After 23 consecutive losing seasons in the Ivy League, the men’s wrestling team entered last year with some moderately optimistic expectations. With a strong recruiting class coming in, the Tigers were hoping to improve on their two wins from the 2008-09 season.
What they achieved, however, was an incredible turnaround for the entire organization that nobody expected. Sophomore Garrett Frey inaugurated his Princeton career and the 2009-10 season by winning the Binghamton Open. The Tigers came into the Ivy League season with a 5-8 overall record, and they finished the season 9-10 overall. The team’s 3-2 league record was its first winning record in the Ancient Eight since 1987.
The expectations for Princeton are even higher this season. This year’s recruiting class comprises multiple strong candidates. The biggest standouts are Adam Krop and Joe DeQuinzio, who are competing with junior Tony Comunale for the starting spot at 133 pounds.
The starter at 125 pounds is Frey, who last year became the Tigers’ first wrestler at the NCAA tournament since Jake Butler made it in 2005. His second-place finish at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championship and his 27-8 individual record cemented his place as the team’s undisputed leader, and this season only promises to be better.
“He’s taken it to a whole new level this season,” head coach Chris Ayres said. “He’s going to have a good year.”
The 141-pound weight class is another tightly contested one, with sophomores Zach Bintliff and Luis Ramos competing for the starting spot. In general, the team has plenty of depth at the lower weight classes, but the upper ones could be troubling.
“You don’t hear a coach say this very often, but we got lucky last year,” Ayres said. “We were good, but you don’t see a team go through an entire season with as few injuries as we managed.” Injuries could certainly derail the squad’s hopes in the upcoming season, particularly in the higher weight classes.
Junior Daniel Kolodzik is moving up from the 149-pound weight class to 157 pounds to fill the hole left by Danny Scotton ’10, who graduated last year after his most successful season ever at Princeton. Last year’s captain Mike Alvarez ’10 is the other major loss for the team, and his leadership will be sorely missed.
Senior Travis Erdman will try to fill that role this year as the team’s captain. Erdman will also pick up where he left off last season as the starter at 174 pounds for the team. Others who are returning to the same roles as last year include Charles Fox at 197 pounds and Bobby Grogan at heavyweight.
The 149- and 189-pound weight classes will both be filled by new wrestlers. While both positions are still relatively open, there is no depth problem, with at least two wrestlers in each division. The biggest potential hole is at 165 pounds, where the Tigers hope to have junior Andy Lowy make weight in time for the season.
As a team, the Tigers certainly look promising this season, but there are multiple obstacles to further progress. The first challenge will be for Princeton to fill out its needs. While the 121- through 149-pound weight classes are all solidly set for the coming season, the squad is thin at all the higher weight classes with the exception of 174 pounds.
The other major roadblock is the high caliber of every other team in the Ancient Eight; Ivy League wrestling is among the best in the nation.
For one thing, Cornell finished second in the NCAA tournament last year and was unanimously voted the No. 1 team in the nation this year. Returning three All-Americans and one national champion, the Big Red is the team to beat not only in the Ivy League, but in the entire country.
Penn is also incredibly talented. The Quakers and the Big Red were the only teams in the Ivy League that the Tigers failed to defeat last season, and Penn has a number of strong recruits this year. Harvard is one of the most improved teams in the league, and gaining two talented recruits this year has put the Crimson on the same path of improvement as Princeton.
The Tigers are certainly in good shape, though, and the squad is as talented as it has been in a long time.
“This is definitely the most talented team I’ve worked with here,” Ayres said. “Last year was about the team and our huge achievements, but I think this year will be about individual successes for the team.”
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.