Lions Head To Vegas For Cliff Keen Invite

Friday, December 3

Las Vegas, Nev.

12:00 p.m. EST

Columbia University

Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

12/2/2021 2:41:00 PM | Wrestling

Live Stats Watch (FloWrestling [$])

Columbia Wrestling hits the road for Las Vegas, Nev., to take part in the Cliff Keen Invite getting started on Fri., Dec. 3.

NEW YORK — For the 15th time in program history, Columbia Wrestling will hop on a plane and head west to Las Vegas, Nevada to take part in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite which is set to get going at 12 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 3 and run over the weekend finishing the evening of Saturday, Dec. 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Hall.

HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite - Live Stats | Watch (FloWrestling [$]) | Social Media (@culionswr)

LAST TIME OUT: Columbia last took on No. 4 Michigan in the first match on Schiller Court in Levien Gym since 2015 which also doubled as Columbia's dual meet and home opener for the 2021-22 season. Despite falling 34-3 to the No. 4 Wolverines, Aaron Ayzerov opened the match with a comeback decision, 8-4, over Michigan's Max Maylor.

Joshua Ogunsanya battled No. 13 Cameron Amine to the finish at the tail end of the meet, falling in a close 3-1 decision in a match that Ogunsanya was actively in from start-to-finish.

VEGAS BOUND: This weekend will be the 39th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite, and for the Lions it's the first time they have taken part in the nationally tough tournament since 2017. That 2017 visit to Vegas was the fourth straight season that the Lions made the trip and they have been going to the tournament since the 1999 season.

The Lions will be joined by nationally ranked programs and Ivy League programs in the competitive tournament. Heading to Vegas from the Ivy League, beside Columbia, is Cornell, Harvard and Princeton.

Along with the four Ivy League programs the tournament is rounded out by Binghamton (EIWA); California Baptist University (WAC); Cal Poly (Big Sky); CSU Bakersfield (Big West); The Citadel (Southern); Kent State (MAC); Nebraska (BIG10); Northwestern (BIG10); North Dakota State (BIG12); Northern Colorado (BIG12); Ohio State (BIG10); Oklahoma (BIG12); Oregon State (PAC12); Purdue (BIG10); Sacred Heart (EIWA); Stanford (PAC12); South Dakota State (BIG12); Utah Valley (BIG12) and Wyoming (BIG12).

RANKED LIONS: Columbia enters the weekend in Vegas with three ranked nationally by either FloWrestling or Intermat. Leading the way is Joe Manchio, who comes in at No. 16 in Flo's rankings and No. 17 in the Intermat rankings.

Following his solid weekend at the Southeast Open, Ogunsanya cracked the Intermat rankings at No. 33 and has since remained, coming into the weekend at No. 31. And wrapping up the Columbia rankings is Matt Kazimir (141), who sits at No. 21 (Flo) and No. 14 (Intermat).

SOUTHEAST STRONG: On Nov. 7, Columbia opened its 2021-22 season with a trip to Salem, Virginia to take part in the Southeast Open. A pair of Lions, Manchio and Ogunsanya, each took home titles with Manchio winning at 125 pounds and Ogunsanya taking the title at 165 pounds.

Manchio knocked off the then-ranking No. 7 125-pounder in the nation, Sam Latona of Virginia Tech. Manchio got a late takedown against the defending ACC Champion and 2021 NCAA All-American to complete the marquee win in his first weekend of competition for the season.

As for Ogunsanya, he knocked off four opponents on his way to a first-place finish in the first collegiate action of the sophomore's career. Ayzerov (174) and Matt Arciuolo (149) rounded out Columbia's weekend with a pair of third place finishes as the Lions placed 12 total at the event.

CAPTAINS OF THREE: At the start of the season, at Columbia's outdoor practice during Columbia Football's Homecoming game on Oct. 16, Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Zach Tanelli announced that Kazimir and Manchio will be joined by Brian Bonino as the 142nd, 143rd and 144th Lions to be named team captains for the 2021-22 season.

"All three bring unique elements to the program that consistently elevate the men and women of this team to be better versions of themselves," said Tanelli. "They deserve to have a title associated with their leadership."

LEVIEN HOME: The last time the Lions were in Levien Gym was when they hosted a doubleheader in 2015 and this season, they are locked in for at least one more match. The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association opening match against LIU on Jan. 9 will also be held on Schiller Court in Levien Gym.

"We want to grow Columbia Wrestling and ever year I've been here it has been evolving and growing," said Tanelli. "And for us we want to create a better atmosphere for both our fans and the students. We are excited to grow the Columbia Wrestling experience by moving into Levien Gym."

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.

PROJECTED LINEUPS
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite
Las Vegas, Nev. (Las Vegas Convention Center)

125 – No. 16 Joe Manchio
133 – Mason Clarke
141 – Kenny Duschek
149 – Matt Arciuolo
157 – Kyle Mosher
165 – Joshua Ogunsanya
174 – Aaron Ayzerov
197 – Joe Franzese
285 – Danny Conley

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).