Barring any upsets, the Penn wrestling team will wrap up the 1995-96 Ivy League wrestling championship this weekend. The Quakers (4-2, 2-0 Ivy) will travel to Providence, R.I., today where they will wrestle Brown at 9 p.m. Saturday, the Quakers will travel to Harvard, where they will be the heavy favorites to defeat the Crimson and clinch the Ivy title. Last year, the Quakers rolled over Harvard, losing only one match and dominating the dual meet by a score of 34-3. This year's Crimson team, however, is much improved and should provide Penn with a somewhat-competitive match. Last year's dual-meet against Brown was a thrilling 16-15 Penn victory over a Bears team that was then the No. 1 ranked team in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. Penn senior Joey Allen finalized last year's victory over Brown with an exciting third-period victory. If the Quakers are able to capture the Ancient Eight title this weekend, it will be the second time they have done so since Roger Reina took over as head coach in 1986. Penn won the Ivy crown two years ago, only to lose it to Cornell last year. Last Saturday's tight victory over the Big Red, 21-16, has put the Quakers in a position to regain the lost title. "We really came together as a team last weekend," Penn co-captain Clinton Matter said. "It was a very satisfying win." In addition to the conference ramifications, the victory over No.15 Cornell gives Penn a legitimate claim to being one of the nation's top 20 teams and has boosted the Quakers to the No. 1 ranking in the EIWA. Reaching the top 20 has been a longtime goal of Reina. The Quakers' only two dual-meet losses this year have been to nationally-ranked, non-Ivy League teams. At the Virginia Duals earlier this month, Penn lost to No. 10 Bakersfield and No. 13 Michigan.
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