Lions Host No. 15/20 Pittsburgh in Home Opening Dual

Sunday, December 11

New York, N.Y.

12:00 p.m.

Columbia University

#15 Pittsburgh

Danny Conley wrestles in a match against Harvard last season.

Photo by: Mike McLaughlin

Lions Host No. 15/20 Pittsburgh in Home Opening Dual

12/9/2022 5:40:00 PM | Wrestling

Watch on ESPN+

By: Garret Sulak

NEW YORK – For the first time this season, Columbia wrestling will be live from Levien Gymnasium to host the No. 15/20 Pittsburgh Panthers (3-1) in a dual meet on Sunday, Dec. 11, at noon ET.

HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW

Entry to the match at Levien Gym is free. For fans unable to attend, the match will be streamed here – WATCH (ESPN+). Updates will also be provided through the Columbia Wrestling Twitter account (@CULionsWR).

COMING HOME TO LEVIEN

The Lions will debut at home after competing in the Southeast Open, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite, and dual matches at Ohio State and Michigan.

Columbia will compete at the Soldier Salute in Iowa to wrap up December before traveling to American to start January. The Lions will then host five-straight home matches from Jan. 15 through Jan. 29, including opponents who are all currently ranked.

RANKED LIONS

Matt Kazimir and Joshua Ogunsanya have garnered rankings from FloWrestling and InterMat this season. Kazimir is currently an honorable mention in the FloWrestling rankings and ranked No. 27 by 141 pounds. Ogunsanya comes in at No. 15 on FloWrestling's list and No. 12 by InterMat at 165 pounds.

Angelo Rini (133), Danny Fongaro (149), Cesar Alvan (157), and Lennox Wolak (174) were all listed as honorable mention by FloWrestling.

SUCCESS IN VEGAS

Ogunsanya and Alvan each placed in the top eight in their weight classes at the Cliff Keen Invitational last weekend. Ogunsanya advanced to the semis of the 165-pound weight class before he lost an 8-2 decision to Cornell's Julian Ramirez. He was awarded the fifth-place match via forfeit.

Alvan suffered an early fall in his opening-round match before he battled back through the consolation bracket. Alvan advanced to the consolation round of four before he was downed by South Dakota State's Cael Sensen, 8-7.

PITTSBURGH MATCHUP

The Panthers have won the past three meetings against Columbia, dating back to 2010. The Panthers and Lions last met last season when Pittsburgh earned a 30-5 win.

Pittsburgh is coming off wins over Lehigh and Illinois. The Panthers will face Brown before coming to Columbia.

Three members of Pitt's team are ranked in the top 10 individually in their weight classes: No. 9 Micky Phillippi at 133 pounds, No. 1 Cole Matthews at 141 pounds and No. 3 Nino Bonaccorsi at 197 pounds.

Colton Camacho (No. 30 at 125), Luca Augustine (No. 33 at 174), Dazjon Casto (No. 21 at 157), Holden Heller (No. 17 at 165) and Reece Heller (No. 28 at 184) are also ranked for the Panthers.

PROJECTED LINEUPS
Columbia vs. No. 15/20 Pittsburgh
New York, N.Y. (Schiller Court at Levien Gym)

125 | Nick Babin/Yanni Vines (COL) vs. Colton Camacho (PITT)
133 | Angelo Rini/Boris Witmer (COL) vs. Micky Phillippi (PITT)
141 | Matt Kazimir (COL) vs. Cole Matthews/Emory Taylor (PITT)
149 | Danny Fongaro/Richard Fedalen (COL) vs. Tyler Badgett (PITT)
157 | Cesar Alvan (COL) vs. No. 15 Dazjon Casto (PITT)
165 | Joshua Ogunsanya (COL) vs. Holden Heller/Jared Keslar (PITT)
174 | Lennox Wolak (COL) vs. Luca Augustine (PITT)
184 | Jack Wehmeyer (COL) vs. Reece Heller/James Lledo (PITT)
197 | Javen Jovero (COL) vs. Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT)
285 | Danny Conley (COL) vs. Jake Slinger (PITT)

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).