The wrestling team faced some of the top individuals and teams in the country over Break, traveling as far as Texas to continue its season.
After failing to win its first four dual meets and finishing in 17th place in the Beast of the East Tournament, the team finally seemed to find its footing in its final match of Winter Break against Bacone College in the Lone Star Duals in Grand Prairie, Texas. In that match, sophomore Andrew Iannuzzi ousted his opponent, 12-9, in the 174-lb. class and senior Matt Hawrilenko took his match, 2-1, in the 197-lb. class. Junior Charlie Wiggins, sophomore Matt DeNichilo and senior Allen Sista all won their weight classes due to forfeits. However, senior heavyweight Joe Looke's key pin in the heavyweight class in two minutes, 18 seconds led the Tigers to victory over Bacone.
Up to that point, the Tigers had only known failure, though. They kicked off Winter Break wrestling against Eastern Michigan on Dec. 14 and against Central Michigan on Dec. 15.
Two Michigan matches
Princeton barely lost to Eastern Michigan, 21-19. Both squads won five matches, but Eastern Michigan pulled out a victory with more pins and major decisions overall. Princeton won the first two matches in the lower weights, with senior co-captain Kenny Chu winning the 125-lb. class, 6-1, and senior co-captain Brian Kirschbaum winning by forfeit in the 133-lb. class. Those wins gave the Tigers a 9-0 lead. However, Eastern Michigan controlled the middle classes to hold a commanding lead going into the final two matches. The Tigers needed wins from Sista at 197 pounds and Looke, with at least one of them coming on a pin.
Sista's 6-4 overtime win gave the Tigers a chance at upsetting Eastern Michigan, but Looke won his match, 7-4, without pinning his opponent, making the final score 21-19 in Eastern Michigan's favor.
Against Central Michigan on Dec. 14, Princeton again lost. The Tigers dropped all 10 matches by major decision or more. The two pins came quickly. In the 149-lb. class, sophomore Matt Piselli was pinned in 1:54, and in the heavyweight class Looke was pinned in 3:28.
"The loss against Eastern Michigan was disheartening to the team," sophomore Bill Trudell said. "We tried our best to only miss our goals by a small margin. We had to look ahead to the following day when we would all have some of the best in the country. Central Michigan had a lot of ranked wrestlers and put their best lineup forth."
The Beast of the East
The Beast of the East Tournament on Dec. 19 at Delaware State University ended the 2003 portion of the season for the Tigers. The Tigers placed 17th overall with only 20 points, compared to the 126.5 that the winner, Pittsburgh, earned.
Lone Star Duals
At the Lone Star Duals in Texas last weekend, the team finished 1-2 overall, dropping its first two matches, including one against No. 20 Purdue before beating Bacone.
"Wrestling some of the rough-and-tumble midwest teams like Purdue and Northern Illinois was a real eyeopener coming from a more finesse-based East Coast style," sophomore Tim Prugar said. "I think it made us all physically and mentally tougher, which will be a huge asset when we wrestle some of the teams in our conference."
In the first match of the Lone Star Duals, Purdue — which boasts two top-15 wrestlers — ousted Princeton, 41-0, winning all ten matches.
The team fared somewhat better in its second match, against Northern Illinois, losing 34-8. Wiggins won the 157 lb. class, 21-9, and Looke won the heavyweight class, 12-1.
"We are starting to get back on track after dealing with some injuries and sickness in the middle of December," assistant coach Kevin Lake said. "The Lone Star Duals was an opportunity for us to see some tough competition and get a feel for where we are, now that we are at the halfway point of the season. As we prepare for the upcoming Ivy League matches it is important that we get healthy and stay that way for the remainder of the season."
Read More
What’s an offseason? Jackson Green and Jay Mentink on being multi-sport athletes at Princeton
Doug SchwartzPrinceton sophomores Jackson Green and Jay Mentink embrace the challenge of playing two Division I sports while tackling Ivy League academics head-on.
Princeton sophomores Jackson Green and Jay Mentink embrace the challenge of playing two Division I sports while tackling Ivy League academics head-on.
No. 3 men’s lacrosse routs No. 14 Towson 22–12, Mackesy breaks career goals record
Hayk YengibaryanWith the win, the Tigers advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in 2022. Princeton will take on No. 5 Syracuse in Hempstead, N.Y., next weekend for a spot in the final four.
With the win, the Tigers advance to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in 2022. Princeton will take on No. 5 Syracuse in Hempstead, N.Y., next weekend for a spot in the final four.
Senior Coulter Mackesy, Pace Billings ’24, and Sam English ’23 drafted to Premier Lacrosse League
Hayk YengibaryanThe PLL, founded in 2018 by brothers Mike and Paul Rabil, is North America’s professional lacrosse league. The league currently features eight teams that compete in a tour-based format, traveling to different cities each weekend throughout the summer season.
The PLL, founded in 2018 by brothers Mike and Paul Rabil, is North America’s professional lacrosse league. The league currently features eight teams that compete in a tour-based format, traveling to different cities each weekend throughout the summer season.