I for one am sad to see the demise of the EIWA. I competed 3 times in the tournament and qualified for the NCAA twice. I am on the EIWA Hall of Fame committee. It is the oldest conference in the country. Ivy athletic directors are gravitating towards Ivy League tournaments in every sport and wrestling I believe, got caught up in this new philosophy.
5 guys from Penn outplaced guys who we thought were the starters. True freshman Max Gallagher a NY state champ beat Ventresca in the semis then beat Ryan Miller in the finals. Miller had beaten him in a wrestle off. Freshman Alex Almyeda won 133 and won ow beating 3 ranked guys. He lost in ot to Coliocco in the wrestle off. Martin Cosgrove a freshman 2 time Jersey state champ beat Cole Urbas for third. He lost to him in the wrestle off. There were a lot of great matches at the Keystone.
Christian Franco was a stud who unfortunately had injury issues and couldn't get through even a couple of years before he had to retire. A shame because he kept trying.
I started 4 years at Penn competed twice in the NCAA tournament. In 1975 I won my first round match and separated my shoulder defaulting out. It was the first injury and first time I ever missed a match because of one. I lost in the NY state finals to Jack Spates. I'm a big supporter of Penn wrestling and I'm on the EIWA Hall of Fame committee.
I wondered why Urbas took a step back this year. Talking to someone close to the program Urbas grew around 4" in the last year and you could see on his feet he didn't adjust to the change. I hope it's Cosgrove at 197 and the new kids on the block at 149/157. I'd like to see Revano at 157. Not sure he'd make the team so I'm told and not sure who would go 165. Wish Urbas could put on significant weight and go hwt. We will struggle there.
I wondered why Urbas took a step back this year. Talking to someone close to the program Urbas grew around 4" in the last year and you could see on his feet he didn't adjust to the change. I hope it's Cosgrove at 197 and the new kids on the block at 149/157. I'd like to see Revano at 157. Not sure he'd make the team so I'm told and not sure who would go 165. Wish Urbas could put on significant weight and go hwt. We will struggle there.
The NCAA gets a zero for not getting the brackets printed correctly. They had time to make the adjustments after guys dropped out. It's the NCAA tournament for G-d sake! A total embarrassment.
The wrestling gets a 10. The venue gets a 5. The Bob Dylan museum the main attraction.
Before Unger can shock the world he has to beat Miller in the first round. Miller beat him easily in the dual meet 6-1. They should have met in the EIWA semis but for some reason no one there could understand Unger got the one seed over Glory. He lost to the 2,3,and 4 during the season. Looking forward to that match.
Zapf won states as a junior at 103. 2nd as a senior at 112. Started at Penn at 141, then 149, then 157. Although Penn might be shaking things up this year with their lineup. We shall see.