CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Columbia wrestling team made a striking impression in their season opener by turning bonus point opportunities into triumphs. They secured a robust 27-15 victory over Cleveland State, highlighted by three pins, a tech fall, and a major decision during the dual match held at Woodling Gymnasium on Friday night.
Columbia (1-0) and Cleveland State (0-1) evenly split the 10 bouts at five victories each. However, the Lions showcased their prowess by amassing bonus points in all five of their winning bouts, thereby capturing a commanding road victory. This match also marked a significant milestone for Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Donny Pritzlaff, as it was his inaugural dual win at the helm of the Columbia program.
“Tonight came down to our five leaders going out there and taking charge of the opposition,” Pritzlaff reflected on the match’s dynamics. “Kai got us going, and the momentum continued. Half the lineup exhibited the killer instinct we preach to the team, and I am confident we will improve from this and be better on Sunday.”
With their win, Columbia commenced the season with a 1-0 dual record for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Significantly, the Lions maintained their perfect all-time record against Cleveland State, now standing at 2-0 after previously defeating the Vikings decisively, 34-12, in 2019.
The excitement of the match began with Cleveland State taking a quick 6-0 lead, courtesy of decisive wins in the 125 and 133-pound bouts. Ben Aranda ignited the competition with a tightly contested 6-4 decision victory over Sulayman Bah in the 125 spot. Following closely, Jake Manley secured a 9-3 decision triumph against Boris Witmer at 133 pounds, setting the stage for a fierce contest.
In a pivotal moment, 26th-ranked Kai Owen turned the match in Columbia’s favor during the 141 bout by pinning Landen Duncan in a swift 2:30. This significant fall leveled the team score, allowing Richard Fedalen to put the Lions ahead definitively with another pin against Connor Saylor, completed in 5:36 in the 149 bout, elevating Columbia to a 12-6 lead after four bouts.
The Vikings managed to respond to Columbia’s pins, as Douglas Terry fought hard to secure a narrow 4-2 decision win over Rawson Iwanicki in the 157 spot, narrowing the score gap.
Columbia quickly regained their momentum with three consecutive victories that solidified their dual match triumph. No. 29 Cesar Alvan initiated this successful streak, recording a lightning-quick pin against Tate Geiser in the 165 bout, finishing the match in just 1:01. Jack McGill followed suit with a commanding 18-3 tech fall victory over Gavin Ricketts in the 174 bout. Nick Fine then capped off this impressive run with a decisive 10-1 major decision over JR Reed at 184 pounds.
Despite their spirited effort, Cleveland State concluded the match with wins in the final two bouts. Joey Lyons managed to claim a 6-1 decision over Ike Schmidt at 197 pounds, while No. 22 Daniel Bucknavich finished strong, achieving a 3-0 decision against Vincent Mueller at 285, thereby closing the gap in the final score.
RESULTS
125: Ben Aranda (Cleveland State) def. Sulayman Bah (Columbia) | Decision, 6-4
133: Jake Manley (Cleveland State) def. Boris Witmer (Columbia) | Decision, 9-3
141: #26 Kai Owen (Columbia) def. Landen Duncan (Cleveland State) | Fall, 2:30
149: Richard Fedalen (Columbia) def. Connor Saylor (Cleveland State) | Fall, 5:36
157: Douglas Terry (Cleveland State) def. Rawson Iwanicki (Columbia) | Decision, 4-2
165: #29 Cesar Alvan (Columbia) def. Tate Geiser (Cleveland State) | Fall, 1:01
174: Jack McGill (Columbia) def. Gavin Ricketts (Cleveland State) | Tech Fall, 18-3
184: Nick Fine (Columbia) def. JR Reed (Cleveland State) | Major Decision, 10-1
197: Joey Lyons (Cleveland State) def. Ike Schmidt (Columbia) | Decision, 6-1
285: #22 Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) def. Vincent Mueller (Columbia) | Decision, 3-0
UP NEXT
Columbia will continue their weekend road trip with an exciting dual match against the highly-ranked No. 9 Michigan on Sunday. Action in Ann Arbor is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, with live streaming accessible via Big Ten Plus.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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What strategies did you implement to ensure your team earned bonus points in their matches?
**Interview with Donny Pritzlaff, Head Coach of the Columbia Wrestling Team**
**Editor:** Coach Pritzlaff, congratulations on a fantastic season opener! How does it feel to secure your first dual win at Columbia?
**Donny Pritzlaff:** Thank you! It feels incredible. It’s been a journey getting to this point, and seeing the team come together and perform like this gives me a lot of hope for the rest of the season. The energy in the gym was electric, and it reflects the hard work everyone has put in.
**Editor:** Columbia demonstrated remarkable skill by earning bonus points in all five of your victories. How significant is that for your team’s strategy moving forward?
**Donny Pritzlaff:** That’s huge. We’ve emphasized the importance of turning matches into bonus point opportunities, and tonight was a perfect example of that. It’s about more than just winning—the way you win sets the tone for the rest of the season. I’m excited to see how we can build on this.
**Editor:** You mentioned your team’s “killer instinct” in your post-match comments. Can you elaborate on what that means for the wrestlers?
**Donny Pritzlaff:** Absolutely. The killer instinct is about mentality; it’s the drive to dominate rather than just compete. It’s about not letting up when you have the lead and pushing through to finish strong, just like Kai Owen did with his quick pin. It’s contagious, and I’m glad to see it manifest in our wrestlers.
**Editor:** Starting the season 1-0 for the first time since 2018-19 must give your team a boost. What are your expectations for the upcoming matches?
**Donny Pritzlaff:** It’s a great start, and I believe it will motivate the team. Every match is a chance to grow, and I expect us to take the lessons learned from this match into our next one. We need to keep building on this momentum, and I’m confident we’ll improve as we go.
**Editor:** Lastly, how do you plan to prepare the team for future challenges, especially in a competitive season?
**Donny Pritzlaff:** Preparation is key. We’ll focus on refining our techniques and strategies in practice. We also need to maintain a positive mentality—every day is an opportunity to learn. We’ll analyze our matches, celebrate our successes, and learn from our mistakes. I believe this team has what it takes to surprise a lot of people this season.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Coach Pritzlaff. Best of luck for the rest of the season!
**Donny Pritzlaff:** Thank you! I appreciate it. Go Lions!