The Penn wrestling team will officially kick off its season this weekend at the Binghamton Open.
Though the team competed in an intrasquad meet this past weekend, coach Rob Eiter said he hopes to use the tournament as an opportunity to gauge the skill level of his team against outside competition.
The coach added that he is excited to see junior Mark Rappo wrestle at the tournament after a disappointing finish last season, when Rappo didn’t qualify for nationals.
For his part, Rappo, who wrestles in the 125-pound weight class, is also itching to get out on the mat.
“I’m excited because I don’t have any respect and neither does the team right now. [I hope] to show the country what me and the team are capable of,” Rappo said.
“We’re not ranked nationally, and we should be, in my opinion,” Rappo added. “I’m not ranked nationally, and I should think by the end of the year, it should not even be a question if [I] should be ranked. I don’t expect anything less than a win.”
The Quakers are currently ranked third in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Associate behind No. 1 Cornell and No. 2 Rutgers.
Though Eiter said not many of the team’s freshmen will be wrestling this weekend, one who will take to the mat is Brad Wukie.
Redshirt freshman Karim Shafi, who transferred from the University of Virginia, will also make his Penn debut this weekend.
“I’m really excited about this weekend,” Shafi said. “I’ve been training hard for many months now. I’ve been working hard in the [weight] room. And I think it’s time to get out on the mat and face some competition … and see all that hard work pay off now.”
Though the Quakers are looking to do well this season, they recognize that this weekend’s meet is the first of many opportunities to show ther skills.
“If you win this tournament, you’re looking good,” Rappo said. “It’s early in the season, so of course you don’t want to be peaking yet, you just want to be ready to go out there.”
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