Wrestling Travels To Atlantic City To Face No. 23 West Virginia

Sunday, January 7

Atlantic City, N.J.

2:30 PM

Columbia

#23 West Virginia

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Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.

Wrestling Travels To Atlantic City To Face No. 23 West Virginia

1/5/2024 3:51:00 PM | Wrestling

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The Lions meet the Mountains in the Battle on the Boardwalk at Hard Rock Casino

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Columbia wrestling team makes the trip to Atlantic City to face No. 23 West Virginia in a dual match Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Casino. The neutral site dual match is being deemed The Battle on the Boardwalk.

The stage is set for Columbia to make an impression on a national scale. And they'll do so on UFC Fight Pass, as the UFC is putting on the event at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena.

"I'm expecting my guys to go perform," Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Zach Tanelli said. "We have a good opponent. We want worthy opponents. We don't train to beat guys we aren't going to see at the national tournament. If we are doing the right things and beating the opponents we are really shooting for in these ranked matchups, we'll be ready come March and that's ultimately in this sport what it's all about."

Sunday will mark the first time the Lions will compete in 2024. Columbia is back in dual action for the first time since the team's 28-21 victory over No. 19 Northern Iowa on December 10 in what was the highest-ranked dual win in program history.

The Lions are coming off a third-place finish at the Soldier Salute with 102.5 total points. Four Lions earned top-five finishes to help lead the team to an impressive performance. Columbia finished behind Iowa and Minnesota in the team standings.

Senior Lennox Wolak reached the 174-pound finals and finished in second place to highlight the weekend at the Soldier Salute. Nick Babin (125) and Aaron Ayzerov (184) both finished in fourth. Jack Wehmeyer placed fifth at 197.

West Virginia will enter Sunday's contest with a 7-1 overall record in duals this season. The Mountaineers have defeated Kent State, Cleveland State, Duke, Clarion, Air Force, Northern Colorado and Fairmont State in dual matches. West Virginia is coming off a third-place finish at the Midland Championships. Jordan Titus claimed the 141-pound championship and three others earned a spot in the top five at the Midland Championships.

PROJECTED LINEUPS
West Virginia
125        No. 32   Jett Strickenberger
133        Davin Rhoads
141        No. 15   Jordan Titus or Sam Hillegas
149        No. 11 Ty Watters
157        Caleb Dowling
165        No. 12 Peyton Hall
174        No. 26 Brody Conley or Jack Blumer
184        No. 27 Dennis Robin
197        Austin Cooley
HWT      Michael Wolfgram

Columbia
125      Nick Babin or Sulayman Bah
133      Yanni Vines
141      Kai Owen or Lorenzo Frezza
149      Richard Fedalen
157      Jaden Le or Tyler Barrett
165      Andy Garr
174      No. 24 Lennox Wolak
184      Aaron Ayzerov or Jack McGill
197      No. 28 Jack Wehmeyer
HWT    Billy McChesney or Vincent Mueller

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