The Columbia wrestling team, currently ranked No. 25, will conclude its regular season on Sunday by hosting Bucknell at home. The event will also serve as Senior Day, with the Lions set to honor eight senior athletes in a pre-match ceremony.
Sunday’s dual meet will be available for live streaming on ESPN+.
Columbia enters the match after recent victories over Harvard and Brown. These wins secured the program’s fifth Ivy League title and its first since 1982. Against Harvard, Columbia won eight out of ten bouts for a 38-9 result, followed by a 28-10 win over Brown. Wrestlers Sulayman Bah, Cesar Alvan, and Vincent Mueller each posted two wins during these matches.
The projected lineup features several nationally ranked athletes according to FloWrestling and Intermat polls: Lorenzo Frezza (#22/#21 at 141 lbs), Kai Owen (#20/#20 at 157 lbs), Cesar Alvan (#17/#22 at 165 lbs), Nick Fine (-/#26 at 174 lbs), Aaron Ayzerov or Joe Curtis (184 lbs; Ayzerov #15/#23), Jack Wehmeyer (-/#32 at 197 lbs), and Vincent Mueller (#28/#28 at heavyweight).
This season marks only the second time in program history that Columbia has been included in a top-25 national poll, with the last occurrence in 2007. In addition to their FloWrestling ranking, the Lions received 14 votes in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association poll.
Seven Columbia wrestlers are currently ranked within the top-33 nationally. Aaron Ayzerov leads the group as No. 15 in FloWrestling’s rankings. Cesar Alvan recently moved up to No. 17 in that same poll. Other ranked athletes include Lorenzo Frezza, Kai Owen, Nick Fine, Jack Wehmeyer, and Vincent Mueller.
Joe Curtis and Vincent Mueller share distinction as leading pin artists nationwide; both have achieved eleven wins by fall this season—tying them for most falls among NCAA competitors.
Before Sunday’s competition begins, seniors Cesar Alvan, Aaron Ayzerov, Richard Fedalen, Nick Fine, Kai Owen, Richard Ryu, Ike Schmidt, and Boris Witmer will be recognized for their contributions to the program.
Bucknell arrives with a season record of 7-11 following a narrow home victory over American University (22-21). Five Bison wrestlers appear in FloWrestling’s rankings; Myles Takats is their highest-ranked competitor at No. 15 (174 lbs).
This weekend’s contest marks the eighteenth meeting between Columbia and Bucknell since their series began in 1977. Bucknell holds a slight advantage with nine wins to Columbia’s eight; however, Columbia won their most recent matchup on February 21, 2025.
Fans can follow updates about Columbia wrestling through X (@CULionsWR), Instagram (@culionswr), and Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
