CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Columbia wrestling team went on the road and dominated by winning eight of ten bouts to defeat Harvard, 32-8 on Saturday afternoon. The win over Harvard marks Columbia's first Ivy League dual win of the season.
Columbia's win in Cambridge on Saturday marks back-to-back wins over Harvard for the first time since the Lions defeated the Crimson in both 2014 and 2015. Columbia defeated Harvard last season in New York, 29-14.
The Lions capitalized on bonus points to cruise past the Crimson. Columbia tallied three tech fall victories and two major decision wins to turn in bonus points in five of eight bout wins.
"Overall, the team looked tough today," Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Donny Pritzlaff said. "Our staff has been adamant about leg attacking relentlessly and scoring. Plenty of takedowns and bonus points this afternoon. We were getting after it and continuing to score throughout the dual. There are many areas to improve upon and we have another great opportunity tomorrow in Providence."
Saturday's dual started at 125, where
Sulayman Bah set the tone with a 20-9 major decision win over Isaiah Adams. Harvard's Logan Brzozowski answered back with a 21-6 tech fall win against
Connor Smith in the 133 bout to give Harvard its only lead of the day.
Lorenzo Frezza put the Lions ahead for good with a 17-2 tech fall win against Dante Frinzi at 141 pounds.
Kai Owen followed with a 9-3 decision over Jaden Pepe at 149. Harvard secured its last bout victory of the dual before intermission as No. 32 James Harrington got past
Richard Fedalen via decision, 4-1 at 157 pounds.
Coming out of the intermission, Columbia was in control the rest of the way. The Lions won the final five bouts to finish off the 32-8 team victory. No. 27
Cesar Alvan (165) and No. 30
Nick Fine (184) continued to impress as they both won via tech fall.
Jack McGill secured a major decision victory at 174 and
Joe Curtis battled for a decision win at 197.
Richard Ryu took the mat for the 285 bout as he posted a 6-3 decision victory against Jeffrey Crooks to earn his first dual victory as a Lion.
RESULTS
Columbia 32, Harvard 8
125:
Sulayman Bah (COL) def. Isaiah Adams (HAR) | Major Decision, 20-9
133: Logan Brzozowski (HAR) def.
Connor Smith (COL) | Tech Fall, 21-6
141:
Lorenzo Frezza (COL) def. Dante Frinzi (HAR) | Tech Fall, 17-2
149:
Kai Owen (COL) def. Jaden Pepe (HAR) | Decision, 9-3
157: #32 James Harrington (HAR) def.
Richard Fedalen (COL) | Decision, 4-1
165: #27
Cesar Alvan (COL) def. Cael Berg (HAR) | Tech Fall, 21-5
174:
Jack McGill (COL) def. Alex Whitworth (HAR) | Major Decision 21-10
184: #30
Nick Fine (COL) def. Luke Rada (HAR) | Tech Fall, 19-4
197:
Joe Curtis (COL) def. Hudson Skove (HAR) | Decision, 8-5
285:
Richard Ryu (COL) def. Jeffrey Crooks (HAR) | Decision, 6-3
*NCAA Coaches' Rankings
UP NEXT
Columbia finished the weekend trip Sunday at Brown. Action from Providence will begin at 1 p.m. in the final Ivy League dual of the season.
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