NEW YORK – Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling
Zach Tanelli has announced a group of nine newcomers ahead of the 2023-24 season. The class of 2027 features student-athletes from New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Ohio.
"We've got a tremendous group of first-years joining us this fall that will add significant value to the fabric of our team, both athletically and culturally," Tanelli said. "Each of them bring their own unique set of skills to Morningside Heights that we will expand on to reach our potential, together."
Columbia Wrestling Class of 2027
Sulayman Bah
5'9 | 125 | Bronx, N.Y. | The Kiski School
High School: A four-year letterwinner for coach Joe Ross at the Kiski School in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania … Wrestled at 113 pounds as a freshman and sophomore before moving up to 120 as a junior and senior … Was a team captain for three years … A 2023 PAISAA Wrestling State Championship runner-up … A two-time Westmoreland County Placer and 2023 Westmoreland County Champion … Three-time PAISAA State Championship place winner (4
th as a freshman, 3
rd as a junior and 3
rd as a senior) … A NHSCA Junior All-American … A two-time National Prep All-American.
Personal: Born February 28, 2005 in Busumbala, Gambia … Son of Dawda Bah and Salieujang Jallow Bah … Has six siblings, Mamadou, Gibril, Kaddijatou, Fatoumata, Zainab and Isatou … Father, Dawda is a graduate of the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs.
Tyler Barrett
5'11 | 157 | Manahawkin, N.J. | Christian Brothers Academy
High School: A four-year starter for coach Billy Ashnault at Christian Brothers Academy … A co-captain for the 2022-23 season … Part of a team that was the New Jersey State runner-up in 2022 … Team won Shore Conference Championships in 2022 and 2023 … Named First Team Monmouth County, Third Team All-State and First Team Shore Conference … Placed third at the NJSIAA State Championships … Finished first at the Shore Conference Championships.
Personal: Born May 11, 2004 in Toms River, New Jersey … Son of Tanner and Amanda Barrett … Has three siblings, Natalee, Jayda and Harper … Enjoys shucking oysters and can shuck 100 oysters in under 10 minutes.
Joseph Curtis – 6'0 – 184 – CC – San Diego, Calif. – La Costa Canyon
High School: A four-year letterwinner for coach Dwayne Buth at La Costa Canyon High School … Wrestled at 184 pounds … Team captain for junior and senior seasons … A San Diego section champion as a senior … Two-time California state placer finishing in sixth and second places … Set the school record for most career pins.
Personal: Born May 13, 2002 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin … Son of Jeremy and Angela Curtis … Has five siblings, Jacob, Jessica, Jackson, James and Jenna … Served a two-year mission in the Republic of Congo for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after graduating high school in 2020.
Lorenzo Frezza
5'8 | 141 | Buffalo Grove, Ill. | Stevenson High School
High School: Wrestled for coach Shane Cook at Stevenson High School … Increased weights each year, wrestling at 113 pounds as a freshman and finishing at 138 as a senior … Named team captain as a senior … Four-time state qualifier … Finished third at state as a sophomore, junior and senior … Named All-Conference all four years … Named All-State three times … Placed third at the 2022 U20 Italian Nationals.
Personal: Born December 13, 2004 in Vizzolo Predabissi, Milan, Italy … Son of Giovanni Frezza and Valeria Mazzali … Has two siblings, Tommaso and Miryam … Brother, Tommaso wrestled at Binghamton from 2019-21 and now wrestles at Central Missouri … Family immigrated to the United States from Italy in 2008.
Adam Haselius
6'1 | 197 | Pleasant Lake, Mich. | Northwest High School
High School: A four-year letterwinner for coach Bruce Gumbert at Northwest High School … A team captain all four years … Helped the team win district championships in 2021 and 2023 … Two-time state champion (2023 at 215 pounds and 2022 at 189 pounds) … Placed fourth at state in 2021 at 189 pounds … A 2020 state qualifier … Holds the school record for single season takedowns (142) and single season pins (49) … 2021 16U Fargo Freestyle All-American … A multi-sport athlete, played football as a senior and ran cross country as a freshman and sophomore.
Personal: Born May 30, 2005 in Saint Paul, Minnesota … Son of Brian and Tina Haselius … Has two siblings, Hillary and Tyler … The first student from Northwest High School to attend an Ivy League institution.
Rawson Iwanicki
5'9 | 157 | Ipswich, Mass. | St. John's Prep
High School: Wrestled for coach Manny Costa at St. John's Prep … Team captain as a sophomore, junior and senior … Three-time dual meet state champion (2020, 2021, 2022) … Three-time D1 state champion (2021, 2022, 2023) … Three-time D1 North Sectional Champion … Two-time All-State Champion … Two-time New England Champion … Two-time NHSCA All-American … Journeyman Fall Classic All-American (5
th) … Finished high school career with a 190-5 record … Four-time NHSCA Academic All-American.
Personal: Born June 22, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts … Son of Keith and Elissa Iwanicki … Has two siblings, Livia and Anielle … Great grandfather, Alfred Bongiomo played baseball at Columbia … Sister, Livia is a rower at UMass Amherst.
Vincent Mueller
6'5 | 285 | Woodbury, Minn. | St. Thomas Academy
High School: A four-year letterwinner for coach Cole Konrad at St. Thomas Academy … Team captain as a junior and senior … Won a state championship as a senior … Placed fifth at state as a junior … Three-time All-Conference … Two-time All-State Academic Team … Finished with a 141-35 career record … Also played defensive line in football.
Personal: Born July 1, 2004 in Woodbury, Minnesota … Son of Jeff and Katie Mueller … Has two siblings, Adalyn and Maria … Placed ninth in the group documentary category in the nationwide National History Day.
Karl Monaco
5'7 | 157 | Montville, N.J. | Montville Township High School
High School: A four-year letterwinner for coach John Krip at Montville Township High School … Team captain as a senior … Helped the team claim the 2019-20 Group III Championship … New Jersey state qualifier as a sophomore … 2021-22 Second Team All-Conference … District Champion as a junior … Two-time district place winner … Three-time regional place winner … Quickest pin was 12 seconds … Also played baseball.
Personal: Born March 3, 2005 in Pompton Plains, New Jersey … Son of Karl and Tara Monaco … Has two sisters, Kristina and Jaclyn … Uncle, Robert Monaco wrestled at Columbia … Father, Karl wrestled at Montclair State.
Nolan Neves
6'1 | 285 | St. Paris, Ohio | Graham High School
High School: A four-year letterwinner for coaches Travis Mcintosh and Jerry Rice at Graham High School … Helped the team win three dual championships (2019, 2021, 2022) and three team tournament championships (2019, 2021, 2022) … 2022 OHSAA Division II Heavyweight State Champion … 2020 and 2021 Central Buckeye Conference First Team All-League … Placed third at the 2021 OHSAA Division II State Championships … OHSAA Division II State Qualifier in 2019 and 2020 … First heavyweight state champion from Graham High School.
Personal: Born October 26, 2003 in Sidney, Ohio … Son of Paul and Holly Neves … Has two siblings, Carter and Hayden … Father, Paul played football at Defiance University … Uncle, Shane Cagle wrestled at Wilmington College.
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