ORLANDO, Fla. - The Columbia wrestling team opened the dual portion of its season at the Disney DI Duals in Orlando, Fla. on Saturday, November 20.  The Lions fell 22-15 to Indiana, before bouncing back to defeat The Citadel 19-15.

"It was a good test for us and there was a lot of good to take from today, especially against Indiana," said Brendan Buckley, the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling.  "We hustled and executed very well in that match.  Against The Citadel we did not have the same level of intensity and it showed."                                    

In the first match against Indiana, starting at 184 pounds, sophomore Nick Mills had a huge upset over #20 Eric Camerson, defeating him 5-3, to give Columbia an early 3-0 lead.  However, a forfeit at 197 pounds by the Lions, followed by a 6-1 win by #20 Ricky Alcala over Kevin Lester at heavyweight gave Indiana a 9-3 lead.

Columbia battled back and evened the score at 9-9 with wins by Penn Gottfried and Kyle Gilchrist at 125 and 133.  The Hoosiers would win the next three bouts, including two by bonus points, to reclaim a 22-9 cushion over the Lions.

Eren Civan and Stephen West each picked up decisions at 165 and 174, giving both teams five bouts a piece, but the bonus points helped to lift Indiana over Columbia, 22-15.

In the match against The Citadel, Mills picked up his second win of the day with a major decision over Justin Sparrow, 18-7.  Also finishing the day 2-0 was first-year Penn Gottfried and junior Kyle Gilchrist.  Gottfried had a tight 4-2 decision over Tyler Sim at 125, while Gilchrist managed a major decision over Richard Alarcon, 13-5, at 133.

At heavyweight, Lester narrowly edged Kelby Smith, 9-8.  First-year Josh Houldsworth had a major decision at 141 over Nick LaFevre, 10-2, and Steve Santos picked up a 9-3 victory against Derek Royster at 149.

Jake O'Hara fell to Pierre Frazile 3-1 in overtime, while Turtogtokh Luvsandorj edged Civan 4-3 in the second tie-breaker.

Indiana 22, Columbia 15
184 - Nick Mills (CU) dec. over #20 Eric Camerson, 5-3
197 - Matt Powless (IU) wins by forfeit
285 - #20 Ricky Alcala (IU) dec. over Kevin Lester, 6-1
125 - Penn Gottfried (CU) dec. over Justin Brooks, 2-1
133 - Kyle Gilchrist (CU) dec. over Matt Ortega, 3-1
141 - Mitchell Richey (IU) dec. over Josh Houldsworth, 5-1
149 - #6 Kurt Kinser (IU) pins Steve Santos, 2:02
157 - #8 Paul Young (IU) maj. dec. over Jake O'Hara, 14-4
165 - Eren Civan (CU) dec. over Ryan Konz, 6-4
174 - Stephen West (CU) dec. over Nick Avery, 7-2

Columbia 19, The Citadel 15
184 - Nick Mills (COL) maj. dec. over Justin Sparrow, 18-7
197 - Scott Edelson (CIT) wins via forfeit
Hwt. - Kevin Lester (COL) dec. Kelby Smith, 9-8
125 - Penn Gottfried (COL) dec. Tyler Sim, 4-2
133 - Kyle Gilchrist (COL) maj. dec. Richard Alarcon, 13-5
141 - Josh Houldsworth (COL) maj. dec. Nick LaFevre, 10-2
149 - Steve Santos (COL) dec. Derek Royster, 9-3
157 - Pierre Frazile (CIT) dec. Jake O'Hara, 3-1 (SV)
165 - Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (CIT) dec. Eren Civan, 4-3 (TB2)
174 -  J.C. Oddo (CIT) dec. Stephen West, 9-2