Wrestling looks back on a successful season

Replacing four departing senior starters for the Penn wrestling team would be difficult any year.

But when one considers that all four were EIWA finalists, three were All-Americans and that two have more than 100 career wins, the task looks even more daunting.

And when the four also offer the intangibles and leadership that the Quakers quartet of Rick Springman, Yoshi Nakamura and Josh and Joe Henson the job of replacing them could seem impossible.

"I'm tremendously proud of the effort our guys put forth, in particular the four senior starters," Penn coach Roger Reina said. "In the end, an athlete can only fully be measured by the level of dedication and commitment they show. They set a tremendous example for the young guys."

The legacy that needs to be replaced by the younger athletes is a sobering thought for the Quakers, following their 11th place finish in last weekend's NCAA Championships.

Freshman heavyweight Matt Feast and sophomore 125-pounder Mason Lenhard -- the two non-senior Quakers to make it to the NCAAs -- might be to expected to step up and lead. However, it is too early to say for sure.

"The 2002-2003 [season] began [Monday]," Reina said. "That team's leaders will emerge from whoever is working hardest next year."

The high team finish at NCAAs was just one of the season's accomplishments that were largely made possible by four senior starters.

The Quakers also set a league record with their seventh straight Ivy League title, going 5-0. The Red and Blue defeated four nationally ranked opponents, including archrival Lehigh, en route to their highest final regular season ranking ever, ninth in the country.

Still, with the talent level that Quakers had this year, even greater heights were anticipated.

"We definitely could have finished higher," Springman said. "Crazy things happen at nationals. We had three All-Americans [Josh Henson, Nakamura and Springman] but we were capable of getting four or five. We could have been top-10."

However, any disappointment was tempered by the fact that they were only due to such high expectations.

"We set our goals very high and accomplished a great deal of them along the way and we missed some too," Reina said. "My reality is that I'm extremely proud of the effort and accomplishment of our team."

The Quakers set many personal milestones during the campaign, as well.

Nakamura and Josh Henson both surpassed 2000 National Champion Brett Matter's season win mark, each notching 36 victories on the year.

Nakamura and Springman also went past the 100-win barrier and moved to third and fourth, respectively, on Penn's all-time win list. They end up trailing only Matter and 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Brandon Slay. Both also became two time All-Americans as seniors.

"They've clearly put themselves into a very elite category," Reina said.

Reina also praised the courage of Springman in advancing to his second All-American finish.

Springman suffered a severe high ankle sprain in the semifinals. He lost both consolation matches, but still pushed top seed Otto Olson of Michigan to a 6-5 decision.

"He's tough as nails," Reina said. "The staff tried to talk him out of going out there. He demonstrated a level of courage I'd never seen from a Penn wrestler before Saturday."

Springman, who returned following a year off from the sport, was contemplative of the season overall.

"Regardless of the finish, I learned a lot about myself that can't be measured by outcomes," he said.

With such good memories, it might take an effort from the team to avoid the inevitable pitfalls that come from looking backwards instead of forwards next season.

However, one senior lent his usual optimism for next year's Quakers.

"I expect Penn's team to keep getting better and one day challenge for a national championship," Nakamura said. "What's most important is not to sit back and gloat on a good season."

Performance on the mats aside, each of the four seniors will miss their Penn experiences a great deal.

"I'm leaving a lot behind," Springman said. "But I'm also going to be taking a lot with me -- a lot of great of friendships."

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