Over a month ago, as its league title hopes evaporated in a matter of one weekend, the future of the Penn wrestling team's season appeared grim.
That weekend seems like a long time ago.
Under the guidance of coach Zeke Jones and the team's seniors, Penn has admirably bounced back from losses to Columbia and Cornell, recording a third-place finish at the EIWA Championships over spring break to continue an impressive run.
In addition to capturing the third spot in a competitive field of 14 teams, senior Matt Eveleth was named Most Outstanding Wrestler, marking the first time a Penn grappler has received this tournament's honor since 2000.
Several strong individual performances from Penn allowed a total of six wrestlers to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Auburn Hills, Mich. this weekend, equaling last year's number.
"We certainly got a lot of momentum out of it," Jones said.
Eveleth's victory on the second day of the tournament in East Stroudsburg, Pa. highlighted the meet for the Quakers, as he managed to knock off Cornell's Troy Nickerson, the defending national runner-up.
Choosing a neutral position in the third period, Eveleth nearly managed to pin Cornell's star, taking him down and earning the win. The win came just a month after Penn's dual meet with Cornell, in which Nickerson defeated Eveleth by technical fall.
"Any time you get a win over a national finalist, that's pretty big," Jones said. "[Nickerson] hasn't lost too many times, so for [Eveleth] it's a very well-deserved honor."
Despite Nickerson's loss, the Ivy League Champion Big Red managed to hold on for first place overall, beating out Navy.
Eveleth's classmate, Matt Valenti, enjoyed success in the meet as well, sweeping up his third EIWA title with victory over Cornell's Adam Frey.
In earning the win, Valenti received the Fletcher Award, given out to the wrestler that earns the most team points in his career at the EIWA tournament.
And just a few days later, the Quakers' most decorated grappler was unanimously voted as the Ivy Wrestler of the Year.
Rounding out the champions from the EIWA tournament was sophomore Matt Dragon, who handily defeated Navy's John Jarred to earn his second EIWA trophy.
Dragon and many others, in addition to Valenti, received Ivy League recognition over the academic vacation as well. Dragon and teammate Zack Shanaman were selected to the first team, while Eveleth, made the second team.
Matt Herrington and Jack Sullivan received honorable mention.
"The guys are really competing at a high level right now," Jones said. "Our performance has been very good."
Now, the Quakers will turn their attention toward the NCAA Championships, which are set to begin on Thursday at the Palace at Auburn Hills.
And with the team's recent upward trend, the Quakers might just have a few more upsets left in them.
