NEW YORK – Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Donny Pritzlaff announced the addition of seven newcomers to the 2024-25 wrestling roster Friday.
 
Nick Campagna, Spencer Fine, Cooper Hornack, Oliver Howard, Richard Ryu, Connor Smith and Jack Wacha will all join the squad. Everyone except Ryu comes to Columbia as a first-year. Ryu is a junior transfer from Illinois, where he posted a 5-5 record during the 2023-24 season.
 
Columbia opens the 2024-25 season at the Princeton Open on November 3. The Lions will meet Cleveland State on November 15 for the first dual match of the season. Columbia hosts Indiana for its home opener on Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m.
 
Details on this season's incoming class are below. Fans can access the complete 2024-25 Columbia wrestling roster by clicking here.
 
Nick Campagna – 157 – FY – CC – South Plainfield, N.J. / Christian Brothers Academy
PRE-COLUMBIA
A four-year letterwinner wrestling for coach Billy Ashnault at Christian Brothers Academy … Posted a 95-11 record during his high school career … Participant with the Edge Wrestling club … Helped Christian Brothers capture the 2024 District 27 Tournament Team Title … Finished seventh at the 2024 New Jersey state championships.
 
PERSONAL
Born February 15, 2006 … Son of Joseph and Jennifer Campagna … Has one brother, Jack … Enrolled at Columbia College.
 
Spencer Fine – 197 – FY – CC – Cumberland, R.I. / Bishop Hendricken
PRE-COLUMBIA
A two-time state champion and four-year letterwinner at Bishop Hendrcken … A four-time All-State selection, three-time All-New England Selection and three-time NHSCA All-American … Named team captain as a senior … Posted a 168-34 record during his high school career with 100 pins … Member of the MetroWest United Wrestling Club … Named to the National Honor Society … Bishop Hendricken Academic Scholarship Recipient.
 
PERSONAL
Born February 11, 2006 … Son of Greg and Tracy Fine … Brother, Nick is also a member of the Columbia wrestling team … Father, Greg wrestled at Cornell from 1986-89 and family member Earl Carlsten '30CC wrested at Columbia from 1927-29 … Enrolled at Columbia College.
 
 
Cooper Hornack – 157 – FY – CC – Lower Burrell, Pa. / Burrell
PRE-COLUMBIA
A four-year wrestling letterwinner at Burrell High School … Also lettered in football and pole vault … Helped guide Burrell to two wrestling district championships in 2021 and 2024, and a third-place finish at the 2021 Pennsylvania wrestling state championships … Finished as the PIAA State runner-up as a freshman, finished 4^th as a sophomore and finished sixth as a senior … Won the PIAA state title as a junior … A two-time NWCA High School Scholar All-American Team honoree … Named team captain as a senior … Posted a 156-27 high school record … Named to the National Honor Society … Involved with student government during high school … A Westmoreland County Scholar Athlete.
 
PERSONAL
Born May 26, 2005 … Son of Tom and Dana Hornack … Has three siblings, Gabriella, Luck and Gia … Father, Tom played four years of football at Geneva College … Uncle, Seth Hornack played four years of football at Pittsburgh … Cousin, Scott Bitar played four years of golf at Miami University of Ohio … Enrolled at Columbia College.
 
 
Oliver Howard – 174 – FY – SEAS – Decatur, Ala. / Libertas Classical School
PRE-COLUMBIA
A three-year letterwinner for coach Kevin Lockhart … Achieved a 40-0 record during his senior season and captured the 2024 Alabama 6A State Wrestling Championship at 175 pounds … A state finalist in 2022 and 2023 … A three-time NHSCA All-American … Volunteered for the Joni and friends summer camp for four summers during high school.
 
PERSONAL
Born November 11, 2004 … Son of Chris and Jonica Howard … Has three siblings, Owen, Olsen and Ellis … Enrolled at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.
 
 
Richard Ryu – 285 – Jr. – CC – Seoul, South Korea / Portsmouth Abbey
PRE-COLUMBIA
Transferring to Columbia from Illinois … Earned notable wins in 2024 over Kyle Haas (Oklahoma State) and former national prep champion Austin Cooley (West Virginia) … Went 5-5 during the 2023-24 season at Illinois and was named Academic All-Big Ten … Posted a 3-4 record for the 2022-23 season and a 5-9 mark as a rookie during the 2019-20 season at Illinois … Won the bronze medal at the 2022 Korea Wrestling World Team Trial.
 
PERSONAL
Son of Matt Ryu and Yoo Hee Kim … Enrolled at Columbia College.
 
 
Connor Smith – 125 – FY – CC – Pittsburgh, Pa. / Seneca Valley
PRE-COLUMBIA
A four-year wrestling letterwinner at Seneca Valley … Also earned two letters in cross country … Named wrestling team captain as a junior and senior … Earned a first-place finish at the 2022, 2023 and 2024 sections … Finished fifth at the 2022 regional, third at the 2023 regional and fourth at the 2024 regional … Earned an eighth-place finish at the 2023 and 2024 state championships … Posted a 120-34 overall record during high school … Served as a youth wrestling coach all four years of high school … Member of the Gladiators Wrestling Club.
 
PERSONAL
Born March 22, 2006 … Son of Drew and Melissa Smith … Has one sibling, Riley … Father, Drew wrestled at the Naval Academy and mother, Melissa participated in gymnastics at the Naval Academy … Enrolled at Columbia College.
 
 
Jack Wacha – 157 – FY – CC – Englewood Cliffs, N.J. / Pascack Hills
PRE-COLUMBIA
A four-year wrestling letterwinner … Also played soccer and baseball … A three-time wrestling team captain … A NJSIAA state place winner … Three-time district finalist and one-time champion and outstanding wrestler … Four-time All-League recipient (two-time Big North Patriot and two-time Big North National) … Four-time All-County honoree … Named Bergen Record's North Jersey Wrestler of the Week for February 5-11, 2024 … Recorded 112 wins and 84 pins during his high school career … Holds the Pascack Hills all-time single season record for wins (42) and pins (30) … The 14^th wrestler in school history to achieve 100 career wins … 30 pins during his junior season was tied for third most in New Jersey at any weight class … Four-time Freestyle New Jersey state place winner (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
 
PERSONAL
Born April 26, 2006 … Son of Bruce and Victoria Wacha … Has one sibling, Sydney … Father, Bruce '95CC wrestled at Columbia from 1990-95 as was captain for three seasons … Enrolled at Columbia College. 
 
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