NEW YORK — With an eye on the 2021-22 season, Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling
Zach Tanelli and his staff have worked hard on the recruiting trail, announcing on Thursday, April 8, the addition of 10 incoming student-athletes as part of Columbia Wrestling's Class of 2025.
"We have a tremendous recruiting class brimming with tough, talented young men that embody what it takes to be a wrestler at Columbia University," said Tanelli. "The Class of 2025 will bring us another step closer to our goals of being EIWA and NCAA Champions. Their energy and enthusiasm is to the point where I can hardly wait to get them on campus in the fall and they will be a perfect complement to the already strong foundation we have in place here and I am eager to hit the ground running."
Within the Class of 2025, Tanelli and "The Nation's Oldest Program" have added a group of strong wrestlers, making sure to place a stamp on the surrounding region, with five hailing from Pennsylvania, and one from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Along with putting a blanket over the northeast, the Columbia staff also went to the West Coast, recruiting California to give the Lions a wide range of student-athletes as part of the Class of 2025.
With weights ranging from 133 pounds to 285 pounds the class, which also boasts seven 100-plus career winners and a pair of state champions, Tanelli and his staff have focused on strengthening Columbia's lineup from top-to-bottom.
Cesar Alvan, 165 Pounds, Columbia College (Northfield Mount Hermon School, Springfield, Massachusetts): Won letters in wrestling and soccer at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill, Massachusetts. At the 2019 NHSCA Nationals, Alvan took a win over the number one seed and he has career wins over Kai Bele, Shane Reitsma and Jacob Stefanowicz and spent time wrestling with Metrowest United Wrestling.
A blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Alvan parents were both born in Brazil and he has learned three different languages, English, Portuguese and Spanish. Alvan received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs, Harvard, Princeton, Penn and Brown, along with Army and Stanford, but went with Columbia "to achieve a spectacular education while accomplishing big things with Columbia's top notch wrestling program." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in either Criminal Justice of Sports Medicine.
High School Records:
Freshman: 52-5
Sophomore: 50-9
Junior: 56-2
Overall: 158-16
Aaron Ayzerov, 184 Pounds, Columbia College (Paramus High School, Paramus, New Jersey): A four-time letter winner in wrestling at Paramus High School in Paramus, New Jersey, Ayzerov was ranked as high as No. 1 in the state of New Jersey and earned a ranking of No. 8 in the country. His best finish to date at the New Jersey State Championships was second, had he's finished as high as fifth at the Super 32 Challenge.
Ayzerov has spent time wrestling in international competitions and while a member of Team NJ, he finished seventh at the Cadet National Duals. Ayzerov received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Harvard, Penn and Brown, along with Stanford, Chicago, Virginia and Ohio State, but went with Columbia because "the elite combination of athletics and academics that Columbia offers can't be found anywhere else." Ayzerov plans on enrolling in Columbia College and majoring in Financial Economics.
High School Records:
Freshman: 28-14
Sophomore: 35-7
Junior: 31-4 (finished second at NJ State Championships)
Overall: 94-25
Kenny Duschek, 145 Pounds, Columbia College (Blackhawk High School, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania): Duschek was a five-time letter winner in wrestling (4) and football (1) at Blackhawk High School in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, where he was a four-time PIAA State Wrestling qualifier and a two-time WPIAL Champion. He posted a PIAA State Championships career-best third place finish during his junior year and he took fifth at the PIAA State Championships, along with a Regional Championships during his senior season.
A two-time wrestling team captain, Duschek spent time wrestling with Quest Wrestling Club, posting a sixth-place finish at the NHSCA Team Duals. He received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Princeton and Penn, along with Virginia and Stanford, but went with Columbia because "the goal is to become the best version of myself and the opportunities for academic and athletic success that Columbia offers will help me do that." Will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in Finance.
High School Records:
Freshman: 38-10
Sophomore: 35-14
Junior: 43-8
Senior: 26-5
Overall: 142-37 (55 career pins)
Nick Fine, 174 Pounds, Columbia College (Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick, Rhode Island): Fine, who is a two-time All-American, won a pair of Rhode Island State Champions and won three letters in wrestling at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Rhode Island. He also was a Rhode Island State Championships runner-up, making him a three-time top placer at the Rhode Island states. Fine was also a member of the squad that won the 2019 Rhode Island State Championships.
He has also been named to the Rhode Island All-State team three times and is a two-time team captain. Fine's family has history in the Ivy League and at Columbia, with his relative, Earl Carlsten '30CC, wrestling at Columbia from 1927-29, while his father Greg wrestled at Cornell from 1986-89. Fine Received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Brown, Penn, Princeton and Harvard, but went with Columbia because "the location, school and most importantly the team and coaching staff really made an impact." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in Finance.
High School Records:
Freshman: 49-13
Sophomore: 51-9 (Rhode Island State Champion)
Junior: 64-3 (Rhode Island State Champion)
Overall: 164-25
Javen Jovero, 197 Pounds, Columbia College (Rancho Bernardo High School, San Marcos, California): A multi-sport letter winner earning four letters in wrestling and three in football at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, California, Javero was a member of a team wrestling championship. He was named the 2019 Five Counties Heavyweight MVP; CIF San Diego Section Upper Weight MPV; Liberty Classic Outstanding Wrestling and the El Cajon Invitation Heavyweight Outstanding Wrestler.
