Lions Split Doubleheader; Beat Brown But Fall To Harvard

Saturday, February 15

New York, N.Y.

1:00 p.m.

Columbia University

Brown

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/David Collins

Lions Split Doubleheader; Beat Brown But Fall To Harvard

2/15/2020 6:41:00 PM | Wrestling

Box Score (Brown)Box Score (Harvard)Photo Gallery (Brown)Photo Gallery (Harvard)Sam Wustefeld Post Match (Video)Coach Tanelli Post Match (Video)

Columbia Wrestling split its Ivy League doubleheader, taking down Brown before falling to Harvard at home.

NEW YORK – In the first match at the University Gym "Blue Gym" in a month, Columbia Wrestling (7-5, 7-4 EIWA/2-3 IVY) split its Ivy League doubleheader, taking down Brown (1-8, 1-7 EIWA/0-4 IVY), 29-6, before falling to Harvard (2-8, 2-5 EIWA/1-3 IVY), 25-13, in the first two of three matches this weekend on Saturday, Feb. 15.

During the Brown match, Columbia's victory would come from a strong finish, taking the final six matches to lock up the lone win on the day for the Lions.

The Lions collected a pair of wins on the day from first years Angelo Rini (133) and Lennox Wolak (174), along with sophomore Sam Wustefeld (197). While sophomores No. 29 Joe Manchio (125), No. 27 Matt Kazimir (141), Joe Franzese (184) and Danny Conley (285), along with junior Riley Jacops (165) and first-year Kyle Mosher (157) all locked up a win over the two matches.

HOW IT HAPPENED (BROWN): Both matches would start at 125 pounds, and Manchio got Columbia off to a strong start, taking the opening match against Trey Keeley via fall (2:32) winning in the first period to set the tone in the match. Rini kept the ball rolling at 133 pounds, with an 8-3 win via decision over Charlie Faber to put Columbia up 9-0 after two matches.

The next two matches would go the way of Brown, with Kazimir falling via a 2-1 decision to Jimmy Pawelski at 141 pounds and first-year Andrew Garr dropping his match to Ricky Cabanillas via a 9-2 decision, but a strong fight from Garr kept Brown from recording bonus points and the score remained in Columbia's favor at 9-6 after four matches. The Lions got back on the winning track and would put the match away winning the final six matches without dropping a team point to solidfy the win.

Columbia's winning ways started back up at 157 pounds when Mosher worked a 13-6 win via decision of Jack Bokina, and his win as followed up by a dominating, 11-2, major decision victory by Jacops at 165, as he knocked off Kiran Srikanth. At 174, Wolak battled against Bryce Rogers, and the Lion first-year would come away with a 4-2 win via decision, as Columbia extended its lead to 19-6 with three matches remaining.

A 4-3 decision from Franzese, over Cade Wilson, at 184 pounds added to Columbia's lead, and the match was all but locked up with a 12-7 win via decision by Wustefeld at 197 pounds over Nino Bastianelli. The final match, with Columbia's win already in the bag, was at 285 pounds were Conley put the icing on the cake working a 14-4 win via major decision over Thomas Mukai to put the finishing touches on Columbia's 29-6 win to open the day's action.

COLUMBIA 29, BROWN 6
New York, New York (University Gym "Blue Gym")

125 | No. 29 Joe Manchio (Columbia) def. Trey Keeley (Brown), fall (2:32)
133 | Angelo Rini (Columbia) def. Charlie Faber (Brown), dec. 8-3
141 | Jimmy Pawelski (Brown) def. No. 27 Matt Kazimir (Columbia), dec. 2-1
149 | Ricky Cabanillas (Brown) def. Andrew Garr (Columbia), dec. 9-2
157 | Kyle Mosher (Columbia) def. Jack Bokina (Brown), dec. 13-6
165 | Riley Jacops (Columbia) def. Kiran Srikanth (Brown), maj. 11-2
174 | Lennox Wolak (Columbia) def. Bryce Rogers (Brown), dec. 4-2
184 | Joe Franzese (Columbia) def. Cade Wilson (Brown), dec. 4-3
197 | Sam Wustefeld (Columbia) def. Nino Bastianelli (Brown), dec. 12-7
285 | Danny Conley (Columbia) def. Thomas Mukai (Brown), maj. 14-4

HOW IT HAPPENED (HARVARD): With the Brown win in the bag, Columbia turned its attention to Harvard, and despite wins by Rini, Kazimir, Wolak and Wustefeld, the Crimson would come away with the 25-13 win. The match opened at 125 pounds, with Manchio falling to Beau Bayless via fall (2:37), but the Lions would get back those six points with wins by Rini, a 10-5 decision over Michael Jaffe, and Kazimir, an 8-2 decision over Lukus Stricker, and after three matches the score was tied at up 6-6.

The next three matches would decide the match, with Harvard taking all three matches, starting with Garr fighting hard but falling short to Aaron Kruk via a 2-1 decision, and his loss was followed up with a 18-3 techinical fall win for Hunter Ladnier over first-year David Berkovich, putting Columbia in a 14-6 hole after five matches. At 165 pounds, Jacops would fall via major decision to No. 14 Philip Conigilaro, 12-4, giving Harvard an 18-6 lead with four matches left.

The Lions would get back in the win column with an 18-6 major decision from Wolak at 174 pounds, beating Peter Ferraro, and that win brought the score to 18-10 with Harvard still in the lead, but the Lions would drop two of the final three matches to drop the match. Franzese fell in a close decision, 2-1, to Michael Doggett and Conley dropped his match at 285 pounds to No. 10 Yaraslau Slavikouski, via major decision 11-0 in the final to losses by Lions in the match, but at 197 pounds Wustefeld snagged his second win of the match, taking down Evan Callahan via decision, 10-5, to give Columbia its final win of the day as the final score, after the match at 285 pounds, finished with Harvard in front, 25-15.

HARVARD 25, COLUMBIA 13
New York, New York (University Gym "Blue Gym")

125 | Beau Bayless (Harvard) def. No. 29 Joe Manchio (Columbia), fall (2:37)
133 | Angelo Rini (Columbia) def. Michael Jaffe (Harvard), dec. 10-5
141 | No. 27 Matt Kazimir (Columbia) def. Lukus Stricker (Harvard), dec. 8-2
149 | Aaron Kruk (Harvard) def. Andrew Garr (Columbia), dec. 2-1
157 | Hunter Ladnier (Harvard) def. David Berkovich (Columbia), TF 18-3
165 | No. 14 Philip Conigilaro (Harvard) def. Riley Jacops (Columbia), maj. 12-4
174 | Lennox Wolak (Columbia) def. Peter Ferraro (Harvard), maj. 18-6
184 | Michael Doggett (Harvard) def. Joe Franzese (Columbia), dec. 2-1
197 | Sam Wustefeld (Columbia) def. Evan Callahan (Harvard), dec. 10-5
285 | No. 10 Yaraslau Slavikouski (Harvard) def. Danny Conley (Columbia), maj. 11-0

UP NEXT: Columbia's weekend continues with a quick turnaround, when the Lions head to Fairfield, Connecticut on Sunday, Feb. 16 to face Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association foe, Sacred Heart, in a 2 p.m. match that doubles as the final road match of the season for Columbia.

FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Wrestling by following the Lions on Twitter (@ColumbiaWR), Instagram (@columbiawr) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).