CORALVILLE, Iowa – Senior
Lennox Wolak reached the 174-pound finals and finished in second place to highlight the weekend at the Soldier Salute. Columbia totaled 102.5 points and earned a third-place finish behind Iowa and Minnesota.
Four Lions earned top-five finishes to help lead the team to an impressive performance. Wolak registered the highest finish of the weekend at second place at 174.
Nick Babin (125) and
Aaron Ayzerov (184) both finished in fourth.
Jack Wehmeyer placed fifth at 197.
Columbia had a great start in Session I at the Soldier Salute, winning the first seven matches.
Richard Fedalen was the first Lion on the mat and he defeated Ryan Vigil (VMI) via fall (5:18) to lead things off at 149.
Fedalen (149),
Andrew Garr (157),
Jaden Le (157),
Kyle Mosher (165),
Jack McGill (184), Wehmeyer (197),
Billy McChesney (285),
Kai Owen (141), Wolak (174), Ayzerov (184) and
Adam Haselius (197) each posted wins in their first matches Friday. Babin (125),
Angelo Rini (133),
Sulayman Bah (125),
Lorenzo Frezza (141) and
Vincent Mueller (285) suffered losses in their first matches as they moved over to the consolation bracket.
Wolak (174), Mosher (165), Ayzerov (184), Wehmeyer (197) and Haselius (197) all battled through their bracket and earned a spot in the quarterfinals Friday evening. Wolak was the lone Lion to advance past the quarterfinals as he registered a major decision win over Graham Gambrall (Oregon State) to secure a spot in the 174 semifinals Saturday morning.
Five Lions moved on to compete on the second day of the Soldier Salute. Wolak remained in the winner's bracket, while Babin, Rini, Ayzerov and Wehmeyer held spots in the consolation bracket. Everyone else eliminated Friday competed in round robin matches Saturday.
Rini was the first Lion slated to compete Saturday, but he was unable to compete and used a medical forfeit. Ayzerov advanced on a medical forfeit before defeating Zyan Hall (Navy) in a major decision to secure a spot in the third-place match at 184. Babin picked up a win over Damion Ryan (Bellarmine) via fall (4:34) and advanced past the next round on a medical forfeit to earn a spot in the third-place match at 125. Wehmeyer posted a win over Adam Ahrendsen (UNI) via fall (5:38) before falling to Garrett Joles (Minnesota) in a decision to earn a spot in the fifth-place match at 197.
Babin kicked things off for Columbia in the fourth session as he met Minnesota's Patrick Mckee in a battle for third at 125. McKee won by fall in 5:29 as Babin took the fourth-place finish. Ayzerov also finished in fourth at 184 as he fell to Missouri's Colton Hawks in the third-place match. Wehmeyer capped off the event with a win over Gavin Nelson due to an injury to secure fifth place at 197.
Wolak met North Carolina's Tyler Eischens in the 174 semifinals Saturday morning. Eischens got an early takedown in the first period and held on to the lead heading into the second period. Wolak fought back and used a takedown in the second to take the lead. Another big takedown in the third and a riding time point allowed Wolak to take a 13-5 major decision victory and earn a spot in the 174 finals.
Wolak faced Gabe Arnold in the 174 championship match Saturday evening. The two battled through a scoreless third period before trading escape points to send the match to sudden victory. Arnold used a takedown to defeat Wolak in sudden victory as Wolak finished in second place.
UP NEXT
The Lions return to dual action next weekend as Columbia travels to Atlantic City, New Jersey to face No. 23 West Virginia. The dual will take place at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena located at the Hard Rock Casino.
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).
