Columbia Wrestling Tramples Bucknell but Falls to Maryland in Bittersweet Weekend

The Lions managed to defeat the Bucknell Bison this past weekend as the Columbia wrestling team posted a 21-16 win in its home opener. Fighting in a neck-and-neck battle that lasted for most of the meet, the Light Blue was able to bounce back from trailing 16-12 to secure its victory, only to fall on Sunday to Maryland in a 22-12 loss.

The Columbia team, now 3-4 overall and 2-1 in its conference, ranked eighth according to the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA), was the underdog in Friday’s match. Bucknell, now 7-9-1 overall and 2-3 in the EIWA, was ranked sixth. Maryland, now 13-4 overall, was ranked 21st in the NCAA Division I poll.

At the Bucknell match, Columbia senior Brandon Kinney, ranked third by the EIWA, pinned sophomore Greg Hart in the 125-pound bout, bringing the Lions to a 6-0 lead at the start of the match. Senior 133-pounder Jerome Greco fell to Bucknell sophomore David Marble, ranked fourth by the EIWA, in a 21-6 technical fall, bringing the score to a 6-6 tie. Bison sophomore Luke Chohany brought his team to a 9-6 lead after defeating freshman 141-pounder Nick Standish in a major decision, but the Lions responded with a 149-pound bout win from EIWA’s fifth-ranked senior Anthony Constantino.

Tied at 9-9 after the first four matchups, Columbia managed to add on one more win from sophomore Matt Dunn in the 157-pound bout before falling in the 165- and 174-weight classes to two EIWA-ranked Bucknell wrestlers. Third-ranked sophomore Andy Rendos and sixth-ranked sophomore Shane Riccio defeated Columbia sophomore Victor Mocco and freshman Travis Creagan. By this point, the Bison had managed to gain a 16-12 lead over the Lions.

Columbia, however, went on to end Bucknell’s winning streak with three decisive wins. Junior Kenji Porter took a 3-1 victory against sixth-ranked freshman David Thompson in the 184-pound contest. Soon after, senior 197-pounder Nick Sommerfeld, ranked second in his weight class, wrestled Bucknell sophomore Sean LoCurto in a close bout that ended in a 5-2 victory for Sommerfeld. Leading 18-16, the Lions extended the score to a final 21-16, as senior Jed Wade earned a 3-2 win over sophomore heavyweight George Hingson.

Sunday’s match, however, was not nearly as fortuitous for the Lions. While Constantino, Dunn, and Wade managed to improve upon Friday’s wins, Porter, Sommerfeld, and Kinney fell to the Terps. Sommerfeld lost to sophomore Hudson Taylor, who was tied for the Atlantic Coast Conference lead and sixth in the nation going into the match. Creagan was able to turn around from Friday’s performance, defeating Maryland freshman Bradley Nielson in the 174-pound bout. The Lions never managed to take the lead during the match, though at one point, they came close, with only a one-point margin.

Columbia’s next match will be this weekend against Cornell and Binghamton.