Saturday, March 7
Bethlehem, Pa.
10:00 a.m.
Columbia University
vs
EIWA Championships
Photo by: Scott Pilutik
Columbia Places Three At The EIWA Championships
3/7/2020 7:47:00 PM | Wrestling
Sophomores Matt Kazimir and Joe Manchio each finished second and will head to the NCAA Wrestling National Championships.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Sophomore Matt Kazimir (141) punched his ticket to the NCAA Wrestling Championships, thanks to a second-place finish, while fellow sophomore Joe Manchio (125), already nationals bound, placed second as well to give Columbia Wrestling, along with a seventh place finish from first-year Angelo Rini (133), three place winners in the final day at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships held at Stabler Arena.
As a team, the Lions finished 11th overall with 48.5 points.
Kazimir locked up his spot at the national championships thanks to a semifinal win over Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) guaranteeing that he would finish within the NCAA allocated qualification spots, and despite his loss in the finals Kazimir's spot was already his. As for Manchio, he improved his future seeding at the national championships by advancing to the finals, and Rini would bounce back after opening the day with a loss to finish the weekend with a win in the seventh-place match.
"Manchio [Joe] and Kazimir [Matt] had great weekends and will represent the program proudly at the national championships. We will make some adjustments and the boys will be ready to make a run at the podium in Minneapolis."
HOW IT HAPPENED: The day began with Manchio facing Dominic Lajoie (Cornell) in the semifinals, looking to advance to the finals and a chance at an EIWA title. Manchio scored early, and had to hold off Lajoie down the stretch, but in the end a 9-7 decision for Manchio sent him into the finals where he would face the No. 1 seed, Pat Glory.
Entering the finals match, Manchio, who was in great form, looked to improve from his previous outings against Glory and during the match Manchio did just that. During the entire match, Manchio's shots were strong and aggressive, but unfortunately for the Lion sophomore, Glory lived up to his No. 1 seed, stuffing every shot Manchio took to eventually work a 3-0 win via decision forcing Manchio to settle for second place.
Kazimir went into the day knowing that he needed to get one victory to get his spot in the nationals, and the day began for Kazimir with a 9-2 win over Pomrinca in the semifinals, and after a late takedown clinched the win, when the whistle blew Kazimir exploded with emotion knowing that a trip to U.S. Bank Stadium was in his future. Kazimir then turned his attention to Cody Trybus (Navy) in the finals, and despite the match begin close, and a late challenge by Tanelli going against Columbia, Kazimir fell short to Trybus, losing via a 3-1 decision to finish second.
In the consolation semifinals, Rini faced Penn's Carmen Ferrante and it was close battle, but Ferrnate would come away with a 3-1 decision to bounce Rini to the seventh-place match. In the seventh-place match, Rini faced Michael Jaffe (Harvard), and from the start Rini was on a mission, and he proved that in future years he plans on placing higher than seventh, beating Jaffe via a major decision, 15-7.
EIWA CHAMPIONSHIPS (DAY TWO)
Bethlehem, Pa. (Stabler Arena)
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
125 | Joe Manchio – W, dec. 9-7 vs. Dominic Lajoie (Cornell); L, dec. 0-3 vs. Patrick Glory (Princeton)
141 | Matt Kazimir – W, dec. 9-2 vs. Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh); L, dec. 1-3 vs. Cody Trybus (Navy)
CONSOLATION BRACKET
133 | Angelo Rini – L, dec. 1-3 vs. Carmen Ferrante (Penn); W, maj. 15-7 vs. Michael Jaffe (Harvard)
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).
As a team, the Lions finished 11th overall with 48.5 points.
Kazimir locked up his spot at the national championships thanks to a semifinal win over Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) guaranteeing that he would finish within the NCAA allocated qualification spots, and despite his loss in the finals Kazimir's spot was already his. As for Manchio, he improved his future seeding at the national championships by advancing to the finals, and Rini would bounce back after opening the day with a loss to finish the weekend with a win in the seventh-place match.
"The emotional highs and lows of the weekend were intense, but I would not have had it any other way," said Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Zach Tanelli. "I love these boys, and their passion for Columbia and their commitment to the program was on full display this weekend.🎥 THE TAKEDOWN 👀 ... THE REACTION 🗣 ... THE MOMENT KAZIMIR 👊 HIS 🎟 TO @ncaawrestling NATIONALS!! 😤💪👏#Team117 | #RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/09qcAomL2i
— Columbia Wrestling (@ColumbiaWR) March 7, 2020
"Manchio [Joe] and Kazimir [Matt] had great weekends and will represent the program proudly at the national championships. We will make some adjustments and the boys will be ready to make a run at the podium in Minneapolis."
HOW IT HAPPENED: The day began with Manchio facing Dominic Lajoie (Cornell) in the semifinals, looking to advance to the finals and a chance at an EIWA title. Manchio scored early, and had to hold off Lajoie down the stretch, but in the end a 9-7 decision for Manchio sent him into the finals where he would face the No. 1 seed, Pat Glory.
Entering the finals match, Manchio, who was in great form, looked to improve from his previous outings against Glory and during the match Manchio did just that. During the entire match, Manchio's shots were strong and aggressive, but unfortunately for the Lion sophomore, Glory lived up to his No. 1 seed, stuffing every shot Manchio took to eventually work a 3-0 win via decision forcing Manchio to settle for second place.
Kazimir went into the day knowing that he needed to get one victory to get his spot in the nationals, and the day began for Kazimir with a 9-2 win over Pomrinca in the semifinals, and after a late takedown clinched the win, when the whistle blew Kazimir exploded with emotion knowing that a trip to U.S. Bank Stadium was in his future. Kazimir then turned his attention to Cody Trybus (Navy) in the finals, and despite the match begin close, and a late challenge by Tanelli going against Columbia, Kazimir fell short to Trybus, losing via a 3-1 decision to finish second.
In the consolation semifinals, Rini faced Penn's Carmen Ferrante and it was close battle, but Ferrnate would come away with a 3-1 decision to bounce Rini to the seventh-place match. In the seventh-place match, Rini faced Michael Jaffe (Harvard), and from the start Rini was on a mission, and he proved that in future years he plans on placing higher than seventh, beating Jaffe via a major decision, 15-7.
EIWA CHAMPIONSHIPS (DAY TWO)
Bethlehem, Pa. (Stabler Arena)
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
125 | Joe Manchio – W, dec. 9-7 vs. Dominic Lajoie (Cornell); L, dec. 0-3 vs. Patrick Glory (Princeton)
141 | Matt Kazimir – W, dec. 9-2 vs. Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh); L, dec. 1-3 vs. Cody Trybus (Navy)
CONSOLATION BRACKET
133 | Angelo Rini – L, dec. 1-3 vs. Carmen Ferrante (Penn); W, maj. 15-7 vs. Michael Jaffe (Harvard)
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).
Players Mentioned
Highlights: WR | Columbia 27, Brown 17
Sunday, February 16
Highlights: WR | Columbia 32, Harvard 8
Saturday, February 15
Highlights: WR | Columbia 20, Penn 24
Friday, January 24
Highlights: WR | Columbia 19, Maryland 18
Sunday, January 05
