Calling all Quakers: it’s time to head to the mat. Penn wrestling opens its season on Sunday Nov. 9 at the Journeymen Classic in Bethlehem, Pa.
Penn has traditionally relished the opportunity to compete at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. The contest measures where the program stands against other top rivals heading into each season. This year, Harvard and Columbia, as well as other fierce out-of-conference opposition, will battle the Quakers for the top spot. The three Ivy League rivals will look to place themselves at the head of the pack amongst the conference.
The last time the Red and Blue hit the mat was at the NCAA Championships in March. As a whole, the team had its highest placement since 2006, finishing in 16th. Then-junior CJ Composto stood out last season with a fourth-place finish, earning an All-American status in the 141 class and posting a 28-5 record on collegiate wrestling’s biggest stage. Now a senior, he will look to have his best season yet.
The Quakers welcomed nine freshman wrestlers this year. Under the guidance of head coach Matt Valenti and assistant coaches Darian Cruz and Lennox Wolak, the freshmen will have plenty of opportunities to learn from some of the best in the sport. Cruz represented Puerto Rico at the 2024 Paris Olympics after an impressive collegiate career at Lehigh University. Wolak’s four years at Columbia saw him earn an EIWA title, a sixth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships, and All-America honors.
Following the Journeymen Classic, the Quakers’ next big contest is the PRTC Keystone Classic on Nov. 23. Last season, the Quakers finished fourth out of eight schools in this competition, trailing behind Lock Haven, Virginia Tech, and Central Michigan. The Keystone Classic offers a unique opportunity for Penn to take on a variety of out-of-conference programs.
Going into the season, Penn Wrestling announced new leadership roles for three team members. Coach Valenti announced that senior Kelly Dunnigan and juniors Sean Seefeldt and Jude Swisher would take on the role of captains this year. Dunnigan earned an 8-5 overall record last year. Seefeldt is looking to shine in his return to the mat after a year away from competition. Swisher is on an exponential growth path as a collegiate wrestler. As a sophomore, he finished with a 26-9 overall record and a 10-4 dual record. He went on to place second in the 149 class at the inaugural Ivy League Championships, earn Second Team All-Ivy honors, and qualify for the NCAAs. At the national championship, Swisher beat three opponents, including Harvard's Jimmy Harrington (19-4). All three wrestlers, in addition to excelling on the mat, were lauded by Coach Valenti for their consistency, accountability, and commitment to the team.
In 2026, the end of January marks the beginning of a crucial stretch of contests for the Red and Blue. Penn hosts Columbia at the Palestra on Jan. 25, marking the beginning of a four-match streak against Ancient Eight opponents. The Palestra will also host the final game of that stretch when wrestling takes on Cornell on Feb. 8. Last season, Cornell beat Penn in Ithaca, N.Y. This year, the Red and Blue are looking to leverage their home-turf advantage to get the better of their rivals.
The Ivy League Championships and NCAA Championships mark the final two events on the wrestling calendar. The second-ever Ivy League Wrestling Championships will take place on March 8 in New York. Penn placed second last year at the inaugural event, with three Quakers earning individual titles. The NCAA Championships will mark the conclusion of the season, taking place from Thursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21. This will be the ultimate final test for the Quakers. After last season’s impressive result on the national stage, this season’s performance will play a colossal role in assessing the program’s trajectory and defining both collective and individual success.
