The former Lehigh All-American avoids making specific predictions about dual meets or the Tigers’ fate in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA).
“My expectation is that we’ll be a lot better,” Ayres said. “I think we can go out there and compete with some of the better teams in the conference and across the board.”
Princeton’s 19-man roster is roughly a dozen athletes smaller than the Ivy League average, and the team will go only one wrestler deep in three or four weight classes. This makes it difficult for the Tigers in dual meets, as injuries often lead to forfeits. Ayres’ goals for the team are concrete, however.
“We need to have multiple guys place at the EIWAs, and we need to send people to nationals,” Ayres said. “That’s so important for our program right now.”
Ayres explained that sending wrestlers to the NCAA tournament would help in national recruiting and boost the confidence and determination of the team.
“Guys are in here training as hard as they are, and then they don’t know what an All-American looks like because no one in here has done it besides myself and [Assistant] Coach Lausier,” Ayres said. “So once someone does, and they look at that guy, they say, ‘Hey, I’m working as hard as that guy. I should be able to do it too.’ Once you get to the tournament, you could be the best guy in the country. Really, anything can happen because everybody’s so good at that tournament, and maybe we get an All-American.”
Last season, Princeton appeared close to sending a wrestler to the NCAA tournament in St. Louis. Then-freshman Tony Comunale was in control before injuring his ankle in the EIWA fifth-place match. The 125-pound rookie lost the match and the potential NCAA bid.
This year’s team is composed similarly to last year’s. The Tigers lost an off-the-mat leader in former captain Johnny Clore ’08, who did not compete his senior year due to injury. Princeton will also miss Sam Ritter ’08, whose impressive performance in the heavyweight bracket faltered only after he sustained an injury against Harvard.
Comunale, who leads the way in the 125-pound bracket, is the only Princeton wrestler ranked in the EIWA preseason rankings, checking in at fourth place. Comunale wrestles with the grit characteristic of his native Lehigh valley, and he’ll be counted on to build on a dynamite freshman campaign that saw him win his first college tournament. Comunale suffered an injury over the summer, and, until he is healthy, senior Robert Benitez will fill in for him. Benitez is an experienced starter, having wrestled at both 125 and 133 pounds last season.
Junior Nikhil Pereira will lead Princeton at 133 pounds. Though he missed much of last season with injury, he performed well when healthy. Pereira is valued not only for his performance on the mat but also for his leadership. He is the only Tiger currently wrestling at 133, and his health with be critical this season.
At 141 pounds, freshman Daniel Kolodzik is poised to start. Kolodzik is Ayres’ first nationally ranked recruit, having reached No. 5 at 135 pounds as rated by intermat.com. He notched a 146-17 record in high school and brought home two Ohio state championships. While the transitional stage from high school wrestling to college wrestling is tough, Kolodzik should be able to make an impact this season. Freshman Bryan Peace should provide depth in the weight class.
The 149-pound bracket is a model of what competition within a Division I wrestling team should look like. Sophomore Justin Spain, junior Danny Scotton and freshman Andy Lowy are all vying for the starting spot. Sophomore Matt Katz and freshman Dan Kowalski add to the bracket. Competition for the top spot has pushed the three contenders this fall. Coming off a season in which the 149-pound weight class often had to be forfeited, the Tigers should get a strong performance out of this year’s group.
After a season lost to nagging injuries, senior captain Marty Everin returns in good health to lead Princeton at 157 pounds. Everin has been a model wrestler both on and off the mat for the Tigers and has trained hard in anticipation of the season. Having essentially lost a year to injury, he’ll have a lot to prove. As in the case of Pereira, however, he is the only Princeton wrestler at his weight, and his sustained good health will go a long way toward the Tigers winning dual meets.
Senior Aaron Casp and junior Mike Alvarez are battling it out at 165 pounds. Senior Alex Enriquez is also challenging for the starting position. As with the 149-pounders, the three have pushed each other to new heights and will continue to do so this season.
At 174 pounds, sophomore Travis Erdman returns as a 13-match winner and Princeton’s first All-Ivy selection since 2005. Erdman proved his tenacity in late-season matches against Columbia and Rutgers but got an unlucky draw in the EIWA tournament and did not place. Erdman will look to build on his past success as he approaches this season with more confidence, which he lacked at the beginning of last season.
Sophomore Anthony Salerno and freshman Kurt Brendel will compete to start at 184 pounds. Salerno missed most of last season due to injury and does not have much of an advantage in playing time. Brendel comes in as a three-time state qualifier, having placed sixth as a senior in Pennsylvania, the state often cited as fielding the best high school wrestlers.
At 197 pounds, a much-improved Zach Morse returns for his junior season. Ayres said he has been thoroughly impressed with Morse’s progress since last year. Morse returned from the summer in great shape, and Ayres expects a great season from him.
Ritter’s departure has left a big void in the heavyweight division, but freshman Stephen Turner appears ready to fill it. The New Jersey native went 75-20 in high school before missing his senior season. Turner and Morse are both the only wrestlers in their weight classes. Unlike the lower weight classes, in which bench players can drop down or move up at times to cover an injured teammate, Turner and Morse both wrestle at significantly higher weights than the rest of the team. If either goes down, Princeton will be down six points in dual meets before the first match gets underway.
Ayres has noted a difference in the team’s attitude this year. Instead of viewing the sport as a chore, some of the wrestlers have begun to live the life on and off the mat that will take them to new heights.
“The team, some individuals, but not all of them, are starting to live the champion’s lifestyle,” Ayres said. “I think that when I first came, they come down here punching the clock at 4:30, left after an hour and a half, and that was it for wrestling. I think some of these guys who are going to be successful are making sure they’re doing all the right things inside and outside of practice.”
Read More
With Pierce to sit out the year, men’s basketball loses last senior standing
Harrison BlankSenior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.
Senior forward Caden Pierce announced today that he will be sitting out his senior season of basketball at Princeton in the interests of maintaining his final year of eligibility.
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.