller Court at Levien Gym.
The Lions got nine wins against Harvard and swept all 10 weight classes against Brown in the dominating evening where the Lions honored seniors
Brian Bonino,
Joe Franzese,
Spencer Good and
Sam Webster.
"I'm really proud to have coached these four seniors," said Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling
Zach Tanelli. "They were the first class I brought in when I got here and being able to see the growth they've made both on and off the mat is something that makes me really proud.
Bonino celebrated the night by collecting a pair of wins at 184 pounds in his final action on Morningside. "For Brian to close out his home career with a pair of wins on senior night, the way I know he wanted to, was great for him and something I know means a lot to him," said Tanelli. "Right now, he is really hitting his stride at the right time and for him it's big."
Columbia got a pair of wins from
Sam Wustefeld (197),
Danny Conley (285), No. 31
Joe Manchio (125), No. 24
Angelo Rini (133),
Danny Fongaro (149),
Andrew Garr (157) and
Nick Fine (174) across both duals to join Bonino. While No. 19
Joshua Ogunsanya (165) and
Kenny Duschek (141) each snagged wins to round out Columbia's 19 bout victories on the night.
"In both duals I feel we did what we were supposed to do. On paper we are better then both of those squads, and I think we showed that tonight," said Tanelli. "They are both tough teams regardless, so we had to execute our game plan and we went out and did that.
"I was happy to see us put a performance like that out because at this time of year we are trying to peak, and this was a good start to our peak. We are looking forward to next weekend's dual against a pair of BIG10 teams, which will both be big tests to close out the year and then we move onto the postseason.
"This was a great night, but we have to turn the page and begin to look to next week. Tonight, we took care of business, and we will be ready for Maryland and Rutgers."
Columbia also began the night by honoring the late Bob Dickstein '62CC, who passed away in 2020. Bob was a member of the 1961 Ivy League Championship team; a big supporter of the program and his memory is honored every year at the annual banquet with the awarding of the Bob Dickstein Memorial Award.
HOW IT HAPPENED (HARVARD): Bonino got the Lions off to the strong start they were looking for on the night as he came out and mounted a comeback late against Luke Rada, escaping late in the third period to knot the score up at 1-1. Bonino then used a takedown in the open period of sudden victory to get the 3-1 win, giving Columbia a quick 3-0 lead.
Wustefeld then took the mat at 197 pounds and using a reversal and ridding time, all collected in the third period, locked up a 3-0 decision over Nick Marcenelle. At 285 pounds, Conley snapped a six-match skid with a controlling win over Jeffrey Crooks, scoring an escape and a takedown to pad his score in the third period to come away with a 9-2 decision.
Columbia, having taken the opening three bouts, now led 9-0 as the lineup turned over.
Manchio found himself in a bit of a battle against Beau Bayless, but the experienced Lion used a takedown in the third period to get the points he needed to keep things rolling for Columbia with a 3-2 decision. Rini had to hold off Dillon Murphy late in the bout, as Murphy scored a takedown in the third, but a strong defensive effort allowed Rini to get himself the 6-3 win via decision.
In one of the closer bouts of the dual, Kazimir took on Michael Jaffe, and the Lion 141-pounder had to work for his decision win. Using an escape along with a stalling point in the third period to come away with a 2-0 decision, pushing Columbia's lead to 18-0.
At 149 pounds, Fongaro locked up Columbia's only bonus points in the dual, scoring almost at will over the final two periods, including racking up four back points in the second period, to finish with the 11-1 major decision over Lukus Stricker. Garr used a takedown in the opening minutes, an escape in the second period then riding time to get himself a solid 4-2 decision over Trevor Tarsi.
The Lions got their final win of the dual at 174 pounds, following a loss at 165 pounds from Ogunsanya, when Fine went out against Joshua Kim and used a pair of reversals in the final period to get the 7-5 win via decision.
Fine's decision wrapped up the match as the Lions finished the Ivy League dual with a 27-3 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED (BROWN): Much like the start of the Harvard dual, Bonino got the Lions off to roaring start, scoring a pair of takedowns to open the bout, before escaping twice in the final period to lock up the 8-6 decision over James Araneo, to start the dual. Wustefeld got his second win of the night when he used a dominating third period, where he scored a takedown and rode out Cade Wilson to collect a 5-1 decision.
