Columbia University Athletics

The record setting Columbia wrestling team of 1980-81 set the bar for performance on the mats in Morningside Heights.
 
Captained by heavyweight Jay Craddock, the Lions got off to a strong start on December 3, with a 26-15 win over former EIWA foe Rutgers to open the year. At the Coast Guard Invitational two days later, Columbia and head coach Ron Russo set themselves up well with a second place finish.
 
December 10 would be a momentous day for the Lions, with duals against five teams from the Northeast. Columbia would be up to the task, improving the dual record to 6-0 with victories over USMMA, Hofstra, CW Post, New York Maritime, and Massachusetts – all on the same day.
 
After the holiday break and a third-place team performance at the New York State Championships, the wins would keep coming in the dual season. On January 30, Columbia bested Yale, then won over Harvard, Boston College, and Western New England the following day, leading to the best start in program history at 10-0.
 
After the lone loss of the season against Army on February 7, the Lions would finish strong, beating Drexel that same day before topping Ivy League foes Princeton, Penn, and Cornell to wrap up the dual season. With a 14-1 record and a perfect 5-0 mark in conference, the Ivy League Champions eclipsed a school record in dual wins, besting a 12-3 performance from the 1971-72 season.
 
At the EIWA Championships, 150-pounder and eventual All-American Dave Galdi posted his highest-ever finish at the tournament, taking third and qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Craddock matched his career best at EIWAs with a runner-up performance in the heavyweight bracket.
 
For their efforts on the mats, eight Lions were named to the All-Ivy League team, setting a record that was broken just one season later. The first team included Joe Rabin at 118, Bob Jaeckel at 142, Greg Thomas at 158, and the heavyweight Craddock, setting another school record for the most-ever Lions on the first team. Earning second team honors were Galdi and 167-pounder Bill Lubell, while Gregg Samms (134) and Miles Vukelic (177) found their names on the honorable mention team.