DeNunzio, whose seven major decision victories are the most in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA), was ranked sixth in the 126-pound division of the EIWA's preseason rankings.
Missing from the Crimson line-up at the 116-pound division for both meets this weekend was junior Craig Vitagliano, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. With freshman James Buters filling in for Vitagliano, the Crimson line-up featured five freshmen starting in the 10 weight classes.
While the five rookies may not inspire the same visions of grandeur on the mats as Michigan's Feb Five once did on the basketball court, they are an encouraging sign for Harvard's rebuilding wrestling program.
If the injured wrestlers can return in February, the Crimson has more reason to be optimistic about its chances in the all-important second half of the campaign.
"Hopefully Craig [Vitagliano] and Ron Rabinowitz will be back for our meet against Penn," Griesemer said. "With Ron back we can shift our line-up around a bit."
"We have a really young team," DeNunzio said. "We just have to keep on working hard."