Conley kept his solid night going with a win over Lear Quinton. Conley asked most of the questions throughout the bout, scoring takedowns in the first and second periods, before using a stalling point and riding time to pad out his lead, finishing with a 7-2 decision. The three opening wins quickly put the Lions up 9-0 to open their second Ivy League dual of the night.
In another close bout for the Columbia 125-pounder, Manchio once again needed a late score, escaping in the third period to add to his second period takedown, finishing off Hunter Adrian with a 3-1 decision for his second win of the night.
From the opening whistle, at 133 pounds, Rini was determined to score and that's what he did, getting at least one takedown in all three periods, adding two in the final period to collect bonus points for the Lions with an 11-3 major decision over Nicky Cabanillas. The bonus points meant that the Lions' lead was pushed to 16-0 after five bouts.
As the page turned into the final five bouts, Fongaro added to his win total on the night, collecting two takedowns to open the first period, setting the tone of the bout from the start on his way to a 7-2 decision over Blake Saito.
Garr's battle at 157 pounds would turn out to be the final bout of the dual, as Ogunsanya and Fine would collect wins via forfeit at 165 and 174 pounds respectively. But before the final two weights would be forfeited by Brown, Garr got himself a commanding 10-3 decision over AJ Corrado.
Using a pair of takedowns in the third period, and nearly getting the points needed for a major decision, Garr's win, along with the pair of forfeited weights, put a bow on Columbia's 37-0 dismantling of Brown for the second Ivy League win of the night.
COLUMBIA 27*, HARVARD 3
New York, N.Y. (Schiller Court at Levien Gym)
184 |
Brian Bonino (COL) def. Luke Rada (HAR) SV-1 3-1
197 |
Sam Wustefeld (COL) def. Nick Marcenelle (HAR) dec. 3-0
285 |
Danny Conley (COL) def. Jeffrey Crooks (HAR) dec. 9-2
125 | No. 31
Joe Manchio (COL) def. Beau Bayless (HAR) dec. 3-2
133 | No. 24
Angelo Rini (COL) def. Dillon Murphy (HAR) dec. 6-3
141 | No. 19
Matt Kazimir (COL) def. Michael Jaffe (HAR) dec. 2-0
149 |
Danny Fongaro (COL) def. Lukus Stricker (HAR) dec. maj. 11-1
157 |
Andrew Garr (COL) def. Trevor Tarsi (HAR) dec. 4-2
165 | No. 15 Philip Conigliaro (HAR) def. No. 19
Joshua Ogunsanya (COL) dec. 5-3
174 |
Nick Fine (COL) def. Joshua Kim (HAR) dec. 7-5*
*Columbia was deducted a team point because of unsportsmanlike conduct
COLUMBIA 37, BROWN 0
New York, N.Y. (Schiller Court at Levien Gym)
184 |
Brian Bonino (COL) def. James Araneo (BRO) dec. 8-6
197 |
Sam Wustefeld (COL) def. Cade Wilson (BRO) dec. 5-1
285 |
Danny Conley (COL) def. Lear Quinton (BRO) dec. 7-2
125 | No. 31
Joe Manchio (COL) def. Hunter Adrian (BRO) dec. 3-1
133 | No. 24
Angelo Rini (COL) def. Nicky Cabanillas (BRO) maj. 11-3
141 |
Kenny Duschek (COL) def. Tim Levine (BRO) dec. 6-2
149 |
Danny Fongaro (COL) def. Blake Saito (BRO) dec. 7-2
157 |
Andrew Garr (COL) def. AJ Corrado (BRO) dec. 10-3
165 | No. 19
Joshua Ogunsanya (COL) win via forfeit
174 |
Nick Fine (COL) win via forfeit
EXHIBITION MATCHES:
125 |
Nick Babin (COL) def. Resse Fry (BRO) F (3:14)
157 |
Cesar Alvan (COL) def. Keegan Rothrock (BRO) dec. 4-1
NEXT UP: The Lions wrap up the regular season with one final weekend road trip, as they'll head to Maryland on Friday, Feb. 18, before returning closer to home to face No. 15 Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19 to wrap up the regular season.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Wrestling by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsWR), Instagram (@culionswr) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
