Wasilla grappler to attend Columbia

Jed Wade has a New York state of mind.

The Wasilla High School grappler has decided to attend Columbia University in New York City. Wade committed to the Ivy League school and will be a member of the Columbia wrestling team beginning next season.

"New York City is a beautiful place, I think I will have a lot of fun there," Wade said. "Columbia is an Ivy League school and I am very excited about that."

Wade, one of the top prep wrestlers ever to compete in Alaska, cited several reasons why Colubmia was his school of choice.

"Columbia has a young coaching staff and I am very excited about the program, it is up and coming," Wade said.

The fact that Columbia is an Ivy League academic institution was also a draw to Wade.

"I really wanted to balance my education with wrestling," Wade said. "I didn't want one or the other to play a bigger role in choosing the school. I wanted to chose a school where the coaches took education seriously and didn't try to push only wrestling."

As an Ivy League school, Columbia does not offer athletic scholarships, but Wade said with the combination of academic scholarships and grants, he received a financial aid package very similar to a full ride.

Columbia was one of four schools Wade listed as his final choices. Wade also considered Northwestern, Brown and California Davis. Wade narrowed his choices down to four schools after sorting through a list of 10 schools that included his final four, as well as Stanford, Harvard and Cornell.

"It is a tough process," Wade said. "I am relieved to have signed and definitely feel good about my decision."

Wade found many positives about each of the schools he considered. UC Davis is coached by former Palmer High School mentor Lennie Zalesky. Wade's brothers Jack and James wrestled for Zalesky at Palmer High and at Indiana University where Zalesky was an assistant coach. He said his family was able to show him the positive aspects of going to UC Davis.

"My brothers were with (Zalesky) at Palmer and Indiana and showed me how great of a guy he is and how good I could possibly get under him," Wade said. "I could tell you good things about Brown and Northwestern also. It is so hard to make the decision. It is a good problem to have."

Wade said he will wrestle in the 197-pound class in college.

"It will take a lot of work lifting to put on weight," Wade said.

He currently wrestles in the 189-pound class.

Columbia also has an incoming junior at 197 pounds. Wade said he is looking forward to the competition of an upperclassman in his weight class, but his intention is to win the varsity spot and start.

Wade recently became Alaska's career leader in wins. He currently has a career record of 150-11. Wade has dropped just one match in the last two years, losing in the semifinals of the 2002 Reno Tournament of Champions. In December Wade won the 2003 Reno Tourney in the 190-pound class. Wade has not lost in the state of Alaska since his sophomore year.

In February Wade could become just the third wrestler in the state of Alaska to win four state titles.