LANCASTER, Pa. — Back on the mat for the first time in over a month, Columbia Wrestling (0-1) posted four podium finishes on Fri., Jan. 7, at the Franklin & Marshall hosted David H. Lehman F&M Open, as Angelo Rini (133), Zack Witmer (133), No. 14 Matt Kazimir (141) and Nick Fine (174) all placed on the podium following a busy day at Schnader Field House.
 
Kazimir posted the best finish, coming in fourth place at 141 pounds, posting three wins along the way.  While at 174 pounds, Fine snagged the best overall win of the day, taking down No. 29 Ben Pasiuk (ARMY) on his way to four wins and a sixth-place finish.
 
At 133 pounds, both Rini and Witmer collected three wins at 133 pounds and tied for a sixth-place finish following a no contest between the two Lions in the fifth-place match.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Fine, who got the lone win over a ranked opponent on the day for Columbia, started his day with a technical fall win, 15-0, over Jack Kelly (PSU-Unatt.) in the 174-pound bracket.  His opening round win set up a showdown with No. 29 Pasiuk and Fine was ready.
 
Entering the third period with a 4-2 lead, Fine was taken down with 1:38 to go in the match, tying the score at 4-4.  But the Lion first-year battled hard and with just over a minute left escaped from the Pasiuk's control.  During the final minute, Fine played solid defense and held off the ranked Black Knight to snag a 5-4 win via decision.
 
Fine would snag two more wins, before medically withdrawing ahead of the fifth-place match, locking up his sixth-place finish.
 
Columbia's best finish of the day came from Kazimir's fourth-place finish at 141 pounds.  Along the way, Kazimir posted a solid win over Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association foe Tyler Hunt (NAVY) with a 2-1 dec and he doubled up on EIWA wins by adding an Ivy League win as well when he beat Harvard's Michael Jaffe with a 2-0 decision.
 
Kazimir's three wins, that also included a win via fall (1:12) over Michel Cetta (Rutgers), led to him taking fourth place, giving "That Nation's Oldest Program" their best individual finish on the day.
 
Rini's day at 133 pounds was highlighted by a major decision win, 14-6. over Erik Roggie (UVA-Unatt.) as he collected three wins on his way to a sixth-place finish.  Running almost parallel to Rini was Witmer, who stuck Harvard's Cole Bayless at 3:22 to open the day, and snagged himself a major decision win, 11-3, over Ethan Fernandez (Spartan WC) on his way to three wins and his own sixth-place finish.
 
Both Rini and Witmer met in the fifth-place match, but a decision of no contest, gave both Lions a sixth-place finish and rounded out Columbia's four podium finishers.
 
COLUMBIA RESULTS
David H. Lehman F&M Open (Jan. 7, 2022)
Lancaster, Pa. (Schnader Field House)
 
125 | Nick Babin: W, MD 15-2 v. Quinn Melofchik (AFA); L, dec. 4-6 v. Gary Steen (PSU-Unatt.); L, F (1:23) v. Connor Knopick (ISU-Unatt.)
 
133 | Angelo Rini: W, dec. 6-1 v. Dillon Murphy (HAR); L, dec. 8-9 v. Dylan Chappell (BUCK-Unatt.); W, MD 14-6 v. Erik Roggie (UVA-Unatt.); W, dec. 9-3 v. Kyle Gorant (DAV); NC v. Zack Witmer
 
Zack Witmer: W, F (3:22) v. Cole Bayless (HAR); L, dec. 3-6 v. Sidney Flores (AFA); W, MD 14-4 v. Matt Maloney (LHU); W, MD 11-3, v. Ethan Fernandez (SPART); NC v. Angelo Rini
 
141 | No. 14 Matt Kazimir: W, F (1:12) v. Michel Cetta (RU); W, dec. 2-1 v. Tyler Hunt (NAVY); W, dec. 2-0 v. Michael Jaffe (HAR); L, dec. 3-6 v. Gabe Willochell (EDIN); L, M FOR v. Cody Phippen (AFA)
 
149 | Danny Fongaro: W, MD 13-5 v. Tucker Ribman (HAR); L, MD 13-5 v. No. 23 PJ Ogunsanya (ARMY); L, dec. 2-3 v. Dylan Martinez (AFA)
 
Matt Arciuolo: W, MD 16-4 v. Mark Metz (ARMY); L, F (6:44) v. Ricky Cabanillas (BRO); W, dec. 11-9 v. Nate Wade (SPART); L, F (3:51) v. Tanner Craig (ARMY)
 
174 | Nick Fine: W, TF 15-0 v. Jack Kelly (PSU-Unatt.); W, dec. 5-4 v. No. 29 Ben Pasiuk (ARMY); L, dec. 1-5 v. Julien Broderson (ISU); W, dec. 6-0 v. Aaron Ayzerov; W, F (3:48) v. Colt Bartley (COR-Unatt.); L, M FOR v. No. 29 Pasiuk
 
Aaron Ayzerov: L, dec. 7-10 v. Sam Wolf (AFA); W, TF 16-1 v. Dominic Falcome (ARMY); W, F (3:25) v. Clay Fielden (ARMY); L, dec. 0-6 v. Nick Fine
 
285 | Danny Conley: W, TF 15-0 v. Eddie Smith (PSU-Unatt.); L, dec. 0-5 v. Quinn Miller (UVA); W, F (0:34) v. Jalen Stephens; W, dec. 2-1 v. Marcus Estevez (RU-Unatt.); L, dec. 1-3 v. Grady Griess (NAVY)
 
Jalen Stephens: L, F (6:22) v. Bishop Mccoy (MILLERS); L, F (0:34) v. Danny Conley
 
VENUE POLICIES: Due to the substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases being reported in New York City, New York State, and the Columbia University campus community, Columbia University is implementing a temporary no-spectator attendance policy for its home athletics events through January 18. This policy is effective immediately.
 
NEXT UP: The Lions continue the weekend's action by returning to Morningside on Sunday, Jan. 9, where they will host LIU at 1 p.m. in Columbia's 2021-22 EIWA opener.  The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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).