Columbia places seventh out of 13 teams in weekend’s EIWA Championships

The Columbia wrestling team finished its season this weekend at the EIWA Championships at Bucknell, placing seventh out of 13 teams.

Going into the tournament with four wrestlers ranked in the top six, they left with three wrestlers placing in the top six, and another two in the top eight. 165-pounder Eren Civan and heavyweight Kevin Lester earned automatic qualifying bids to the NCAA tournament, while 184-pounder Nick Mills could receive a wildcard bid, which will be announced next week. Perhaps the most exciting moment of the tournament was Civan upsetting the top seed, Brandon Hatchett from Lehigh, in order to qualify for the finals. There, Civan fell 3-2 to No. 3 Scott Winston from Rutgers in double overtime, to place second overall.

Junior co-captain Lester won his first two matches on Saturday, but dropped down into the consolation bracket after he lost to Zach Rey from Lehigh, who is ranked No. 1 in the country. Lester then pinned Cornell’s Stryker Lane on Sunday, earning himself a trip to NCAA’s. Mills won his first match, but dropped down into the consolations after losing to Rutger’s No. 4 ranked Daniel Rinaldi. Mills then pinned No. 7 ranked Rob Waltko from Bucknell in 5:09 to place fifth. 149-pounder Steven Santos and 174-pounder Stephen West placed seventh, while 197-pounder Michael Pushpack finished at eighth.

While most of the Lions’ seasons are finished, Lester, Civan and possibly Mills will compete at the NCAA tournament in Philadelphia on March 17-19.