Friday, January 16
New York, N.Y.
7:00 PM
Columbia University
vs
Morgan State
Photo by: Scott Pilutik
Wrestling Hosts Morgan State on Friday Night
1/15/2026 11:09:00 AM | Wrestling
Lions host the Bears in a non-conference clash
NEW YORK – Columbia wrestling returns home for the first time since November when the Lions host Morgan State on Friday evening at Levien Gymnasium. Friday's dual meet against the Bears is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
LIVE COVERAGE
Friday's dual match against the Bears will be streamed live on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
Last time out, Columbia had a stellar day with three Lions claiming titles and seven wrestlers in total placing on the podium at the David H. Lehman F&M Open hosted by Franklin & Marshall. Kai Owen (157), Nick Fine (174) and Jack Wehmeyer (197) all captured titles, while Joe Curtis and Vincent Mueller finished second at 184 and 285, respectively. Sulayman Bah finished fourth at 125, and Richard Fedalen took sixth at 149.
PROJECTED LINEUP (Intermat/FloWrestling ranking)
125: Sulayman Bah
133: Evin Gursoy
141: 21/18 Lorenzo Frezza
149: Richard Fedalen
157: 21/20 Kai Owen
165: 32/33 Cesar Alvan
174: 30 Nick Fine
184: Joe Curtis
197: 33 Jack Wehmeyer
285: 32 Vincent Mueller
IN THE RANKINGS
In the latest rankings from Intermat and FloWrestling, Columbia has a season-high seven athletes ranked in the top-33. Owen and Mueller make their debut in the rankings, with Owen ranked No. 21 in FloWrestling's ranking and No. 20 in the Intermat polls. Mueller checks in at No. 32 at 285 in Intermat. Frezza is ranked No. 20 in FloWrestling and No. 18 in Intermat's ranking at 141. Alvan is ranked No. 32 and No. 33 in both polls at 165. Nick Fine is ranked No. 30 in Intermat's poll at 174, while Wehmeyer checks in at No. 33 at 197. Aaron Ayzerov is the Lions' top-ranked wrestler; he is ranked No. 15 in FloWrestling and No. 23 in Intermat at 184.
NCAA STAT LEADERS
Through January 12, the Lions have a trio of wrestlers who rank in the top-10 in tech falls and falls. Nick Fine is ninth in the nation with seven wins via tech fall. Meanwhile, Vincent Mueller and Joe Curtis are ranked No. 1 and No. 4 in the nation, respectively, for wins via fall. Mueller has 10 this year, while Curtis has nine against Division I opponents.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Senior Kai Owen was named the Ivy League Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday. The Tampa, Fla., native went 5-0 and captured the 157 title at the David H. Lehman F&M Open last weekend. He capped off his strong run with a win over No. 13 DJ McGee of George Mason in the championship bout, winning by fall at 4:17. For the year, Owen is 11-2 overall and has won nine bouts in a row after going 4-0 at the Bobby Kauffman Open last week.
HEATING UP
The Lions have five grapplers currently on a hot streak entering Friday's dual. Curtis has won 13 of his last 14 matches, with four coming via tech fall and nine by fall. Fine has won 11 of his last 13 matches, including seven in a row. His last bout was an 18-0 win via tech fall to capture the 174 crown at the David H. Lehman Open. Mueller has won 11 of his last 12 at 285, including a second-place finish at the David H. Lehman Open. Owen has won 11 straight, and Wehmeyer has won nine of his last 10 matches, including seven in a row.
ABOUT THE BEARS
Morgan State enters Friday's match 0-10 on the year. Friday will be their first action of the new year. Last time out, they got swept at the Bucknell Tri-Meet, falling to Virginia 55-0 in the finale. Eugene Harney is Morgan State's top wrestler. Harney is 14-2 this year and competes at the 149-pound weight class. In dual meets, he is 7-1.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST MORGAN STATE
Friday will be the first-ever match-up between the Lions and Bears.
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).
LIVE COVERAGE
Friday's dual match against the Bears will be streamed live on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
Last time out, Columbia had a stellar day with three Lions claiming titles and seven wrestlers in total placing on the podium at the David H. Lehman F&M Open hosted by Franklin & Marshall. Kai Owen (157), Nick Fine (174) and Jack Wehmeyer (197) all captured titles, while Joe Curtis and Vincent Mueller finished second at 184 and 285, respectively. Sulayman Bah finished fourth at 125, and Richard Fedalen took sixth at 149.
PROJECTED LINEUP (Intermat/FloWrestling ranking)
125: Sulayman Bah
133: Evin Gursoy
141: 21/18 Lorenzo Frezza
149: Richard Fedalen
157: 21/20 Kai Owen
165: 32/33 Cesar Alvan
174: 30 Nick Fine
184: Joe Curtis
197: 33 Jack Wehmeyer
285: 32 Vincent Mueller
IN THE RANKINGS
In the latest rankings from Intermat and FloWrestling, Columbia has a season-high seven athletes ranked in the top-33. Owen and Mueller make their debut in the rankings, with Owen ranked No. 21 in FloWrestling's ranking and No. 20 in the Intermat polls. Mueller checks in at No. 32 at 285 in Intermat. Frezza is ranked No. 20 in FloWrestling and No. 18 in Intermat's ranking at 141. Alvan is ranked No. 32 and No. 33 in both polls at 165. Nick Fine is ranked No. 30 in Intermat's poll at 174, while Wehmeyer checks in at No. 33 at 197. Aaron Ayzerov is the Lions' top-ranked wrestler; he is ranked No. 15 in FloWrestling and No. 23 in Intermat at 184.
NCAA STAT LEADERS
Through January 12, the Lions have a trio of wrestlers who rank in the top-10 in tech falls and falls. Nick Fine is ninth in the nation with seven wins via tech fall. Meanwhile, Vincent Mueller and Joe Curtis are ranked No. 1 and No. 4 in the nation, respectively, for wins via fall. Mueller has 10 this year, while Curtis has nine against Division I opponents.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Senior Kai Owen was named the Ivy League Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday. The Tampa, Fla., native went 5-0 and captured the 157 title at the David H. Lehman F&M Open last weekend. He capped off his strong run with a win over No. 13 DJ McGee of George Mason in the championship bout, winning by fall at 4:17. For the year, Owen is 11-2 overall and has won nine bouts in a row after going 4-0 at the Bobby Kauffman Open last week.
HEATING UP
The Lions have five grapplers currently on a hot streak entering Friday's dual. Curtis has won 13 of his last 14 matches, with four coming via tech fall and nine by fall. Fine has won 11 of his last 13 matches, including seven in a row. His last bout was an 18-0 win via tech fall to capture the 174 crown at the David H. Lehman Open. Mueller has won 11 of his last 12 at 285, including a second-place finish at the David H. Lehman Open. Owen has won 11 straight, and Wehmeyer has won nine of his last 10 matches, including seven in a row.
ABOUT THE BEARS
Morgan State enters Friday's match 0-10 on the year. Friday will be their first action of the new year. Last time out, they got swept at the Bucknell Tri-Meet, falling to Virginia 55-0 in the finale. Eugene Harney is Morgan State's top wrestler. Harney is 14-2 this year and competes at the 149-pound weight class. In dual meets, he is 7-1.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST MORGAN STATE
Friday will be the first-ever match-up between the Lions and Bears.
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).
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Highlights: WR | Columbia at Hofstra
Sunday, November 16
Highlights: WR | Columbia 27, Brown 17
Sunday, February 16
Highlights: WR | Columbia 32, Harvard 8
Saturday, February 15
Highlights: WR | Columbia 20, Penn 24
Friday, January 24
