A longtime supporter of the Penn wrestling program, Wayne Renneisen is taking his interest to the next level by writing a book recounting the 2005-06 season.
"What I'm doing isn't very novel, but it's fairly novel with respect to wrestling," Renneisen said. "I don't think anyone has done it with respect to an Ivy League team, though."
Renneisen had the idea to write about Penn wrestling for a few years; he was just waiting for the right season.
"There were the injuries of [Matt] Valenti, [Paul] Velekei and [Matt] Herrington, and I didn't want to write about a down year," Renneisen said.
He thought this season would be upbeat -- one where the top wrestlers had a shot at the National Championships and the incoming freshman class would be able to come right in and compete.
In retrospect, Renneisen could not have picked a better season. Valenti became the third national champion in Penn wrestling history, while a talented crop of freshmen was highlighted by NCAA qualifiers Cesar Grajales and Matt Dragon.
His book will focus primarily on the dynamics of this wrestling season, but Renneisen "had to explain how they got here and where they're going," too.
The author also plans to include a brief chapter on Penn wrestling history, as well as one on Penn's rich tradition of brothers in the program, something Renneisen believes is more common than in other sports.
The team this year had three sets of brothers.
Wrestling coach Zeke Jones is excited to have his first season at Penn chronicled through the book.
"It's great that people will be able to get a deeper look into the program," Jones said.
In order to draw material for his book, Renneisen attended all but one of the Quakers' matches this season and came to practice about once a week. He had access to the locker room and team meetings.
"We opened up the program to him so that he could be in-depth and objective" Jones said.
The wrestlers were also happy to talk to him for the book.
"Its great that he's willing to put his time in and publicize us and get us out there," Dragon said.
Interestingly, Renneisen has never wrestled himself. He became attracted to the sport when his son, John, began to wrestle while in high school and then at Division III Williams.
Renneisen also began to watch other major competitions, going to his first Olympic trials in 1984 with John and his wife Kay.
"They were great matches," Renneisen said. "We got a kick out of watching wrestling at the highest level."
Even though John didn't continue wrestling after college, Renneisen has maintained an avid interest in the sport.
"I think I'm a sports junkie; I like all sports," Renneisen said. "It's not too hard to become a wrestling fan."
So why Penn wrestling, then? Renneisen's reasons for supporting Quakers wrestling run deep.
He graduated from the Penn Law School in 1956 after his father attended school here as an undergraduate in the '20s. Renneisen also lives, and used to work, in the area.
"I've always had an allegiance to Penn," Renneisen said.
He began to sponsor Penn wrestling teams in the mid 1990s.
Renneisen's role as an athletic supporter, however, puts him in a tight position while working on the book.
Since he has contributed money to the team, he can't take any of the wrestlers out to dinner, for example, to conduct an interview, because that would be a violation of NCAA rules.
"I'm a bit of a fan; it's easy for me to say "we" instead of they; but I'm trying to be objective," Renneisen said.
Prior to starting his writing, Renneisen had a meeting with the Penn Athletic Department and Roger Reina, who was coach at the time. The department approved Renneisen's endeavor.
Right now, he has about 175 pages of typed text, but "there are a lot of pieces missing."
Renneisen has not yet found a publisher for his book, but he will look for one after he finishes the writing part. He acknowledges, though, that he might have to put up the funds to print the book himself.
Now that the season is over, Renneisen has a lot of work to do. He hopes the book will be ready for publication in the fall of 2006.
And by that time, preparations will be in full swing for another successful season.
