Friday, March 20
Cleveland, Ohio
All Day
Columbia
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Scott Pilutik
Cesar Alvan Becomes Seventh All-American in Program History
3/20/2026 10:55:00 PM | Wrestling
Lions set new program record for team points with 20.5 through two days
CLEVELAND – Senior Cesar Alvan became the seventh All-American in program history with a thrilling 4-2 win in the quarterfinals of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships on Friday at Rocket Arena. Friday also saw the Lions set a new program record for points scored in the team competition, with 20.5 through two days.
Taking on fourth-seed Nico Ruiz of Arizona State, whom Alvan beat in overtime earlier this year, the 12th-seeded Alvan jumped out to an early lead thanks to a takedown midway through the first period.
Ruiz scored two points thanks to a pair of escapes, the second coming with 1:35 left in regulation, but it was not enough as Alvan was able to fend off a late rush to win the bout 4-2 to earn All-American honors. He is Columbia's first All-American since Lennox Wolak in 2024.
In the semifinals, Alvan faced No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State. The top-seeded Nittany Lion took control of the bout immediately with a takedown and a 4-point near fall. Alvan battled but could not get a point, falling via a 15-0 tech fall.
Columbia had three other Lions competing on Friday: Kai Owen (157), Nick Fine (174), and Vincent Mueller (285).
Owen began his day with an impressive win by fall over familiar foe Jimmy Harrington of Harvard. The two had squared off twice this year, with each wrestler earning a win. Harrington defeated Owen by fall in the dual meet on February 14. Owen evened up the series with a 4-0 decision at the Ivy League Tournament. In the rubber match, he took control immediately with a 3-point takedown 25 seconds into the bout. He would finish the pin at 1:45.
Owen advanced to session four with a 9-5 win via decision over #27 Dylan Evans of Pitt. Owen raced out to the early advantage with a takedown and a 4-point nearfall in the first. An escape in the second, a stalling penalty and a takedown by Evans made it 7-5, but Owen put the match away with an escape with 17 seconds remaining and a riding time point.
Owen's run came to an end in the Blood Round, falling by major decision, 8-0, to No. 7 Kannon Webster of Illinois.
Fine saw his tournament run come to an end in the consolation second round. Taking on No. 18 Colin Kelly of Illinois, Fine could not break through. Kelly scored the bout's opening points with a takedown midway through the first period. He put the match away in the third with a second takedown and clinched it 7-1 with riding time. Fine finished his second NCAA Championship appearance, going 1-2.
Mueller also saw his run end in the consolation second round. Facing No. 15 Brady Colbert of Army, Mueller trailed early when Colbert got an escape and takedown midway through the second. In the third, Mueller was charged with a stall, awarding another point to Colbert. An escape by Mueller made it 5-1, but he could not score another point. Mueller's first NCAA Championship appearance ends with him going 1-2.
The tournament concludes with the final day on Saturday. Session 5 begins at 11 a.m. Alvan takes on No. 13 Andrew Sparks of Minnesota in the consolation semifinals.
Day 2 Results
157: Kai Owen
Cons. Round 2: #19 Kai Owen (COL) def. #20 Jimmy Harrington (Harvard), F (1:45)
Cons. Round 3: #7 Kannon Webster (Illinois) def. #19 Kai Owen (COL), Major Dec., 8-0
165: Cesar Alvan
Quarterfinals: #12 Cesar Alvan (COL) def. #4 Nico Ruiz (Arizona State), Dec. 4-2
Semifinals: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) def. #12 Cesar Alvan (COL),
174: Nick Fine
Consolation Round 2: #18 Colin Kelly (Illinois) def. #16 Nick Fine (COL), Dec. 7-1
285: Vincent Mueller
Cons. Round 2: #15 Brady Colbert (Army) def. #17 Vincent Mueller (COL), Dec. 6-1
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).
Taking on fourth-seed Nico Ruiz of Arizona State, whom Alvan beat in overtime earlier this year, the 12th-seeded Alvan jumped out to an early lead thanks to a takedown midway through the first period.
Ruiz scored two points thanks to a pair of escapes, the second coming with 1:35 left in regulation, but it was not enough as Alvan was able to fend off a late rush to win the bout 4-2 to earn All-American honors. He is Columbia's first All-American since Lennox Wolak in 2024.
In the semifinals, Alvan faced No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink of Penn State. The top-seeded Nittany Lion took control of the bout immediately with a takedown and a 4-point near fall. Alvan battled but could not get a point, falling via a 15-0 tech fall.
Columbia had three other Lions competing on Friday: Kai Owen (157), Nick Fine (174), and Vincent Mueller (285).
Owen began his day with an impressive win by fall over familiar foe Jimmy Harrington of Harvard. The two had squared off twice this year, with each wrestler earning a win. Harrington defeated Owen by fall in the dual meet on February 14. Owen evened up the series with a 4-0 decision at the Ivy League Tournament. In the rubber match, he took control immediately with a 3-point takedown 25 seconds into the bout. He would finish the pin at 1:45.
Owen advanced to session four with a 9-5 win via decision over #27 Dylan Evans of Pitt. Owen raced out to the early advantage with a takedown and a 4-point nearfall in the first. An escape in the second, a stalling penalty and a takedown by Evans made it 7-5, but Owen put the match away with an escape with 17 seconds remaining and a riding time point.
Owen's run came to an end in the Blood Round, falling by major decision, 8-0, to No. 7 Kannon Webster of Illinois.
Fine saw his tournament run come to an end in the consolation second round. Taking on No. 18 Colin Kelly of Illinois, Fine could not break through. Kelly scored the bout's opening points with a takedown midway through the first period. He put the match away in the third with a second takedown and clinched it 7-1 with riding time. Fine finished his second NCAA Championship appearance, going 1-2.
Mueller also saw his run end in the consolation second round. Facing No. 15 Brady Colbert of Army, Mueller trailed early when Colbert got an escape and takedown midway through the second. In the third, Mueller was charged with a stall, awarding another point to Colbert. An escape by Mueller made it 5-1, but he could not score another point. Mueller's first NCAA Championship appearance ends with him going 1-2.
The tournament concludes with the final day on Saturday. Session 5 begins at 11 a.m. Alvan takes on No. 13 Andrew Sparks of Minnesota in the consolation semifinals.
Day 2 Results
157: Kai Owen
Cons. Round 2: #19 Kai Owen (COL) def. #20 Jimmy Harrington (Harvard), F (1:45)
Cons. Round 3: #7 Kannon Webster (Illinois) def. #19 Kai Owen (COL), Major Dec., 8-0
165: Cesar Alvan
Quarterfinals: #12 Cesar Alvan (COL) def. #4 Nico Ruiz (Arizona State), Dec. 4-2
Semifinals: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) def. #12 Cesar Alvan (COL),
174: Nick Fine
Consolation Round 2: #18 Colin Kelly (Illinois) def. #16 Nick Fine (COL), Dec. 7-1
285: Vincent Mueller
Cons. Round 2: #15 Brady Colbert (Army) def. #17 Vincent Mueller (COL), Dec. 6-1
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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