Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Lions Learn Seeding for 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships
3/13/2024 10:21:00 PM | Wrestling
Kai Owen, Lennox Wolak, Aaron Ayzerov and Jack Wehmeyer will represent Columbia
NEW YORK – Columbia's four NCAA Championship qualifiers learned their seeding and first round matchups during the NCAA Wrestling Selection Show Wednesday night. The 2024 NCAA Championships are set to begin next Thursday, March 21 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kai Owen (141), Lennox Wolak (174), Aaron Ayzerov (184) and Jack Wehmeyer (197) will represent Columbia in Kansas City next week.
Wolak earned the highest seed of the squad and will head into the championships as the No. 7 seed in the 174 bracket. Wolak will face Ivy League foe No. 26 Benny Baker from Cornell in the first match Thursday. Ayzerov secured the No. 13 seed in the 184 bracket and will meet Binghamton's Jacob Nolan in the first round. Wehmeyer will enter the field as the No. 28 seed at 197. Wehmeyer will take on Cornell's No. 5 Jacob Cardenas in the first match. Owen secured the No. 31 seed as an at-large qualifier and will battle Penn State's No. 2 Beau Bartlett Thursday.
Wolak and Ayzerov qualified after winning EIWA Championships last weekend. This is the first time since 1953 that Columbia won two individual EIWA championships in the same season. It is also the first time since 2022 that a Columbia wrestler claimed an EIWA title.
Wolak defeated Army's Ben Pasiuk in a 5-1 decision to claim the 174 EIWA crown. Ayzerov posted an 8-5 decision victory against Princeton's Nate Dugan to claim the 184 EIWA title.
Wehmeyer finished fourth at 197 at the EIWA Championships to earn one of the qualifying spots in the NCAA Championships. Wehmeyer advanced through two rounds of consolation Saturday to reach the third-place match at 197. He lost in an 11-1 major decision to Binghamton's Lou Deprez to finish in fourth.
Owen earned an at-large spot in the 141 bracket when the complete field for the NCAA Championships was announced Tuesday. Owen finished seventh at the EIWA Championship.
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).
Kai Owen (141), Lennox Wolak (174), Aaron Ayzerov (184) and Jack Wehmeyer (197) will represent Columbia in Kansas City next week.
Wolak earned the highest seed of the squad and will head into the championships as the No. 7 seed in the 174 bracket. Wolak will face Ivy League foe No. 26 Benny Baker from Cornell in the first match Thursday. Ayzerov secured the No. 13 seed in the 184 bracket and will meet Binghamton's Jacob Nolan in the first round. Wehmeyer will enter the field as the No. 28 seed at 197. Wehmeyer will take on Cornell's No. 5 Jacob Cardenas in the first match. Owen secured the No. 31 seed as an at-large qualifier and will battle Penn State's No. 2 Beau Bartlett Thursday.
Wolak and Ayzerov qualified after winning EIWA Championships last weekend. This is the first time since 1953 that Columbia won two individual EIWA championships in the same season. It is also the first time since 2022 that a Columbia wrestler claimed an EIWA title.
Wolak defeated Army's Ben Pasiuk in a 5-1 decision to claim the 174 EIWA crown. Ayzerov posted an 8-5 decision victory against Princeton's Nate Dugan to claim the 184 EIWA title.
Wehmeyer finished fourth at 197 at the EIWA Championships to earn one of the qualifying spots in the NCAA Championships. Wehmeyer advanced through two rounds of consolation Saturday to reach the third-place match at 197. He lost in an 11-1 major decision to Binghamton's Lou Deprez to finish in fourth.
Owen earned an at-large spot in the 141 bracket when the complete field for the NCAA Championships was announced Tuesday. Owen finished seventh at the EIWA Championship.
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).
Players Mentioned
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