Meltzer agreed that this tournament helped the wrestlers prepare for Cliff Keen, which typically attracts the best wrestlers from around the country.

“It gave us a chance to tune up for the big tournament in two weeks,” Meltzer said. “We were able to notice our weaknesses and can improve. Everyone is wrestling hard and working hard.”

And it is not just the wrestlers that have been working hard. The injection of new assistant Jared Frayer has set a new work ethic for the program.

“The coaching staff did a great job,” Baria said. “We have to give them a lot of credit too.”

Frayer graduated in 2002 from Oklahoma, where he was a standout wrestler and even defeated Jantzen in the national tournament during his senior year.

One disappointment the Crimson faced was an injury to freshman Robbie Preston. Preston suffered a concussion during a match, but he is expected to return shortly. The incident carried particular weight because Preston wrestles at 125 lbs., a critical weight class left vacant by the graduation of David Germakian ’03.

The wrestlers next compete in the Cliff Keen tournament in two weeks, but will not open up their team schedule until January in the Lone Star Duels.