Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/David Collins
Wrestling Announces 2021-22 Schedule
9/8/2021 12:00:00 PM | Wrestling
Columbia Wrestling will face three 2020 top 20 teams and open up at home on Jan. 9, 2022.
NEW YORK — Columbia Wrestling is back and ready to get on the mat, and with the announcement of the 2021-22 schedule by Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Zach Tanelli, the goal is clear, face the best competition the Lions can so that they are ready to make a run at the 2022 NCAA Wrestling National Championships.
Among the teams that Columbia will face, three finished the 2020-21 season ranked inside the top 20, with one program sitting inside the top 10, and four other opponents finished the season receiving votes, creating a strong level of competition that the "Nation's Oldest Program" will face throughout the season.
The 2021-22 season gets going in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 3-4, 2021), and the road mentality will continue for Columbia throughout the season, with 11 out of the 14 dual matches Columbia has lined up for the year, taking place either on the road or in a neutral site. The idea is to get the squad on the mat against the best competition available.
"At Columbia, we're committed to seeking out the best competition possible to better prepare our wrestlers to become National Champions and All-Americans at the NCAA Tournament," said Tanelli. "As we continue our hunt for Ivy League and EIWA titles, we have made the necessary adjustments in our schedule to reflect the goals we have set as a program. Come March, we'll be ready for a fight when we touch down in Detroit at the NCAA Tournament."
Columbia's home opener will be on Jan. 9, 2022, when LIU comes to Morningside, and Senior Day will be on Feb. 11, 2022 during an Ivy League doubleheader against Brown and Harvard.
Following the trip to Las Vegas, Columbia will ring in the new year in Chattanooga, Tennessee when they take part in the Southern Scuffle from Jan. 1-2, 2022. The home opener against LIU (Jan. 9) follows the trip south of The Mason-Dixon Line, and that match will also double as Columbia's Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) opener.
A trip to Lehigh, a team that received votes at the end of the 2021 season, follows Columbia's home opener, as the Lions head to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Jan. 14, 2022. The road trip continues for Columbia as they head to Morgantown, West Virginia for a tri-meet at West Virginia, where the Lions will face the hosting Mountaineers and Oklahoma State. It's a tough weekend for the Lions, as beside Lehigh receiving votes, Oklahoma State finished ranked No. 6 in the country following a 10-0 dual meet season, and West Virginia themselves earned votes at the end of the season.
An Ivy League swing is next for the Lions, as they head to Princeton on Jan. 22, 2022, before heading down to Philadelphia to face Penn on Jan. 23. The weekend will open Columbia's 2021-22 Ivy League campaign as they face the reigning Ivy League Champion (Princeton) and return to The Palestra where in 2020 the Lions knocked off the Quakers.
"The Nation's Oldest Program" remains on the beaten path with a three-match EIWA/Ivy League weekend beginning at Binghamton on Jan. 28. Columbia then heads to Ithaca, New York for a doubleheader against EIWA foe Navy and an Ivy League match against hosting Cornell, on Jan. 29. Navy finished the 2020 season ranked No. 17 in the nation, after going 5-1, and Binghamton finished the season receiving votes.
It doesn't get easier for Columbia, as the next squad the Lions face will be the Pitt Panthers on Feb. 6, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pitt ended the 2021 season ranked inside the top 20, finishing at No. 16 in the final polls.
The Lions finally return to Morningside on Feb. 11, where they host Brown and Harvard on what will be Senior Day. The doubleheader also acts as the final two Ivy League matches of the season, as the next time Columbia will see Ivy League competition will be at the EIWA Championships.
Two tough final road matches complete the 2021-22 regular season for Columbia, as the Lions head down south of the Mason-Dixon Line for a third time, when they visit the BIG10's Maryland in College Park, Maryland on Feb. 18. The regular season finale for Columbia will take place just across the Hudson River and about 20 minutes down the road in Piscataway, New Jersey when they visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Feb. 20, a team that received votes to end the 2020 season.
On Mar. 5-6, 2022, Cornell will host the EIWA Championships, as the Lions will head to Ithaca, New York looking to put as many Lions on the podium as they can. Finally, the season will wrap up in Detroit, Michigan as the Little Caesars Arena will host the NCAA Championships from Mar. 17-19.
All dates and times are subject to change. Attendance policies at home Columbia Athletics' events have yet to be determined and will be announced at a later date.
Each home game and all Ivy League contests will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Subscriptions start as low as $5.99 per month or save over 15% with an ESPN+ Annual Plan at $59.99 per year. You can also bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu for $13.99 per month.
