The Crimson wrestling team faced off against Columbia on Saturday, but fell short with a score of 32-8. Despite the final score, the match felt much closer.
This was Harvard’s first dual meet since early February, when they lost to both Princeton and Penn. Knowing they needed to improve, the Crimson were eager to secure their first Ivy League win.
Freshman Logan Brzozowski and junior Jimmy Harrington both showed strong performances, but Harvard’s efforts weren’t enough to clinch a victory.
The match kicked off with Columbia gaining an early 4-0 lead after sophomore Sulayman Bah defeated Harvard’s Isaiah Adams in a major decision.
However, Harvard quickly rallied. In the 133-pound match, sophomore Logan Brzozowski took on Connor Smith from Columbia. Brzozowski executed two impressive single-leg takedowns, finishing the first and riding Smith out for the rest of the period.
In the second period, Brzozowski escaped and took Smith down again, widening his lead to seven points. After allowing a reversal late in the second, he regained control in the third period. He dominated the match with three more takedowns, winning by technical fall with a score of 21-6. This put Harvard ahead 5-4.
Brzozowski shared his strategy after the match: “I just listened to my coaches and kept scoring points. That’s it!”
Next, junior Dante Frinzi wrestled against Lorenzo Frezza at 141 pounds. Despite a spirited fight, Frinzi lost by technical fall with a score of 17-2.
Sophomore Jaden Pepe wrestled at 149 pounds. He managed to stage a small comeback with a takedown in the third, but ultimately lost 8-3.
Harrington was the highlight for Harvard, winning his 157-pound match decisively 4-1 after two strong periods. His victory sparked excitement among the Crimson bench.
Unfortunately, the next three matches saw defeat for Harvard. Cael Berg (165), Alex Whitworth (174), and Luke Rada (184) all lost, pushing Columbia’s lead to 26-8 due to bonus points from technical falls and a major decision.
The final two matches were closely contested. Freshman Hudson Skove fought hard against Joe Curtis at 197 pounds but ultimately lost 8-5. Senior Jeffrey Crooks faced a close match against Columbia’s heavyweight, losing 6-3 despite a late attempt to tie it up.
In total, Harvard lost to Columbia 32-8.
After the match, head coach Jay Weiss focused on the upcoming challenges. He emphasized preparing for the Ivy Tournament and encouraged his athletes to trust in their abilities. “They need to know how good they are,” he said.
As the regular season wraps up, Harvard will gear up for the Ivy League Championship on March 9 in Princeton, N.J.
– Staff Writer Jude L. Stafford can be reached at jude.stafford@thecrimson.com
