SALEM, Va. — With a late takedown to lock up the win, Columbia Wrestling's
Joe Manchio finished off the No. 7 125-pounder in the nation to win the title at the Southeast Open, and along with
Joshua Ogunsanya's first-place finish at 165 pounds, gave the Lions a pair of top podium finishes in the first competition of the 2021 season on Sunday at the Cregger Center.
Along with Manchio and Ogunsanya, Columbia placed 12 across the competition with
Aaron Ayzerov (174) and
Matt Arciuolo (149) each placing third. The two titles and the two third place finishes resulted in four Lions finishing on the top three podium spots in four different weight classes.
"We came down here to learn where we're at as a team and got some valuable information to head home with," said Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling
Zach Tanelli. "It's been a long layoff in between official competitions for this team. Overall, I was really pleased with the energy and fight of our team. We executed a lot of things well that we've been working on in the room, which is a big positive for us.
"We had some great performances up and down the lineup, highlighted by two champions who beat some very good completion along the way. The titles are a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion that Joe and Joshua put in. They deserve it and they earned it, but neither of those things result in championships. You have to go take it. They both went out and did just that."
MANCHIO PICKS IT RIGHT UP: Manchio's title winning match was against Virginia Tech's Sam Latona, who entered the match ranked No. 7 in the nation. Latona is also the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion at 125 pounds and a 2021 NCAA All-American, having also been named the ACC 2021 Freshman of the Year.
It was a close match, and late in the third period Manchio trailed 6-5, it was here that he struck. The Lion junior shot fast and got Latona's leg and with a strong finish at 28 seconds hit a takedown and coupled that with a nearfall for four quick points. Latona got two points from a reversal but a quick escape by Manchio gave him a cushion.
A little defense from Manchio over the final 20 seconds and the title was secured with the decision win, 10-8. For Manchio it is his second career win over a top 10 opponent and his third career win over a ranked opponent.
"Joe has goals this year that he and I both know he's going to accomplish," said Tanelli. "He came here with a chip on his shoulder, hoping to have an opportunity to wrestle a quality opponent like he had in the finals. He got what he was looking for in the matchup and he executed.
"The win is nice but it's really just affirmation for what he already believes and that's the biggest takeaway. Joe's maturity and perspective on wrestling and on that individual match are what will make him a champion. He knows he's going to have to back that performance up to get where he's going in March.
"That's why he's a leader on this team. I'm proud of Joe, but like always, I'm more proud of what went into his performance than the actual result of it. Performances like that have a way of producing high level success."
OGUNSANYA STARTS WITH A BANG: Joining Manchio at the top of the podium was Ogunsanya at 165 pounds, as he snagged his first four career collegiate wins on his way to the title. His first career win came with a major decision victory, 16-5, over Clayton Ulrey (Virginia Tech).
From there Ogunsanya took down Blaine Bergey (NJRTC) with a 16-5 major decision, teammate
Jack McGill with a 7-4 decision and in the finals, he knocked off Joey Mazzara (Unatt) with a 10-6 decision.
PAIR OF THIRD PLACE LIONS: Not to be outdone, Ayzerov and Arciuolo opened their collegiate campaigns with third place podium finishes, collecting solid wins across the way. Arciuolo knocked off David Diaz (Unatt) with a 16-1 TF, Jaden Le (NYCRTC) in a 11-5 decision and in the final he took down teammate
Danny Fongaro with a 5-3 decision.
As for Ayzerov he won his first collegiate match as well, knocking off Samuel Mora (Gardner-Webb) with an 8-3 decision. He then went on to get wins over Jon Hoover (VMI) with a 3-2 decision, App State's Reddick, 14-8 (decision) and he locked up the title at 174 pounds with a medical forfeit from Nathan Dugan (NJRTC).
COLUMBIA RESULTS
Southeast Open (Nov. 7, 2021)
Salem, Va. (Cregger Center)
125 | Joe Manchio: W, F (5:50) v. Kevan Gentile (Unatt); W, F (2:51) v. Brandon Mendoza (Tiffin); W, Dec. 10-8 v. No. 7 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech)
Nick Babin: L, Dec. 4-6 v. Joziah Fry (Buies Creek RTC); W, F (2:17) v. Trey Lane (Virginia); W, Maj. 9-0 v. Gentile (Unatt)
133 | Zack Witmer: W, TF 17-2 vs. Cameron Chiclla (VMI); W, F (1:25) v. Nick Kayal (Princeton); L, Dec. 1-7 v. Joe Meilann (Unatt); L, Dec. 5-8 v. Nick Masters (Princeton)
Spencer Good: L, Dec. 3-10 v. Masters (Princeton); L, Dec. 2-4 v. Kayal (Princeton)
141 | Gunnar Fuss: L, Maj. 1-9 v. Collin Gerardi (Virginia Tech); L, Dec. 3-5 v. Tyler Kellison (App State)
Kenny Duschek: L, Dec. 3-5 v. Isaac Byers (App State); L, Dec. 3-9 v. Kellison (App State)
149 | Matt Arciuolo: W, TF 16-1 v. David Diaz (Unatt); W, Dec. 11-5 v. Jaden Le (NYCRTC); L, F (4:48) v. Marshall Keller (Unatt); W, Dec. 5-3 v. Fongaro (Columbia)
Danny Fongaro: W, Maj. 13-4 v. Noah Roulo (Unatt); W, Maj. 16-2 v. David Loniewski (Davidson); L, Dec. 2-6 v. Caleb Henson (Unatt); L, Dec. 3-5 v. Arciuolo (Columbia)
Dominic Rossetti: L, Dec. 3-5, v. Keller (Princeton); W, Dec. 3-2 v. Roulo (Unatt); L, Dec. 2-3 v. Le (NYCRTC)
Jerome Scott III: L, TF 2-17 v. Henson (Unatt); L, TF 0-16 v. Josh Breeding (Princeton)
157 | Cesar Alvan: W, Dec. 7-2 v.
