Wrestling Set for Pitt Duals, Duquesne
1/8/2010 5:00:00 PM | Wrestling
NEW YORK - The Columbia wrestling team travels to Pittsburgh, Pa. this weekend for a busy Saturday. The Lions will compete in the Pitt Duals at Fitzgerald Field House, where they will face Eastern Michigan, host University of Pittsburgh, and Waynesburg. The team will then compete in its final dual of the day against Duquesne at 6 p.m.
Scouting the Pitt Dual Opponents
First up for the Lions will be Eastern Michigan, who is 3-3-1 in dual action this season. The Eagles boast three wrestlers with 12 wins on the year: Sean Clair (133) is 12-9, Mike Leholm (141) is 12-3, and Wesley Schroeder (Hwt.) is 12-9.
The last time Columbia squared off against Eastern Michigan was during the 2004-05 season, with the Lions coming out on top, 24-15.
Columbia will then take on the host school and alma mater of assistant coach Carl Fronhofer, Pitt. The Panthers (6-1-1) are ranked No. 25 in the latest Intermat poll and No. 21 in the NWCA/USA Today poll. Most recently, Pitt defeated Rutgers 21-18, and tied No. 14 Penn State, 19-19. The squad has four wrestlers ranked in the Top 20: No. 7 Ryan Tomei (Hwt.), No. 19 Anthony Zanetta (125), No. 19 Tyler Nauman (141) and No. 19 Matt Wilps.
The third team the Lions will face in the quad meet is Waynesburg University. The Yellow Jackets are 4-3 entering the weekend. Junior Nick Garber (141) leads the team with a 14-2 record, a perfect 7-0 in dual meets, while first-year Alex Crown (125) and Corbin Semple (184) each have 13 wins.
Duquesne
Following the completion of the Pitt Duals, the Lions will turn around and face Duquesne at 6 p.m. the same day. Duquesne won its only dual of the season so far this year, a 21-18 victory over Seton Hill. Sophomore 149-pounder Josh Pascazi leads the team with 14 wins this season (14-10) and Tony Lascri (141) is 10-7.
Last Time Out
Last weekend, Columbia split a pair of dual matches with George Mason and No. 3 Ohio State on their home mat, beating the Patriots, and falling to the national powerhouse Buckeyes. The Lions had a decisive 27-11 win over George Mason, before falling to OSU, 37-0, in the last dual meet of the day. Despite the score, the Lions wrestled well against Ohio State, and will ride that momentum south to Pennsylvania this week.
Looking Ahead
The Lions return to action on Saturday, January 30 for another pair of duals. First up, Columbia will face Franklin & Marshall in Lancaster, Pa. at noon, before travelling to Millersville, Pa. to take on Millersville at 3:30 p.m. The following day, the Lions will host EIWA foe Bucknell in University Gym at 3 p.m.
