First-year wrestlers: Making a mark

Not since the Fab Five hit the floor in Ann Arbor, Mich., has a recruiting class had such an immediate impact on a sports program. Using four first-year starters, the Penn wrestling team has enjoyed unprecedented success during the 1993-94 season. Last week, the Quakers (14-5, 4-0 Ivy League) received Top-20 votes for the first time ever. Penn already has defeated 17th-ranked Cornell, ending the Big Red's six-year unbeaten streak in the Ivies. If Penn can win four of its last five matches, the Quakers will have the most wins in a single season in their 97-year history. While every young coach dreams of building a mediocre program into a Top-20 powerhouse, Penn coach Roger Reina seems to be turning it into a reality. Reina knew that with 10 letter winners returning, this year's squad would have a strong foundation. But it has been the immediate impact of Brandon Slay, Josh Bailer, Mike Gaugler and Joe Allen -- all first-year starters -- that has given the Quakers the edge not only to compete against, but to defeat ranked competition. Slay, Bailer and Gaugler are part of this year's recruiting class, which includes three high school all-Americans. The quality of the recruiting class was ranked 15th and 20th, respectively, by two national wrestling publications. Slay, who terrorized opponents in high school, wrestles with a Mike Tyson-like intensity, and is clearly the top recruit in the talent rich freshman class. He usually wrestles at 167 pounds, and came highly rated for his weight class coming out of high school. He has competed internationally on three U.S. World Teams, placing second in 1991 and third in 1990 at the World Championships. "We had been involved in recruiting at this level before," said Reina, who is in his eighth year at Penn. "But Slay is the first recruit of this caliber to come to Penn. He was one of the top recruits in the country at any weight." Slay, from Amarillo, Texas, was nearly redshirted this season when he broke his jaw during the semifinals of the Sheridan Tournament. The injury sidelined him for eight weeks, but he made his return to the mat in time to help the Quakers defeat Cornell. Slay has posted an 11-5 record this season, including a third-place finish in the Bloomsburg Tournament. Why did a wrestler of Slay's talent, who could of had a full scholarship at any wrestling school in the country, choose Penn? "Honestly, one of the biggest factors was Wharton," Slay said. "I also really respect the coaches. They are real people persons. Practice is all business. They know all the techniques, but after practice I can talk with them like regular guys." Bailer is also a fierce competitor who boasts an impressive high school resume. He was a captain for Jefferson Township High School in Lake Hopaeong, N.J., one of the top five high school wrestling programs in the country. He reached the prestigious 100-victory mark there, compiling a 109-19-1 record. "He is very good technically, and he is extremely competitive on game day," Reina said. "We call him a 'gamer' because the tougher the match, the better he wrestles." Bailer is 10-4 this season and his biggest win was a 3-2 victory over Cornell co-captain Chip Foster. Bailer is a very versatile wrestler who at different times this year has competed at the 158, 167 and 177 weight classes. Judging by his competitive nature, he would wrestle all three at once if given the opportunity. Among the three freshmen, perhaps the biggest surprise has been Mike Gaugler at 126 pounds. "As a recruit, he was highly underestimated by other colleges," Reina said. "He is from one of the top high school wrestling regions in the country. Although he did not develop as a superstar in high school, we noticed that he always competed well against the top wrestlers from around the state. Mike has a strong work ethic and he seems to come back a better wrestler every week." Gaugler, from Selinsgrove, was expected to wrestle behind senior Gary Baker at 118, but he grew after his senior year and was forced to move up to 126. Reina is pleased with Gaugler's adjustment at the new weight class where he has gone 8-13 this season. Allen, the fourth first year starter, did not wrestle his freshman year and is actually a sophomore. He was recruited by the Quakers for both football and wrestling, but chose not to wrestle during his freshman year. Allen has participated on the football team the past two seasons and this year he saw some varsity action as a fullback. He felt the demands of two sports, in addition to academics, would be too difficult during freshman year. But this season, Allen, who weighs 230 pounds and wrestles heavyweight, has made his return to the mat in dramatic fashion. As a heavyweight, Allen wrestles the last match of each duel meet. Numerous times this season a Quaker win or loss has come down to Allen's match. Each time, he has come through in the clutch to seal a victory. Allen, from Pottstown, has an impressive 17-3 record this season. In addition to his wrestling talents, Reina feels Allen brings a certain lightheartedness to the wrestling team. "As big and imposing as he is on the mat, he has a great sense of humor off the mat," Reina said. But beyond the individual talents this year's newcomers bring, Reina also feels this season's success is only the start of better things to come. "As more interest and more awareness about Penn wrestling spreads," Reina said, "I expect the program to continue to grow." Reina's theory seems to be already materializing. Two wrestlers from Bailer's high school, both ranked number one in the state in their respective weight classes, have already committed to Penn. One of them happens to be Josh's younger brother, Jeremy. Slay said people in his hometown even now know the difference between Penn and Penn State. In the past, when wrestlers wanted academics and top Division I wrestling, they often went to Cornell. However, this trend seems to be changing. And as for the remainder of this season, Penn feels there are many goals still to be accomplish. "We'd like to do well at Easterns and send as many people to Nationals as possible," Allen said. "Hopefully we can get a few all-Americans."