After competing on the West Coast earlier this season, Indiana wrestling crossed the country once more, this time heading east. The Hoosiers faced Columbia University for just the second time in the two schools' history and defeated them for the first time since 2010. Additionally, Indiana took fourth in the Navy Classic on Saturday against a loaded field of three other schools ranked top 30 nationally.
Hoosiers triumph over Columbia
For the third consecutive season, Indiana included an Ivy League team in its non-conference schedule. After two years and two victories against Princeton University, the Hoosiers went to Levien Gymnasium in New York City to take the mat against Columbia. The Hoosiers kept their perfect record against Columbia, narrowly defeating the Lions 23-21 Nov. 21.
Columbia and Indiana split the dual, each team taking five matches. The difference was that Indiana put up bonus points in four of those five bouts, including two technical falls, one fall and a major decision. Comparatively, Columbia’s only bonus points came by way of two falls at 141 lbs. and 165 lbs.
Graduate student Angelo Rini made a triumphant return to Columbia by defeating his Lion’s opponent at 133 lbs. via a 16-0 technical fall. Rini spent the past five seasons at Columbia where he was an NCAA qualifier before transferring to Indiana for his final collegiate season. Rini improved to 7-1 on the year and an impressive 50% bonus point rate after this weekend.
In another impressive performance, graduate student Donnell Washington looked as good as ever in his return to the 184 lbs. weight class. In his second match of the season, Washington won by a technical fall, dispatching his Columbia opponent by a score of 19-3 in just over three minutes.
Other winners on Thursday night's showdown included graduate student Jacob Moran, redshirt sophomore Gabe Sollars and graduate student Jacob Bullock. After this weekend, Moran improved to 6-1, Sollars to 5-2 with a 57% bonus point rate and Bullock improved to 6-2.
Two Hoosiers win the Navy Classic
Indiana and 11 other teams competed in the Navy Classic on Nov. 23 at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis, Maryland. The Hoosiers took fourth place in the tournament, scoring 94 points, just shy of third-place Navy Military Academy, which scored 103 points.
Indiana had two champions on the day including Rini and Bullock. Rini had three bonus point wins before defeating No. 14 Bucknell University graduate student Kurt Phipps 3-2 in the 133 lbs. final.
After sealing the victory for the Hoosiers against Columbia, Bullock continued his winning streak in Annapolis. Bullock went 4-0 on Saturday, including one win by technical fall 19-3 in the third period. Bullock’s victory advanced his record to 6-2 on the year and marked his first tournament victory of the year.
Other top performers at the Navy Classic were Moran, who took third at 125 lbs., and redshirt Freshman Logan Frazier, who took fourth at 133 lbs.
Five other Hoosiers stood on the fifth and sixth place spots on the podium, including graduate student Derek Gilcher taking fifth and No. 13 redshirt sophomore Tyler Lillard taking sixth on the 165 lbs. podium. Like last season, Gilcher and Lillard are in a battle for the starting spot at 165 lbs. Lillard won the wrestle off at the beginning of this season and Gilcher evened the score at the Navy Classic. It is unclear who will be the starter for the remainder of the season.
Indiana’s next dual will be against conference foe Illinois at the inaugural Big Ten Takedown Dual on Dec. 6 in Indianapolis. The contest will be broadcast by Big Ten Network with doors set to open to fans at 4 p.m. It will be the first time that Indiana has competed in the state’s capital since 2010.
