Andrei Rodzianko had a bitter- sweet winter break. Rodzianko wrestled at the Midlands tournament and placed fifth. The 190-pound senior was able to advance as far as he did by defeating Michigan State's Brian Picklo. Picklo was ranked in the top five in preseason rankings and Rodziank's pin was a huge step for his wrestling career. Two weeks later at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association versus Atlantic Coast Conference duals, Rodzianko attempted to throw his opponent, but instead, threw his back. Rodzianko will not be wrestling at the team's next tournament. For the second year in a row, Penn was invited to compete at the Midlands Championships. The tournament, which was held in Evanstown, Ill., is one of the most prestigious events in collegiate wrestling in this country. "Midlands is always regarded as the very best tournament in the country besides the NCAA tournament," Penn coach Roger Reina said. The Quakers were asked to join Iowa, Iowa State and Arizona State, to name a few of the country's finest wrestling programs. Last season was the first in which the Quakers were asked to attend the Midlands. The team fared well in its first appearance, but with this year's team being touted as possibly the best Ivy League team ever, a top-notch performance was expected. That is exactly what happened. "We had an excellent showing, by far the best showing that any Penn team has ever had," Reina said. "We feel that it was an excellent step for us -- it gained us a lot of respect." The Quakers finished seventh out of 65 teams with 75 points. Four of Penn's 10 wrestlers placed in the top eight individually, and two others reached within a round of the semi-finals. Brandon Slay, a Penn senior tri-captain, finished second in his weight class of 167 pounds, behind Arizona State's Casey Strand. Sean O'Hara was the next highest-ranking finalist, placing fourth. O'Hara lost to Shane Roselle of the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club. Clinton Matter and Rodzianko both placed fifth and Brett Matter finished sixth. Josh Bailer and Mark Piotrowsky both made it to the quarter finals. After their trip west, the team returned to Philadelphia to prepare for the EIWA vs. ACC duals. On Sunday, January 5, the Red and Blue faced Virginia and North Carolina. Virginia was soundly defeated, 39-0, by Penn, with no Quakers wrestler losing a match to a Virginia wrestler. Penn was not so lucky in its competition against North Carolina, losing 24-15. The Quakers were doing well in their competition against the Tar Heels until Rodzianko and heavyweight Joey Allen lost, due to injury defaults. Allen, a fifth-year senior and former Quakers football standout as a linebacker, had many smaller injuries that were aggravated further in his match against UNC's Justin Harty. The coaches decided that it would be better to pull Allen and lose the match -- and the meet to Carolina -- than to have Allen in anything but top condition for this weekend's tournament in Nebraska. Next weekend, the team goes to Lincoln, Neb., to compete in the National Duals. This tournament is the prestige equivalent of the basketball NCAA Sweet Sixteen, but it is by invitation only. This year is the first year that Penn has ever been asked to attend. A few of the wrestlers have moved up in the national rankings this season. Clinton Matter is now ranked second and Brett Matter is fourth in their respective weight classes. Brandon Slay is now ranked sixth at 167.
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