Wrestling: Frey takes 2nd, Kolodzik and Callahan 4th at Keystone Classic

Given that the wrestling team throws its underclassmen directly into tournaments instead of easing them into the season with dual meets, performances like this weekend's are impressive. The Tigers placed four wrestlers — including one freshman — at the Keystone Classic, alongside a number of top-ranked teams.

"The teams were definitely tougher," sophomore Garrett Frey explained. "Northwestern was there this year, and they're a top-20 team ... Teams that had been there last year, their programs had grown, and there were a lot more ranked guys."

Penn took the top spot in its home meet, while Princeton finished eighth of the 12 teams competing.

Frey placed second in his weight class, starting the tournament off with a win on a technical fall, 16-0, against Corey Borshoff from American University. After pinning his next opponent and defeating Antonio Gravely from Appalachian State, Frey, who was seeded No. 2 in the tournament, fell to the No. 2 wrestler in the nation, Northwestern's Brandon Precin, in the final round.

Unseeded junior Daniel Kolodzik also fell to the tournament’s top seed and the nation’s No. 2 wrestler in the 157-pound weight class, Steve Fittery from American University.

“Wrestling those guys is always a great opportunity," Frey explained. "You really have nothing to lose going out there, and you have everything to gain. From wrestling those guys we can learn a lot, and it shows us what will happen with those guys early in the year. For the next four or five months of the season, it gives us something to improve on."

Kolodzik won three consolation matches in a row, including stepping over a sixth-seeded opponent 7-1 and pinning Penn's Bradley Wukie to take fourth place.

Fourth-seeded freshman Ryan Callahan also took fourth in his weight class.

“Overall, I think the freshmen are taking advantage of everything," Frey explained. "Callahan being one of them, he’s doing a really great job coming in as a true freshman at that weight class. You really never get too many guys up there that are not only young, but good."

After an overtime victory in the championship draw, Callahan was pinned by No. 1 seed Hunter Meys from Boston University in the third round before picking up his consolation match and then dropping a decision to the No. 3 seed.

Both Callahan and Frey have placed at every tournament they have competed in so far.

Along the way, Callahan had to defeat fellow Tiger and senior captain Travis Erdman in a 4-1 victory to earn his third individual placement.

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Unseeded Erdman rebounded and also individually placed by upsetting fifth-seed Royal Brettrager from Liberty in a 14-10 victory for fifth place.

Freshman Adam Krop picked up Princeton’s only championship draw win in the 133-pound weight class after defeating Glenn Donatelli from American, 7-2.

Frey said that although the team was able to shake off nerves at Binghamton the weekend before, some members still have stage fright because of the transition from high school to the college wrestling scene.

“The disadvantage to the new guys is that you start out in college with tournaments, and it’s hard to carry momentum through a tournament because your teammates are wrestling at different times," Frey explained. "Where we made a big jump last year was that at dual meets ... we were able to get closer as a team. You have an individual sense, but you’re also wrestling for your teammates out there."

Aside from the Southern Scuffle at the end of December, the team will have plenty of dual meets to practice before the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championship.

Princeton will have a weekend off and a chance to enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays before hosting Liberty and Binghamton universities at Dillon Gymnasium on Dec. 3.

“I’m really excited to get into the dual season now, and I really think it’ll open up our program to a new level of performing,” Frey said.