Sophomore Matt Valenti, the sixth-ranked wrestler in the country at 125 pounds, has compiled a 22-4 record this season. But three of those losses have come at the hands of wrestlers who hail from Hofstra and Penn State -- the two squads Penn is preparing to wrestle against this weekend.
Today, against No. 11 Hofstra, Valenti will face No. 2 Tom Noto for the fourth time this season -- having gone 1-2 in the first three meetings. Valenti's lone defeat of Noto came on Nov. 23 at the Keystone Classic, when he went on to win the title on the floor of the Palestra.
In their next meeting, Noto downed Valenti, 6-4, at the Midlands Championships on his way to being crowned champion. Then at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Duals, Noto captured the rubber match, 6-4, on the strength of a takedown in overtime.
"We've definitely become very familiar with each other's styles, it almost becomes a chess match," Valenti said. "It's going to be low scoring there's no doubt about that. It goes past technique just to where it's going to be an all out battle."
Penn coach Roger Reina acknowledged the significance that the Noto-Valenti match had for the Quakers as a team, but also recognized the personal implications for the two wrestlers.
"I think Matt's really got something to prove. I think in Hofstra's mind, [Noto's] got Matt figured out," Reina said. "He's got a lot to prove for himself and his own development. And I think, personally, this match is big for him."
Valenti also fell to Matt Smith of No. 8 Penn State at Midlands, but will instead face No. 12 Adam Smith when the Quakers take on the Nittany Lions this Sunday. Valenti has already wrestled Adam two times this season and won both matches, but only by a total of four points.
"I'm looking forward to both matches," Valenti said. "I just really want to go out there and show how much I have improved since the last time we wrestled, and I definitely want to go in there and reverse what happened last time."
Valenti is not the only Quakers wrestler seeking retribution this weekend. The Red and Blue were beaten by both the Pride and the Nittany Lions at the NCWA national duals. Hofstra also finished a mere 3.5 points ahead of Penn to take the Keystone Classic -- the smallest margin in the nine-year history of the tournament.
Both teams also placed ahead of the Quakers at Midlands with Penn State taking third, Hofstra fourth and Penn 12th.
Despite the earlier results, the Quakers believe that they can wrestle with both squads. They are riding into the weekend on the momentum of a three-meet win streak and did not break their concentration even after losing to No. 13 Cornell on the final match of the meet. Since then, the Quakers have demolished Columbia, Brown and Harvard by a total of 56 points.
"I'm confident going in because I think our team has made good progress over the past several weeks," Reina said. "I think it's a perfect weekend to step up the level of competition ... the scheduling is perfect."
Although Penn will get an opportunity to showcase its improvements against two of the top teams in the nation, it will be forced to do so without two of its own top wrestlers.
Despite indications that they might wrestle this weekend, No. 13 Matt Herrington and No. 13 Paul Velekei will stay off the mat, leaving the Quakers without their best men at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively.
"They're improving and making progress with their rehab. Neither of them are going to suit up this weekend but they continue to make progress," Reina said. "We expect them both ready by the end of the season."
A key matchup against Penn State will be when Penn's Matt Feast, ranked fourth in the nation, takes on No. 2 Pat Cummins. Feast has failed to beat Cummins in two attempts this season, but only fell by a total of two points. Feast also demonstrated that he could put up points against Cummins, scoring five.
Senior Brett Vanderveer will also look to rebound against Penn State when he takes on senior James Woodall. At the NCWA national duals, Woodall managed to pin Vanderveer even though Vanderveer was winning the match.
"I've been waiting for this match. It's something that sticks with you; it's just a real tough way to lose," the co-captain said. "I remember how I felt after that match and have just used it as motivation for this upcoming weekend."
