Though Harvard’s wrestling team is ranked just third in the EIWA this season, it possesses one of its most talented squads to date, including a national title contender in junior co-captain Jesse Jantzen.

“I think we’ve had one of our best preseasons ever, at least as long as I’ve ever been on the team,” Jantzen said.

Several members of the team hope Harvard can repeat its success from 2001, when it won the EIWA and Ivy championships for the first and only time in school history.

In order to accomplish this goal, the Crimson will have to prove oddsmakers wrong, as both Cornell and perennial powerhouse Penn are ranked above Harvard. Surprisingly, the normally highly-regarded Lehigh is tied for fifth with Rutgers.

“Lehigh and Penn are the two big ones,” Jantzen said. “We haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here. I think the team is really focused on beating them.”

Jantzen, as the star of this year’s talented squad, hopes to lead Harvard to glory again. He is currently ranked first in the EIWA and second in the nation in the 149-lb. weight class. Only No. 1 senior Jared Lawrence from Minnesota, who defeated Jantzen last year 2-0, ranks above him.

A tireless competitor, Jantzen was unsatisfied with his third-place performance last year in the NCAA tournament, even though it was the best finish for a Crimson wrestler since 1953.

Following the season, he went to train with the United States Olympic team and then competed in the World Team trials, where he finished fifth. As a result of his performance, Jantzen has already been invited to train with the United States National Team for the 2004 Olympics, which may require him to take a year off.

“I’m probably about 50-50 right now about [taking a year off],” Jantzen said.

But since the Olympic decision is still a season away, Jantzen is focused on succeeding in a Crimson uniform in the coming months.

“I feel like he has raised his level,” said Harvard coach Jay Weiss.

Jantzen was also the winner of two of six different Harvard wrestling awards from the 2001-2002 season—wrestler of the year and hardest worker.

While much of the Crimson spotlight is focused on its famed junior, this year’s senior class also has a lot to offer.

“We have a very strong senior core on our team this year,” Weiss said.

No. 8 Max Odom (157 lbs.), No. 27 Pat O’Donnell (174 lbs.) and No. 28 Robbie Griffin (165 lbs.) may be the most talented of the eldest class, but they are not looking to national titles at this point in the season.