Wrestling aims for Ivy title

The Penn wrestling program has enjoyed huge success in recent years.

Six consecutive Ivy League titles. Four EIWA titles in the past six years. Brett Matter's 2000 NCAA Title. And Penn graduate Brandon Slay's 2000 Gold Medal at the Olympics.

But what does coach Roger Reina have to say about this upcoming season?

"This is my 16th year as head coach," Reina said. "And I can't remember being much more excited about a season than what I have right now with this."

It is easy to see why Reina is so excited.

The Quakers return nine letter-winners from last year's young squad that went 6-7 overall but tied for the Ivy League title with a 4-1 record. They finished second at the EIWA championships, and recorded their third-consecutive top-20 NCAA finish.

Penn also returns two captains, Yoshi Nakamura and Rick Springman. Yoshi Nakamura (157 pounds) placed seventh in last year's NCAA Tournament, earning him All-American status.

Springman, (174 pounds) meanwhile, will be welcomed back to the Quakers after a one-year hiatus. He was an All-American two years ago.

"I think they've done an excellent job in planning for this year on both their own in preparation but also as captains," Reina said. "I'm very encouraged by their off-season work."

Both Springman and Nakamura competed at the U.S. World Team Trials. Competing in their respective weight classes, Nakamura finished third, qualifying for the National team, while Springman finished fifth in his return to wrestling. Senior Joe Henson also competed at the U.S. Freestyle Open, finishing eighth in the 149-weight class.

Last year, the Quakers started an unprecedented five freshmen. Penn's fourth-ranked recruiting class had three first team All-Ivy selections -- Mason Lenhard (125 pounds), Marcus Schontube (184 pounds), and Mike Faust (197 pounds) -- with Lenhard winning his weight class at the EIWA championships.

"Mason Lenhard proved himself as the top wrestler in the East," Reina said. "He's in a position to really break out into the elite level of the top five or six in the United States."

This year's incoming class hopes to duplicate that success. Topping that list is Matt Feast from Blue Mountain H.S. (Pennsylvania). Feast won the State Championship at 285 pounds and National High School Title at 215 pounds, and he was named a Junior All-American.

Another newcomer is assistant coach Mike Duroe. Formerly the National Developmental Coach and National Women's Coach at USA Wrestling, Duroe comes to Philly after being hired in August.

"He's a very experienced coach, having coached successfully at the high school, the collegiate, and the Olympic and world levels," Reina said. "I think he brings a fiery competitiveness to the program, too."

One of the Quakers' biggest meets this season is the Keystone Classic on Nov. 18 at the Palestra, where the Red and Blue host several top national teams, including Iowa State. The Cyclones boast undefeated, three-time national champion Cael Sanderson, who last year had his closest match all season -- a 16-10 victory -- from then-freshman Schontube.

The Quakers will also get a chance for some revenge when they face Cornell at the Palestra on Feb. 2. Last year, the Big Red squeaked by the Red and Blue, 16-15, keeping Penn from an undefeated Ivy season and forcing both teams, along with Harvard, to share the title.

The Quakers are currently ranked 12th nationally by the InterMat rankings, and Reina feels the future is bright.

"I just really feel we're on the verge of catching a new wave," Reina said. "I think we've got the potential to accomplish unprecedented levels of success."

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