'No reason' why Wrestling shouldn't rule the East

The Quakers look to repeat as champions at EIWAs this weekend and send all 10 wrestlers to NCAAs. "There's no reason why we shouldn't win," Penn tri-captain Brandon Slay said. The Penn wrestling team is obviously confident in its ability to defend the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) title. Having already captured this year's Ivy League title, the Quakers (9-3-1) are determined to qualify all 10 wrestlers for the NCAA Championships. The top two finishers in each weight class and six additional wild cards will qualify for the NCAA Championships in Iowa March 20-22. Although Penn is coming off a defeat by Lehigh, the only team that the Quakers have fallen to in the East, they claim the loss is inconsequential to how they will perform this weekend. "It is non-existent," Slay said. "We plan on beating every Lehigh wrestler that we wrestle, improving upon those wins by beating them by more points, and avenging those losses." Last year, Penn qualified seven of 10 wrestlers to Nationals and 10 EIWA place winners. This year's goal is to qualify all 10. Every match is highly anticipated at this year's tournament. Three Quakers will attempt to defend their titles -- captains Clinton Matter (167 pounds) and Josh Bailer (158), and sophomore Brett Matter (138). Among the finalists from last year are Slay, senior Joey Allen, and junior Ben Hatta. Hatta, who missed the Lehigh tournament due to a back injury has returned, as well as sophomore Andrei Rodzianko, who has missed most of the season due to an injury. "Whenever there's a critical situation we face in competition, it is important that our man stands tall and rises to the occasion when it counts the most," Penn coach Roger Reina said. The toughest competition will come from Lehigh and Cornell, who finished second and third, respectively, at last year's championships. Although Penn is currently ranked No. 15 in the nation and Lehigh No. 24, the tournament is focused on individual advancement. Others who will return to defend their titles are Carl Keske (Cornell, 134), who will face Penn senior Sean O'Hara, who lost to Keske earlier in the season. Harvard's Ed Mosely (158) will attempt to defend his title against Bailer, who won the 167-pound title last year. When the two met earlier in the season, Mosely took the match, 9-8. "The reality is that we're tied with every other team with zero points,"" Reina said. "Every individual needs to earn their way match by match." For the past two weeks, following the Lehigh loss, the Quakers have emphasized the need to have individual focus and determination. "I think we'll be the best-prepared team in the tournament," O'Hara said. "As long as we do what we're capable of, that will be clear." This year's Easterns will be held at the Palestra today and Saturday. The tournament will feature 14 teams but only Penn, Lehigh and Cornell have held national rankings all year. There are four sessions and record crowds are expected. For the seniors, this will be their last home tournament of their Penn careers. For the first time in the tournament's 93-year history, there will be a presenting sponsor, Charles Schwab. David Pottruck, the company's CEO and president, is a Wharton graduate and a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "Easterns hold a great deal of prestige," Reina said. "It's a very historic event."