Connor Kievman (NYCRTC); L, Dec. 2-8 v. Connor Brady (Virginia Tech); W, Dec. 6-3 v. Romanelli (Columbia); W, F (4:29) v. Dylan Mansor (Tiffin); L, F (5:26) v. Alex Cruz (Virginia)
Matt Romanelli: L, F (3:21) v. No. 7 Quincy Monday (Princeton); W, TF 16-1 v. Leo Rodriguez (Unatt); L, Dec. 3-6 v. Alvan (Columbia)
165 | Joshua Ogunsanya: W, Maj. 16-5 v. Clayton Ulrey (Virginia Tech); W, Maj. 16-5 v. Blaine Bergey (Unatt); W, Dec. 7-4 v. McGill (Columbia); W, Dec. 10-6 v. Joey Mazzara (Unatt)
Jack McGill: W, Dec. 3-2 v. Bryan Lavearn (Tiffin); L, Dec. 4-7 v. Ogunsanya (Columbia)
Chimenum Tasie-Amadi: L, TF 18-1 v. Mazzara (Unatt); L, F (2:32) v. Ulrey (Virginia Tech)
174 | Aaron Ayzerov: W, Dec. 8-3 v. Samuel Mora (Gardner-Webb); W, Dec. 3-2 v. Jon Hoover (VMI); W, Dec. 14-8 v. Reddick (App State); L, Maj. 19-5 v. No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech); W, Med. V. Nathan Dugan (NJRTC)
Nick Fine: L, Dec. 4-7 v. Dugan (NJRTC); W, Dec. 6-4 v. Samuel Mora (Gardner-Webb); W, Dec. 6-2 v. Brett Mordecai (App State); W, Maj. 10-0 v. Webster (Columbia); W, F (1:53) v. Steven Newell (Davidson); L, F (3:50) v.
Lennox Wolak (NYCRTC)
Sam Webster: W, Dec. 5-0 v. Nicholas Smythe (Tiffin); W, Dec. 2-0 v. Lachlan Rosato; L, F (1:53) v. No. 3 Lewis (Virginia Tech); L, Maj. v. Fine (Columbia)
184 | Brian Bonino: L, Dec. 0-7 v. Zach Brown (VMI); W, Med. v. Kendall Eflstrum (Princeton); W, Dec. 7-1 v. Michael Baker (NYCRTC); L, F (0:38) v. No. 7 Hunter Bolen (Virginia Tech); L, Dec. 1-7 v. Gavin Henry (Davidson)
197 | Joe Franzese: W, F (1:40) v. Wennds Myrtil (Notre Dame College); L, Dec. 1-5 v. Luke Stout (Princeton); W, Dec. 9-4 v. Braden Homsey (Ferrum); W, Dec. 6-5 v. Jovero (Columbia); L, F (0:43) v. Nick Mason (Tiffin)
Javen Jovero: L, TF 4-21 v. Cody Howard (Virginia Tech); W, F (5:44) v. Cade Lautt (Unatt); L, Dec. 5-6 v. Franzese (Columbia)
285 | Danny Conley: W, Dec. 2-0 v. Aydin Guttridge (Unatt); L, Dec. 3-7 v. Jack Delgarbino (Princeton); L, Dec. 5-6 v. Jessie Knight (Virginia)
Jalen Stephens: L, F (4:55) v. Hunter Catka (Unatt); L, Dec. 3-7 v. Knight (Virginia)
VENUE POLICIES: Fans must enter from the street level at the doors located at the southeast corner of 120th & Broadway. Fan capacity at Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium is limited to 70 percent of the venue's listed capacity per University Task Force protocols. All fans 12 and older must show proof of vaccination upon entry. All fans are required to wear a mask at all times. All fans must also fill out a COVID-19 protocol attestation.
Fans arriving to Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium are required to adhere to Columbia Athletics' and Columbia University's venue protocols. Please find Columbia's venue policies here.
NEXT UP: Columbia next opens its dual meet season with a visit by the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines on Friday, Nov. 19. That match will be held on Schiller Court at Levien Gym and tickets can be bought by
clicking here.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Wrestling by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsWR), Instagram (@culionswr) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
