The Penn wrestling team returns home Sunday afternoon after a long stint on the road.
The Quakers (No. 22, USA Today/NCWA Coaches' poll) will host three dual meets in the Palestra in what will be their first action at home since they took part in the Keystone Classic on Nov. 20, 2004. Hofstra, Wagner and Drexel will be making the trip to 33rd Street.
"We've been on the road quite a bit between Vegas and the Midlands and the trip out to the Midwest," Penn coach Roger Reina said. "So we're looking forward to returning to our home match this weekend."
The team took part in the Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 3, the Midland Championships on Dec. 29 and away matches at Purdue and Central Michigan on Jan 5 and Jan. 7, respectively. The chance to wrestle in the friendly confines of the Palestra is a welcome one for the wrestlers as well as the coaching staff.
"It's always fun wrestling at home," said Penn senior Matt Feast, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the country by the NWCA/InterMat poll. "You know, a lot of our alumni come out and watch us -- a lot of our friends and family come out. So it's always exciting, it gives you a little bit more motivation."
Hofstra, which the Red and Blue will face at 1 p.m., comes in ranked No. 7 in the country by the USA Today/NWCA Coaches' poll. The Pride is the highest-ranked team that Penn has faced in a dual meet all season.
"They have a lot of tough guys on their team," Feast said.
A key matchup between the two teams could be in the 141-pound weight class. There, the Quakers boast the nation's 14th- ranked wrestler, senior Doug McGraw. He will be challenged by Hofstra senior Ricky LaForge. The result of the match could well determine the entire team's fate against the Pride.
"What we're looking for is for everyone to step their level up in intensity coming into this weekend against Hofstra," Reina said. "I don't think we've come close yet, as a team, to delivering our full potential on the mat -- we're looking at this weekend as a great opportunity to do that."
After Hofstra, the Quakers will face Wagner at 3 p.m. and Drexel at 5 p.m.
The Seahawks come in at 0-6 in dual meets, and have finished no higher than ninth in a multiple-team tournament. That result came at the Keystone Classic.
"They've got some good individuals, but that's going to be a dual meet that we really want to step up and dominate," Reina said. "Focus on generating a lot of offense, and picking up a lot of opportunities to score on our feet as well as on the mat."
Drexel will present the day's final challenge for the Red and Blue. The Dragons come in with a less-than-impressive record at 5-6, but they did win the New York State Open in Cortland, N.Y., on Nov. 14.
Nonetheless, there is plenty of incentive for the Red and Blue to put up a solid performance against their West Philadelphia neighbors.
"They're a team that has some strong individuals, and I think there's a lot of pride at stake facing them," Reina said. "I'm really looking for our team to rise to the occasion this weekend."
While Drexel may present the biggest rivalry, the wrestlers themselves are focusing more on their bigger-name opponents, namely Hofstra.
"Wagner and Drexel, we're not too worried about," Feast said, "but Hofstra is quite strong right now."
It will be a stiff challenge, but Penn is ready to face its biggest test yet as a team.
"There's a lot of optimism, definitely," Feast added.
Whatever the result, the Quakers' performance against Hofstra will likely presage the team's fortunes against the other quality opponents they will face at the NCAA Championships in March.
