NEW YORK – The Columbia wrestling team came away with six consecutive victories to top Northern Colorado, 19-13, tonight in the Blue Gym.
 
With the dual win, the Lions improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Bears from the Big XII fall to 2-3.
 
"It's a big win," said the Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Zach Tanelli. "Any time we can go and wrestle a team from a Power-Five conference and get a good dual meet win, it's extremely exciting. Taking six out of 10 matches is impressive from a young team. From where we're at right now it tells a lot about the courage and guts of our guys."
 
Columbia had to fight back through the dual, after Bears got off to a 4-0 lead with a major decision at 125. Rico Montoya just fended off a late takedown attempt from Joe Manchio to preserve the 12-4 win for Northern Colorado in the match.
 
That 4-0 lead would not last long, as six consecutive matches would go Columbia's way.
 
After a scoreless first period in the 133-pound bout, Matt Kazimir would change the scoreboard quickly. The rookie started on top in the second, before turning Sean Cannon twice, taking a 6-0 lead into the third period. Kazimir then added another four-point nearfall in the third and tacked on a riding time point for the 11-1 major decision
 
"First period he started off real quick with a shot so I knew to be ready off the whistle and keep my feet moving because he was fast," said Kazimir. "He felt like he was good at throwing, I had to make sure to wrestle smart and not give up any takedowns and attack with my own style."
 
In the 141-pound match, Danny Fongaro trailed Owen Lamb from the Bears 4-1 after the first period, but would slowly chip away at the lead. Lamb led 5-1 after escaping in the second, but Fongaro's takedown made it a 5-3 match going into the third. The rookie trimmed the lead to one with an escape at the start of the third, then took down Lamb and added four back points, making it a 10-5 victory to help the Lions lead 7-4.
 
Riley Jacops was also able to get nearfall points of his own before earning a win at 149. Going into the third period tied 2-2 with Mason Hulse, Jacops trailed when Hulse got a reversal after Columbia's 149-pounder started on top. The sophomore fought back with four back points in the third period, en route to a 7-4 win for his second straight dual victory, pushing the lead to 10-4.
 
After a win coming via fall in Columbia's defeat of VMI, senior Dan Reed came out on fire, taking down Jordan Robinson in the third period of the 157-pound match, before collecting two nearfall points on the edge. Reed then cut Robinson twice in the third going for the major decision, but was one takedown away in his 11-5 victory, giving Columbia a 13-4 edge.
 
Laurence Kosoy took the mat next at 165, and led 3-2 after a hard fought first period against Macoy Flanagan. The junior started on bottom in the second, escaped, then grabbed another takedown to push the lead to 6-2. Kosoy was one takedown away from a major decision himself, but pushed the Lion lead to 16-4 during his 11-4 victory.
 
Max Elling provided a near clinch in the team scoring for the Lions, as he held off Sethan Bogulski, 8-7, thanks in part to a third-period reversal, and an extra point with almost three minutes in riding time. After Elling's triumph at 174, Columbia held a 19-4 lead in the team scoring with just three matches remaining.
 
Dalton Robertson cut that lead to 19-7, defeating Brian Bonino, 3-0, in the 184-pound bout. Although he was unable to come away with a win, Sam Wustefeld didn't allow bonus points to Jacob Seely in a 10-3 loss at 197, keeping the lead at nine with just the heavyweight bout left. Danny Conley was tied with Robert Winters Jr., 4-4, in the final frame, but a takedown from the Northern Colorado heavyweight helped him to the 6-4 win, as Columbia won the dual, 19-13.
 
The Lions now will take some time off, before looking ahead to the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2 at Chattanooga.

Columbia 19, Northern Colorado 13
125: Rico Montoya MD Joe Manchio, 12-4 (Northern Colorado, 4-0)
133: Matt Kazimir MD Sean Cannon, 11-1 (Tied, 4-4)
141: Danny Fongaro Dec. Owen Lamb, 10-5 (Columbia, 7-4)
149: Riley Jacops Dec. Mason Hulse, 7-4 (Columbia, 10-4)
157: Dan Reed Dec. Jordan Robison, 11-5 (Columbia, 13-4)
165: Laurence Kosoy Dec. Macoy Flanagan 11-4 (Columbia, 16-4)
174: Max Elling Dec. Sethan Bogulski, 8-7 (Columbia, 19-4)
184: Dalton Robertson Dec. Brian Bonino, 3-0 (Columbia, 19-7)
197: Jacob Seely Dec. Sam Wustefeld, 10-3 (Columbia, 19-10)
HWT: Robert Winters Jr. Dec. Danny Conley, 6-4 (Columbia, 19-13)