PITTSBURGH — In another matchup with a top-25 opponent, Columbia Wrestling (2-8, 2-5 EIWA, 0-3 IVY) dropped a Sunday matinee road dual at No. 19 Pitt (7-5, 1-2 ACC), 30-5, at the Petersen Events Center.
Columbia got a pair of wins at 165 pounds from No. 23
Joshua Ogunsanya and at 184 pounds from
Brian Bonino. For Ogunsanya it was his fourth win over a ranked opponent this season, as he snagged a 4-3 win in overtime against the 2021 National Championship runner-up No. 14 Jake Wentzel.
As for Bonino, it was his second win of the season, and of his career, against a ranked opponent as he battled for a 3-1 win via decision over No. 31 Gregg Harvey.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Ogunsanya got his win thanks to a late takedown, as he switched up his style and late in the second overtime went with a double-leg takedown as opposed to a single leg takedown to catch the two-time ACC champion off-guard to score the eventually winning two points.
In the bout at 184 pounds, Bonino snagged a takedown midway through the match and then battled off Harvey's attempts at scoring late. Including battling off a difficult position, wrestling to the whistle to get the 3-1 decision over No. 31 Harvey.
The Panthers got wins over the first five weights to open the dual, with
Dominic Rossetti battling hard at 149 pounds before falling in overtime SV 3-1 to Dan Mancini in the closest bout over the opening five. Columbia made things a bit closer in each bout over the next three weights, which saw Ogunsanya and Bonino get their wins and
Nick Fine nearly get the back points he needed late to beat Hunter Kernan, falling via decision 2-0 at 174 pounds.
The Lions also battled hard to avoid bonus points, as over the 10 bouts, Pitt only got bonus points at three weights, 141, 157 and at 197 pounds. But the Lions couldn't capitalize on the pair of wins and close bouts to keep it close enough for a win, falling 30-5 to the No. 19 Panthers.
NO. 19 PITTSBURGH 30, COLUMBIA 5
Pittsburgh, Pa. (Petersen Events Center)
125 | No. 31 Gage Curry (PITT) def. No. 28
Joe Manchio (COL) dec. 5-1
133 | No. 7 Micky Phillippi (PITT) def. No. 25
Angelo Rini (COL) dec. 9-3
141 | No. 18 Cole Matthews (PITT) def. No. 19
Matt Kazimir (COL) F (0:33)
149 | Dan Mancini (PITT) def.
Dominic Rossetti (COL) SV 3-1
157 | No. 19 Elijah Cleary (PITT) def.
Andrew Garr (COL) maj. 14-2
165 | No. 23
Joshua Ogunsanya (COL) def. No. 14 Jake Wentzel (PITT) OT2 4-2
174 | Hunter Kernan (PITT) def.
Nick Fine (COL) dec. 2-0
184 |
Brian Bonino (COL) def. No. 31 Gregg Harvey (PITT) dec. 3-1
197 | No. 7 Nino Bonazzorsi (PITT) def.
Joe Franzese (COL) TF 18-3
285 | Jake Slinger (PITT) def.
Danny Conley (COL) dec. 6-0
NEXT UP: Columbia returns home for its final pair of home duals, when they host Harvard (5:30 p.m.) and Brown (7:15 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 11. The duals will act as senior day and both matches will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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).