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).
Among the teams that Columbia will face, three finished the 2020-21 season ranked inside the top 20, with one program sitting inside the top 10, and four other opponents finished the season receiving votes, creating a strong level of competition that the "Nation's Oldest Program" will face throughout the season.
The 2021-22 season gets going in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 3-4, 2021), and the road mentality will continue for Columbia throughout the season, with 11 out of the 14 dual matches Columbia has lined up for the year, taking place either on the road or in a neutral site. The idea is to get the squad on the mat against the best competition available.
"At Columbia, we're committed to seeking out the best competition possible to better prepare our wrestlers to become National Champions and All-Americans at the NCAA Tournament," said Tanelli. "As we continue our hunt for Ivy League and EIWA titles, we have made the necessary adjustments in our schedule to reflect the goals we have set as a program. Come March, we'll be ready for a fight when we touch down in Detroit at the NCAA Tournament."
Columbia's home opener will be on Jan. 9, 2022, when LIU comes to Morningside, and Senior Day will be on Feb. 11, 2022 during an Ivy League doubleheader against Brown and Harvard.
Following the trip to Las Vegas, Columbia will ring in the new year in Chattanooga, Tennessee when they take part in the Southern Scuffle from Jan. 1-2, 2022. The home opener against LIU (Jan. 9) follows the trip south of The Mason-Dixon Line, and that match will also double as Columbia's Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) opener.
A trip to Lehigh, a team that received votes at the end of the 2021 season, follows Columbia's home opener, as the Lions head to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Jan. 14, 2022. The road trip continues for Columbia as they head to Morgantown, West Virginia for a tri-meet at West Virginia, where the Lions will face the hosting Mountaineers and Oklahoma State. It's a tough weekend for the Lions, as beside Lehigh receiving votes, Oklahoma State finished ranked No. 6 in the country following a 10-0 dual meet season, and West Virginia themselves earned votes at the end of the season.
An Ivy League swing is next for the Lions, as they head to Princeton on Jan. 22, 2022, before heading down to Philadelphia to face Penn on Jan. 23. The weekend will open Columbia's 2021-22 Ivy League campaign as they face the reigning Ivy League Champion (Princeton) and return to The Palestra where in 2020 the Lions knocked off the Quakers.
"The Nation's Oldest Program" remains on the beaten path with a three-match EIWA/Ivy League weekend beginning at Binghamton on Jan. 28. Columbia then heads to Ithaca, New York for a doubleheader against EIWA foe Navy and an Ivy League match against hosting Cornell, on Jan. 29. Navy finished the 2020 season ranked No. 17 in the nation, after going 5-1, and Binghamton finished the season receiving votes.
It doesn't get easier for Columbia, as the next squad the Lions face will be the Pitt Panthers on Feb. 6, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pitt ended the 2021 season ranked inside the top 20, finishing at No. 16 in the final polls.
The Lions finally return to Morningside on Feb. 11, where they host Brown and Harvard on what will be Senior Day. The doubleheader also acts as the final two Ivy League matches of the season, as the next time Columbia will see Ivy League competition will be at the EIWA Championships.
Two tough final road matches complete the 2021-22 regular season for Columbia, as the Lions head down south of the Mason-Dixon Line for a third time, when they visit the BIG10's Maryland in College Park, Maryland on Feb. 18. The regular season finale for Columbia will take place just across the Hudson River and about 20 minutes down the road in Piscataway, New Jersey when they visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Feb. 20, a team that received votes to end the 2020 season.
On Mar. 5-6, 2022, Cornell will host the EIWA Championships, as the Lions will head to Ithaca, New York looking to put as many Lions on the podium as they can. Finally, the season will wrap up in Detroit, Michigan as the Little Caesars Arena will host the NCAA Championships from Mar. 17-19.
All dates and times are subject to change. Attendance policies at home Columbia Athletics' events have yet to be determined and will be announced at a later date.
Each home game and all Ivy League contests will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Subscriptions start as low as $5.99 per month or save over 15% with an ESPN+ Annual Plan at $59.99 per year. You can also bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu for $13.99 per month.
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).
Highlights: WR | Columbia 30, Bucknell 6
Sunday, February 22
Highlights: WR | Columbia at Hofstra
Sunday, November 16
Highlights: WR | Columbia 27, Brown 17
Sunday, February 16
Highlights: WR | Columbia 32, Harvard 8
Saturday, February 15