Jovero was also named the 2018 Liberty Classic Outstanding Wrestler and he earned 2019 Palomar All-League First Team Defense honors in football. During his free time, Jovero plays "Kendama", a wooden skill toy that comes from Japan, which is known to strengthen hand eye coordination, balance, and reflexes. He received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Brown and Penn, along with Stanford, but went with Columbia because "Columbia's standards and culture resonate with my own and it's the best fit to continue building for the future." Jovero will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in electrical engineering.
High School Records:
Freshman: 43-15
Sophomore: 42-7
Junior: 47-4
Overall: 132-26
Jack McGill, 165 Pounds, Columbia College (Spring-Ford Area High School, Collegeville, Pennsylvania): Wrestling at Spring-Ford Area High School in Royersford, Pennsylvania, McGill won four letters on his way to being a three-time PIAA State Qualifier and he posted a career-high record of seventh at the 2020 PIAA State Championships. McGill set his school's freshman win record and was the school's first freshman to qualify for the PIAA State Championship along with setting the school's pin record.
McGill was named First-Team Pioneer Athletic Conference (2019-20), First-Team All-State Academic (2020) and was a key member of the 2018 and 2020 PAC Champion squads. He spends time practices and training in Jiu Jitsu at Precision Jiu Jitsu. McGill received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Brown and Penn, along with Bucknell but went with Columbia because "the wrestling team, coaching staffs and the opportunities provided on campus seemed like a great fit for me." He plans on enrolling in Columbia College and majoring in Economics.
High School Records:
Freshman: 37-18
Sophomore: 41-9
Junior: 45-9
Overall: 123-36
Matt Romanelli, 174 Pounds, Columbia College (Downingtown East High School, Downingtown, Pennsylvania): A four-time letter winner in wrestling at Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania, Romanelli reached the Round of 12 at the PIAA State Championships during his junior season and he was a two-time team captain. Unfortunately had sophomore season cut short due to an injury.
Romanelli received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Brown and Penn, along with Duke and Franklin & Marshall, but he went with Columbia because "it offers a world class environment to excel in both athletics and academics." He plans on enrolling in Columbia College and his major is undecided.
High School Records:
Freshman: 29-12
Sophomore: 13-1 (Injured)
Junior: 37-5
Overall: 79-18
Dominic Rossetti, 157 Pounds, Columbia College (Loomis Chaffe, Glastonbury, Connecticut): A two sport athlete in wrestling and lacrosse, Rossetti won eight letters winner at Loomis Chaffee in Windsor, Connecticut. Rossetti took home the 2018 New England State Championship and was a 2020 Prep All-American.
Rossetti was a two-time team captain, he was named the 2020 Team MVP and finished as runner-up at the Journeyman Classic. He received recruiting attention from NC State, Drexel, Franklin & Marshall and American, but went with Columbia because "as the oldest wrestling program in the country it's pretty unique, and New York City provides great opportunities." Rossetti plans on enrolling in Columbia College and majoring in Economics.
High School Records:
Freshman: 22-5
Sophomore: 19-3
Junior: 6-3
Overall: 47-11
Jalen Stephens, 285 Pounds, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (Meyersdale Area High School, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania): A four-time letter winner in wrestling at Meyersdale Area High School in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, Stephens was a 2019 NHSCA National runner-up and he finished fifth at the 2018 Fargo Nationals (freestyle). A two-time PIAA State Championship placer and he posted a career-high third-place finish at the 2019 PIAA State Championships.
Named back-to-back Somerset County Outstanding Wrestler of the Year (2018-20), Stephens was a three-time West Pac Champion and surpassed 100 wins during his junior season and he spent time wrestling with Team Shutt, going undefeated and helping them win the 2019 Columbus Day Duals. An avid bowler with a high score of 267, he received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs, Princeton, Penn and Brown, along with Bucknell and went with Columbia because "the campus, class sizes and coaches really create a positive atmosphere that allows for anyone to thrive in education and athletics."
Stephens will enroll in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and plans on majoring in Biomedical Engineering
.
High School Records:
Freshman: 27-7
Sophomore: 41-5
Junior: 38-3
Overall: 106-15
Zack Witmer, 133 Pounds, Columbia College (Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania): A three-time PIAA State placer, Witmer was a four-time letter winner at Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. He posted a top career finish of fourth at the 2019 PIAA State Championships and is a two-time district champion.
Witmer was a team captain and a member of the squad that finished as the 2019 PIAA State runners-up and he passed 100 wins in his career during his junior season. He received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Cornell, Princeton and Harvard, along with Lehigh and Maryland, but went with Columbia because "after visiting, it was clear, thanks to what the coaches are trying to build at Columbia, that there was nowhere else that was the right fit." Witmer plans on enrolling in Columbia College while majoring in Economics.
High School Records:
Overall: 116-21
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