Third-ranked JESSE JANTZEN tuned up for the EIWA tournament by winning both matches Saturday

The Harvard wrestling team left the Malkin Athletic Center on Saturday with mixed feelings.

Though it defeated both Brown and Boston University by the same comfortable margin, 29-12, the Crimson also closed out its regular season with a subpar 6-7 overall record and a bitter taste in its mouth.

Harvard was nationally ranked earlier in the year and the preseason No. 3 pick in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). But disappointing losses to mediocre Princeton and Army teams dropped the Crimson out of both the national and conference rankings and contributed to its 3-5 EIWA record.

Still, the team is currently riding a four-meet win streak and peaking just in time for the conference tournament Mar. 7-9, the most important weekend of the season.

“Right now I’m considering everything else preseason,” said Harvard coach Jay Weiss. “The whole season is for the tournament.”

Harvard 29, Brown 12

In its last EIWA and Ivy league matchup of the season, the Crimson wanted to send a message to the league that it was not a team to be taken lightly in the upcoming conference tournament.

Harvard did just that, winning seven of ten matches against the eighth-ranked team in the conference, Brown (7- 11, 1-6 EIWA). The team nearly picked up nine victories, but lost two matches in overtime.

Sophomore Eddie Jones (184 lbs.) was one of the Crimson to lose in the extra period. Though he won at the 197-lb. spot later in the day against BU, 9-7, Jones was taken down by the 184-lb. Nick Ciarcia in the overtime period, losing the match 3-1.

This ability to win while wrestling up a weight class seems to be common among Harvard Joneses.

Junior P.J. Jones (184 lbs.)—who has been alternating with Eddie at the 197-lb. position following the injury of sophomore Dan Sirotkin (197 lbs.)—also won in the 197-lb. spot against Brown’s Pete Gladish, but lost at the 184-lb. position against BU.

“Don’t think there’s any kind of science to [choosing between Eddie and P.J. to wrestle up],” Weiss said. “We’re just looking for matchups.”

With the regular season complete, the Crimson is now focused on the much-anticipated EIWA tournament, which will be held in Cornell’s state-of-the-art, $3.5 million Friedman Wrestling Center.

The champion and runner-up at each weight class earns an automatic NCAA berth. A team champion is also crowned, an honor Harvard last claimed in 2001.

Harvard 29, BU 12