Wrestling Travels to Cleveland State, Michigan to Start Dual Season

Friday, November 15

Cleveland, Ohio

7:00 PM

Columbia University

Cleveland State

Photo by: Sanjay Vijaikumar

Wrestling Travels to Cleveland State, Michigan to Start Dual Season

11/13/2024 12:30:00 PM | Wrestling

Live Results - Cleveland State Live Stream - Michigan Live Results - Michigan

Columbia faces Cleveland State on Friday and Michigan on Sunday

By: Garret Sulak

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Columbia wrestling team will travel to Cleveland State and Michigan this weekend for the first two dual matches of the 2024-25 season. Columbia will face Cleveland State at 7 p.m. Friday before finishing the weekend with a 5 p.m. match at Michigan on Sunday.

LAST TIME OUT
Columbia opened its 2024-25 campaign earlier this month at the Princeton Open. The Lions had an impressive showing with seven wrestlers earning a podium finish.

Kai Owen (141) and Cesar Alvan (165) highlighted the event by posting second place finishes in their weight categories. Jack McGill (174) and Richard Ryu (285) both finished in fourth place. Boris Witmer (133) finished fifth, while Sulayman Bah (125) and Billy McChesney (285) each took the sixth-place spot.

In total, 26 Columbia wrestlers competed at the Princeton Open. Full results from the Princeton Open can be found on the FloArena website by clicking HERE.

IVY LEAGUE WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
After earning a second-place finish at the Princeton Open, Cesar Alvan was selected as the first Ivy League Wrestler of the Week on November 5.

Ranked No. 26 in the Intermat rankings, Alvan used two major decision victories and a pin to advance to the 165 semifinals Sunday. He posted major decision wins over Cole McComas (Rider) and Joseph Cangro before defeating Richie Grungo (Lehigh) via fall (3:25). Alvan battled to earn a 6-5 decision win over Sean Seefeldt (Princeton) to earn a spot in the 165 finals. Alvan dropped a tough 7-1 decision to Army's Gunnar Filipowicz in the finals to take second place.

"Cesar continues to build on an excellent summer and fall training and traveling with Kendall Cross and the NYCRTC," Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Donny Pritzlaff said. "He is establishing a strong relationship and trust with our new staff and improved his skills in a short period. We are excited to assist with his development and watch Cesar climb the ladder of NCAA wrestling."

PROJECTED LINEUP
125: Sulayman Bah or Connor Smith
133: Boris Witmer
141: #26 Kai Owen
149: Richard Fedalen or Kenny Duschek
157: Rawson Iwanicki or Dominic Rossetti
165: #29 Cesar Alvan
174: Jack McGill
184: Nick Fine
197: Ike Schmidt or Javen Jovero
285: Billy McChesney or VIncent Mueller
*FloWrestling Rankings

THE OPPONENTS
Friday night will be Cleveland State's first dual match of the season after the Vikings started the year at the Bob Del Rosa Open. The Vikings had 11 placers with four champions in the open division and seven placers with three champions in the freshman/sophomore division.

Sunday's match in Ann Arbor will be Michigan's first dual of the season after competing at the Clarion Open and the Michigan State Open earlier this month. The Wolverines had nine wrestlers place at the MSU Open, including Cameron Catrabone, who captured the 157-pound freshman/sophomore title with three falls and a major decision. Michigan had eight wrestlers place at the Clarion Open to begin the season. Joseph Walker won the 174-pound title, while Brock Mantanona and Jaden Bullock reached the finals at 165 and 184.

FOLLOWING THE LIONS 
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Wrestling by following the Lions on X (@CULionsWR), Instagram (@culionswr) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).