In its final tournament tune-up before dual action heats up in January, the Columbia wrestling team competed on Friday and Saturday at the 28th Annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational. With a total of 30.5 team points, the Lions placed 20th among 42 teams in the prestigious tournament, seven places higher than they finished a year ago.
“We had a pretty good weekend, all things considered,” head coach Brendan Buckley said in an e-mail. “The level of competition was very high, and so the team had a great experience competing against the best guys in the country—the same guys that will be at the NCAA tournament. … This was a great experience for us.”
The Light Blue was led by junior Eren Civan and sophomore Kyle Gilchrist, who have both stepped up their level of competition this year. Civan, who was seeded sixth, advanced to the round of 12 in the 165-pound bracket before he was eliminated. His most exciting bout of the day came against Rider’s Rob Morrison and ended with a 3-1 sudden victory. In the end, Civan was eliminated by No. 6 Andy Rendos of Bucknell.
Gilchrist, competing in the 125-pound bracket, lost his first bout but then went on a four-match win streak before he was eliminated by Boise State’s Alan Bartelli.
Sophomore Andrew Grabfelder, at 133 pounds, also finished with four wins on the day before he was eliminated in the round of 16. Civan, Gilchrist, and Grabfelder represent the Light Blue’s strong core and will be expected to carry a heavy load in dual competition as the season continues. “All three of them have been competing very well lately,” Buckley said.
Columbia’s top freshmen did not place at the invitational, but they did gain a measure of experience after facing some of the nation’s top collegiate wrestlers. Steve Santos (149 pounds), Jake O’Hara (141 pounds), and Stephen West (174 pounds) each had at least two wins in the tournament.
“We have a few freshmen that are on the verge of doing great things this year,” Buckley said.
The Lions now have a long break before their dual season resumes on Jan. 3 at home against George Mason and Ohio State.
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