NEW YORK - The Columbia wrestling team will kick off the dual season Saturday with three matches at the Journeyman Wrestling/ASICS Northeast Collegiate Duals in Troy, N.Y. The Lions will go head-to-head with No. 16 Maryland, Rutgers and Drexel in a trio of dual matches after beginning the season with two invitationals.

Columbia is coming off two impressive performances at the Michigan State Open and the New York State Wrestling Championships the past two weekends. In East Lansing, the Lions had five wrestlers place, including claiming three titles. The following weekend, Columbia had wrestlers place in nine of ten weight classes in the 'A' tournament and another seven in the 'B' tournament of the NYSC. Columbia tallied 152.5 points in the 'A' tournament to finish second in the 21-team tournament.

No. 10 Steve Santos, No. 11 Jake O'Hara and No. 13 Stephen West each won titles at both tournaments and each remains undefeated heading into Saturday's competition.

Probable Starters

125 - Penn Gottfried made his first appearance for the Lions at the NYSC going 3-2 and taking fourth place. Gottfried's first victory was a tech fall (16-1) over Army's Hunter Wood and then he faced Wood in a rematch three matches later, knocking off his competitor from West point in a 10-1 major decision.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: Shane Gentry (6-0), Rutgers: Joe Langel (4-7, 2011-12 record), Drexel: Kevin Devoy Jr. or Jacob Goodwin (Second and fourth, respectively, at East Stroudsburg Open)

133 - Joe Moita became the first Lion to compete at the 133-pound weight class this season, finishing fourth at the NYSC 'A' tournament last weekend. Moita won four consecutive matches in the consolation draw, including a major decision (11-3) over Hunter's Kenneth Albert.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: No. 15 Geoffrey Alexander (4-1), Rutgers: Vincent Dellefave (13-13, 2011-12 record), Drexel: Clay Lutzlow (Freshman, 2-0 dual record)

141 - Ryan Ponte holds a 7-3 record after competing in the open division at the MSU Open and the 'B' tournament at the NYSC. Ponte won four matches at the NYSC, including an 8-0 major decision over Brockport's Joshua Brabon. Matt Bystol competed in the 'A' tournament at the NYSC going 1-2 with an 11-2 major decision over Niagara's Brian Galuski.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: Frank Goodwin (0-0) or Danny O'Malley (2-3), Rutgers: Trevor Melde (Two-time NCAA qualifier), Drexel: Frank Cimato (19-13, 2011-12 record)

149 - Steve Santos cracks the AWN top-10 at 10th in this week's rankings after opening the year with eight consecutive wins. The senior co-captain has won weight class titles at the MSU Open and NYSC 'A' tournament. Of his eight wins this season, Santos has one major decision and two pins.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: Lou Mascola (5-1), Rutgers: Mario Mason (Three-time NCAA qualifier), Drexel: Shane Fenningham (2-0 dual record this season)

157 - No. 11 Jake O'Hara matches Santos with an 8-0 mark and two tournament titles this season. O'Hara has a pair of major decisions that include a 12-3 win over Purdue's Dustin Schultz and a 10-0 shutout of Niagara's Irvan Buck.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: Brady Massaro (1-3) or Danny Orem (1-0), Rutgers: No. 9 Scott Winston (5-1), Drexel: Austin Sommer (2-0 dual record this season)

165 - Josh Houldsworth (5-1) and Adam Fondale (4-2) both enter the Northeast Duals with winning records after placing at the NYSC. Houldsworth picked up five wins in the 'A' tournament and notched his first pin of the season in 2:30 over USMMA's Brandon Yeik. Fondale captured four wins in the 'B' tournament, including two by way of pin.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: Josh Snook (1-1), Rutgers: Nick Visicaro (18-5, 2011-12 record), Drexel: Charles Aungst (2-0 dual record this season)

174 - After entering the season unranked, Stephen West has wrestled his way to a 9-0 record and a No. 13 national ranking. West has recorded three pins and one major decision en route to titles at the MSU Open and NYSC 'A' tournament.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: No. 3 Josh Asper (4-0) or Aaron Norris (1-2), Rutgers:No. 10 Greg Zannetti (5-0), Drexel: Connor Moran (1-1 dual record)

184 - Shane Hughes holds an even 4-4 record after the first two weeks of the 2012-13 campaign. Three of Hughes wins have come via pin. Drew Rebling took sixth in the 'A' tournament at the NYSC with a pin over a pin over RIT's Adam Hughey.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: Josh Snook (1-1), Rutgers: No. 13 Dan Rinaldi (5-0), Drexel: Charles Aungst (2-0 dual record this season)

197 - Nick Mills has wrestled his way to a 7-3 record through his first 10 matches this season, including a runner-up showing at the NYSC 'A' tournament. Mills has two pins and a major decision already in 2012-13. Matt Idelson won the 'B' tournament and takes a 5-2 mark into the weekend. Idelson won three matches via fall en route to the title.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: No. 10 Christian Boley (4-0), Rutgers: Dan Seidenberg (14-13, 2011-12 record), Drexel: No. 16 Brandon Palik (2-0 dual record this season)

285 - Chris Manna his 3-4 through the first two weeks after finishing seventh at the NYSC 'A' tournament. Manna has earned a pin over Manchester's Jason Pedigo and a major decision against Mount Saint Vincent's.

Opposing Probables - Maryland: Dallas Brown (3-0) or Carl Buchholz (2-2), Rutgers: No. 20 Billy Smith (25-7, 2011-12 record), Drexel: Jamie Callendar (2-0 dual record this season)