Three seniors and one junior were named captains for the Columbia Wrestling team for the 2007-08 season

Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Brendan Buckley announced today.

"I am happy to announce that Anthony Constantino, Brandon Kinney, Nick

Sommerfeld and Derek Sickles, will be leading our team for 2007-08

season," Buckley said.

"All of our captains have demonstrated that they are fit to lead our

team on the mat, in the classroom, and in the community. We witnessed

their dedication this past summer by watching them train in the weight

room and on the mat, as well as build their resumes with outstanding

internships in New York City," Buckley continued.

Brandon Kinney qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2007, and has

already captured two titles at 125 pounds this season. Kinney was 5-0

at the East Stroudsburg Open, and captured the Mat Town Open

championship on November 24, having earned back-to-back sudden death

victories in the semifinal and final rounds. Kinney is 9-0 after two

tournaments this year, and is 57-23 in his career. Last season, he was

honorable mention All-Ivy League and took third at the EIWA

Championships.

Nick Sommerfeld, a 197-pounder, placed second at both the East

Stroudsburg Open and Mat Town Open, and is 6-2 this season. Sommerfeld

was sixth at Easterns in 2007 and was a second team All-Ivy League

selection. Sommerfeld is 44-24 as a Columbia wrestler.

Anthony Constantino, a NCAA qualifier in 2006, missed most of last year

because of injuries, is 1-1 this season at 149, having defeated

Pittsburgh's Jeff Warrenz, 5-1, at the East Stroudsburg Open.

Constantino is 6-4 in Ivy League duals and is 49-32 in his career on

the mat at Morningside Heights.

Derek Sickles, the lone junior of the group, is 9-2 this season, having

earned six victories at the East Stroudsburg Open en route to the title

at 157 pounds. Sickles placed fourth at the Mat Town Open. He earned

All-Ivy League second team honors as a sophomore. Sickles has improved

his career record to 39-29.

"I am very proud of Anthony, Brandon and Nick, our three senior

captains, and know how hard they have been working over their entire

careers to be awarded the title of team captain. As for Derek, he has

done an outstanding job developing into a team leader over the last

year. I look forward to reaching new heights this season and know that

these four outstanding student-athletes will help us reach our goals of

winning Ivy League and EIWA titles," Buckley explained.

The Lions will travel to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on

Friday, November 30 for a two-day tournament against some of the best

competition in America.

Timothy Williamson

Assistant Director

Sports Information/Media Relations

Columbia University

3030 Broadway, Mail Code 1914

New York, NY 10027

212-854-9870 (office)

212-854-8168 (fax)