Bucknell @ Columbia

Columbia Men’s Wrestling defeated Bucknell Men’s Wrestling 25-13 in Columbia, New York on February 4, 2024. The Lions collected the bonus points that decided the dual, while Bucknell picked up a key major late to keep the score respectable.

The difference came on three bonus-point wins for Columbia. At 125 pounds Nick Babin rolled to an 18-0 technical fall, and at 165 Andrew Garr followed with a 19-4 technical fall, each worth five team points. Aaron Ayzerov then added a fall at 184 for six team points, a trio of bonus results that accounted for 16 of Columbia’s points and created separation that Bucknell could not overcome.

Bucknell’s standout result was Dorian Crosby’s 18-4 major decision at 285, which supplied four team points and helped the Bison stay within range down the stretch. Outside of those high-scoring outcomes, the remaining bouts split the difference but did not produce the bonus scoring Bucknell needed to swing the dual back in their favor.

In the end Columbia’s accumulation of tech falls and a pin proved to be the turning stretch, with those bonus victories making the 12-point margin decisive. Bucknell showed resistance with the heavyweight major, but Columbia’s bonus scoring was the clear difference in the 25-13 final.