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NEW YORK - The Columbia wrestling team will welcome Harvard on Friday, Jan. 29 at 7 pm for both teams' second Ivy League dual of the season. The Lions (7-2, 1-0 Ivy League) will take on the Crimson (4-2, 0-1 Ivy League) in the University Gymnasium on the Ivy League Digital Network.
The home dual will be the first of three on the weekend for the Lions, who will travel to Washington D.C. on Sunday for bouts with Duke and American.
HOMECOMING RECEPTION
Following the match with Harvard, there will be a reception in Aerobics Room 3, where Mike Chapman will talk about his book, Pendleton: The Amazing Story of Columbia's Wrestling Olympian and Star of Hollywood. The Columbia Wrestling program will also have a dedication ceremony and Grand Opening of the Lanuto Locker Room. Tentative start time is 8:30 pm.
LAST TIME OUT
For the second consecutive weekend, the Lions took part in three duals. After dropping a 19-13 contest to Clarion, Columbia came back to top Hofstra, 22-14, and blank Sacred Heart, 38-0. Four wrestlers went undefeated on Sunday, when Angelo Amenta (133), Markus Scheidel (157), Tyrel White (165) and Zack Hernandez (174) all went 3-0.
ABOUT THE CRIMSON
Harvard and Columbia both took part in the Pitt Duals and Cliff Keen Invitational, but will wrestle each other for the first time this weekend. Todd Preston (141) leads the team in wins at 21-4 and boasts a No. 9 ranking in his weight class, having taken second at the Cliff Keen Invitational. Junior Nicholas Gajdzik will provide Garrett Ryan a good measuring stick, as the Harvard heavyweight is 18-7 on the season with six pins and a sixth place finish at CKLV.
A SEASON AGO
Seven of 10 weight classes were taken by Columbia in a home dual for Harvard last year, as the Lions left with a 27-12 victory. Returners Amenta, Ryan, White and Tyler Ponte all secured wins on the day.
THE 20-WIN CLUB
Scheidel has already eclipsed the 20-win plateau this season, and has six teammates with a realistic shot of joining the junior. Amenta, Hernandez and White all have 18 wins, Ryan sits with 14, Joe Moita has a 13-13 record at 141, and Ponte is 12-6 on the year. Aside from the seven remaining duals, Columbia will take part in the EIWA Championships on March 5-6.
MID-SEASON FORM
Three wrestlers were able to go 3-0 during this past Sunday's duals at Hofstra. Amenta won every match and tallied one tech fall and one pin at 133. Scheidel won his trio of matches at 157 and had two major decisions, matching White's day at 165. Hernandez found one major decision among his three wins at 174.
A HISTORICALLY GREAT START
At 7-2 in dual action, Columbia is off to its best start since the 1998-99 season when the Lions opened the year at 8-1. Lou Montano's squad won its first eight duals that year before finishing the season at 10-6 overall. Carl Fronhofer's 2015-16 Lions team has a chance to match its best record in 20 years when Columbia went 12-6 in 1996-97. The team record for wins came in the 1980-81 season when the Lions put together a14-1 dual record.
NEXT UP
Columbia will have a quick turnaround when the Lions travel to Washington D.C. for the American Duals on Sunday, Jan. 31. The Lions will take on Duke at 9 am before a 1 pm match with the host Eagles.
AVAILABLE ON THE ILDN
This seasons five home duals will once again be available on the Ivy League Digital Network. After this weekend, Greg Tanenbaum and Mike Torriero will once again be live at the Feb. 20 dual against Bucknell.
