By JESSICA T. LEE

CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

The Harvard wrestling team enters the season coming off its most successful year ever, which included its first Ivy and EIWA titles in school history and a record six qualifiers for NCAAs.

Led by EIWA Coach of the Year Jay Weiss, Harvard returns stars from the previous years including three of the six NCAA qualifiers—co-captain Dawid Rechul, junior Pat O’Donnell and sophomore World Trial qualifier Jesse Jantzen.

After an extraordinary rookie season, Jantzen’s name is well known in the 149-weight class. Last season, Jantzen earned a spot at Nationals, Ivy Co-Rookie of the Year honors, and second place at EIWAs. He took third at the U.S. Freestyle National Championships in Las Vegas last spring, a rare feat for a freshman. Most recently, Jantzen took first place at the East Stroudsburg Tournament and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Co-captain Kevin El-Hayek earned Second Team All-Ivy accolades and third place at Easterns last year in the 125-weight class, but moves to 133 this year, replacing last year’s EIWA Champion Matt Picarsic ’01. With the move to a more comfortable weight, El-Hayek brings a renewed perspective on wrestling.

“[The 125-weight class] was difficult,” El-Hayek said. “I felt that last year, that’s where I needed to be. I did set myself up to be right in the thick of things at Nationals and when it didn’t work out, I had to re-evaluate why I was wrestling. This year I’m really focusing on having a good time, trying to get back to the reason I started in the first place and helping guys struggling with some of the things I struggled with.”

El-Hayek’s move to 133 opens to door for junior David Germakian to step in at 125, with freshman Greg Cook also at that weight.

“I just know from the guys I wrestled last year [at 125] that [Germakian] seems to be one of the stronger guys in the weight class,” El-Hayek said. “I think he’s going to have a big year this year.”

At 141, freshman Joseph Turilli embarks on his rookie season, with classmates Jon Mankovich and currently-injured Mike Getlin also in the weight class.

“They’re a real hard-working crew,” Lee said. “The transition from high school to college wrestling is huge.”

Junior Nick Picarsic joins the crew of weight-jumpers by moving to 157 pounds after starting for the Crimson at 141 during his first two seasons. Picarsic competes with junior Robbie Griffin and sophomore Brandon Kaufmann for the starting position.

“There are three very talented wrestlers trying for that position,” El-Hayek said. “All of them are going to be jockeying for that, trying to get the varsity matches.”

O’Donnell will represent the Crimson at 165, with classmate Seth Leighton providing depth. O’Donnell proved his ability to compete with the best of the best not only by earning honors as an NCAA qualifier and a First Team All-Ivy Selection, but also by defeating Iowa State’s Joe Heskett, ranked No. 1 and undefeated prior to the match against O’Donnell at the Lone Star Duals last January.

At 174, sophomore P.J. Jones steps up after sharing time last year. Jones placed sixth last weekend in the East Stroudsburg Tournament. Freshman Eddie Jones makes up the other half of the weight class.