This weekend, the Penn wrestling team, ranked No. 19 in the NWCA/InterMat Coaches' Poll, travels to Nevada to take part in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The 46-team tournament represents the deepest, most talented field the Quakers have encountered all season to date.
The high-profile tournament will feature 13 out of the top 25-ranked teams, according to the NWCA/InterMat NCAA Division I Coaches' Poll. For the Red and Blue, the opportunities to play in this type of event, at such an early juncture in the season, are endless.
After staying close to home in its first two contests -- the Brockport Oklahoma Gold at Brockport, N.Y., and the Keystone Classic at the Palestra -- the Penn team is ready to hit the road.
"We're excited to go to this competition -- it's one of the elite events nationally every year," Penn coach Roger Reina said. "So I think it's going to be a really good measure for us."
On account of the high-profile competition the Quakers will face in Las Vegas, Nev., the atmosphere will likely resemble that of the NCAA Championships in St. Louis this March.
"I think it's a great opportunity, especially at this time of year," said Matt Feast, a four-year veteran and the Quakers' best chance to take home a first-place finish this weekend. "You know, a lot of times it's better to get a feel for what the great competition is like before when it really counts in March at the NCAA Tournament. You want to put yourself in that position now, so you get that taste."
Despite the high team rankings of the Quakers' competition, the team mentality heading into the weekend will focus more on an individual level.
"You know, really it's a very big field of teams," Reina said. "So for us, while they will be deep in team scorers and that's going to be a factor, we're a lot more focused on our individual performance in each weight class. So really, our focus needs to be on the next wrestler we're facing regardless of what team they're from."
With Feast, the 285-pound weight class holds the brightest hope for the Quakers. According to the NWCA/InterMat individual rankings, Feast is the nation's third best in the weight class. The two ranked above him, Steve Mocco of Oklahoma State and Cole Konrad of Minnesota, will not be present in Las Vegas, Nev., as their teams are not part of the field.
Feast holds high expectations for himself.
"I know it's a tough tournament, one of the toughest in the country, but my only goal is to win the tournament," Feast said. "If I don't, I won't be happy."
Also coming on strong lately for the Red and Blue is senior Mason Lenhard. After missing last season due to injury, the former Ivy League Rookie of the Year has returned and is producing for the Quakers. He took home first place at the Keystone Classic and will look to continue his success this weekend.
"Obviously, I want to win. I mean everybody wants to win on the team," Lenhard said. "But we'll see. We'll head out there, the tournament starts [today], and we'll know by Saturday."
Although Lenhard is back this season, the Red and Blue has been bitten again this year by the injury bug. Starters Matt Valenti (125-133 pounds), Matt Herrington (174 pounds) and Paul Velekei (184-197 pounds) are all down with injuries at the moment, along with several other wrestlers.
"We've got depth at every weight class," Lenhard said. "I think the next best guy is almost as good as our starter, so the depth on the team is strong. I think it's a problem, but not really a challenge to overcome because we have so much depth at every weight class."
Few are predicting that the No. 19 team in the country will take home first place this weekend, especially with nine teams ranked higher in the field. The team is confident, though, and looking to turn some heads on a national level.
