“We don’t really focus on the paper rankings,” El-Hayek said. “We try to show it on the mat. Anyway, it’s easier to wrestle when you’re not ranked higher—there’s not as much pressure.”

For now, Harvard’s priority on the mat is not to avoid losing, but to focus on specific aspects of the sport that will all add up in the end.

“We’re just trying to get the matches under our belt,” El-Hayek said. “We’re not really focusing on doing everything we can to not lose. Our focus right now is the little things, the fine-tuning points. With our focus on those things right now, later in the year, just trusting in the program, it will all work out.”

This weekend, the Crimson heads to Nevada for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, an event that should serve as a gauge for the team.

“In previous years, we weren’t as conditioned at East Stroudsburg,” El-Hayek said. “Vegas will be a big indicator for us. The level of competition is the highest it’s going to be, save [the Lone Star Duals], Lehigh and Penn.”