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The state of New York descended on the Malkin Athletic Center on Saturday, as Columbia and Cornell arrived for a pair of matches against Harvard wrestling. The competitions marked the start of Ivy League competition for the Crimson, which posted a 1-1 showing last Saturday.

The same result materialized this weekend. Ranked in the top 10 nationally, the Big Red (9-2, 2-0 Ivy) posed a stiffer test and downed Harvard, 33-11. Before that defeat, though, the Crimson edged the Lions (3-8, 1-1) by a tally of 24-14.

CORNELL 33, HARVARD 11

The last time that Harvard (2-5, 1-1) wrestled Cornell, Nick Gajdzik lost more than his match. He lost his season, too.

The date was Jan. 15, 2016. The Big Red led 28-14 when the heavyweight standout stepped onto the mat.

The injury happened in a flash. But one twist of a knee was enough to sideline Gajdzik for the rest of the year.

On Saturday night, supported by a renovated knee, the fifth-year senior got a chance at revenge. At the Malkin Athletic Center, Gajdzik wrestled Jeramy Sweany, the same opponent that he had battled in 2016.

This time, Gajdzik emerged with an intact knee, a 7-4 win by decision, and an ovation from family and friends.

“That’s an injury that very well could have ended my career rather than just a season,” the tri-captain said. “I was really pumped. It was my second chance, and I think I made the most of it.”

However, Gajdzik’s success proved aberrant on a night when No. 9 Cornell defended its reputation with a 33-11 victory.

More emblematic was the cousin-versus-cousin duel between the Crimson’s Kanon Dean and the Big Red’s Gabriel Dean. The senior Gabriel, a back-to-back NCAA champion, topped the junior Dean by fall.

Even the most dependable Harvard wrestlers struggled to gain traction. Tri-captain Josef Johnson entered with a 23-6 record, but he dropped a 14-2 major decision.

Still, the Crimson built an early lead on the strength of wins by freshman Connor Sakmar (by fall), sophomore Samuel Goldman (17-1 by technical fall), and freshman A.J. Jaffe (7-5 by decision).

That advantage evaporated quickly, as Harvard conceded six straight matches. Besides Johnson, two wrestlers lost by major decision—senior Colby Knight and freshman Kyle Bierdumpfel. Meanwhile junior Logan Kirby and Dean exited after falls, and rookie Hunter Ladnier dropped a 12-6 decision.