Grapplers Lose Three Bouts

Although the Harvard wrestling team was not expected to contend for the Ivy League title this year, it didn't expect its season to be this dismal.

Saturday's quad-meet against Cornell, UMass-Lowell, and Boston University was merely the latest setback for the inexperienced Crimson squad (2-11 overall, 0-4 Ivy), which lost all three matches.

Harvard entered the match against Cornell hoping to prevent a rout. The Big Red dominated last season's contest, 40-0, and won the Ivy League championship over Brown earlier this season. The result was only marginally better, however, as Cornell cruised to a 38-3 victory.

Despite the blowout, the wrestlers showed considerable heart and determination in the face of trying conditions.

Freshman Dustin DeNunzio shook off an illness, which included a 101-degree temperature Thursday night, to give his man a battle in the 126-pound spot. DeNunzio lead his match by four with 22 seconds remaining before "hitting a wall" and losing by two, according to freshman Adam Griesemer. DeNunzio left the mat visibly weakened and coughing violently.

Junior Steve Gerstung provided the match's only other real highlight, notching a 5-4 triumph in the 158-pound spot.

"Cornell was especially good at riding on top," said Griesemer, who lost his match at 142 pounds. "We were holding our own on our feet, but we never managed to get a lot of escapes in."

Gerstrung also cited the strength of Cornell's heavyweights as crucial to the match, an area in which he admits the Crimson is "not so strong."

Although the Crimson were realistic about its chances in the match, it was nevertheless disappointed in the final tally.

"We knew we were going to have to give the performance of our lives [to win], but we still wanted to do better and make it a closer match," said Griesemer.

UMass-Lowell appeared to be the team which the Crimson had the best chance of defeating. Harvard last year dominated the River Hawks, who compete at the Division 3 level, 36-13.

Nothing is guaranteed for the Crimson this year, however. Although the match was close throughout, the Crimson suffered a 21-19 defeat which Gerstung called "really tough."

With the Crimson taking three out of the first four contest, the match started out well for Harvard. Sophomore Brendan Noonan and freshman Luke Merriner, at 134 and 142 pounds respectively, won their matches by 7 points apiece, showing "a lot of heart" according to Griesemer.

Further inspiration was provided by senior tri-captain Kris Reina, a 150-pound wrestler who volunteered to face the best UMass wrestler, a Division 3 All-American, at the 167-pound spot. Despite the considerable size disadvantage, Reina was winning until, finally worn down, he was rolled and pinned late in the match.

"He showed a lot of courage in wrestling right down to the wire," Griesemer said.

Again, however, the Crimson was foiled at the higher weight levels, losing both at 190-pounds and the heavyweight spots. The losses sealed the Crimson's fate.

"We had a chance in this one, but we're just not concretely set at the heavyweights," Griesmer said.

The day's frustrations ended with a 34-9 pasting at the hands of B.U. The match story was the same as usual--a good effort, but a lack of match experience and heavyweight depth that proved costly.

Although freshman James Butera started the match with an encouraging victory at the 118-pound spot, there was little else for the Crimson to cheer about.

Griesener "came out flat" and lost his match, and Reina and sophomore Scott Malcolm, who wrestled at 177 pounds, were pinned after controlling the majority of their bouts.

The lone bright spot was once again provided by Gerstung, who wrestled admirably in a 10-6 loss to Earl Walker, the nation's top-ranked wrestler at the 158-pound spot.

The Crimson now have only one match remaining, Saturday's contest against Ivy League power Brown, before the EIWA and NCAA tournaments in March.

And, despite its dismal record, the team remains upbeat about its progress and prospects for the future.

"Everybody is out there trying their hardest," Gerstung said. "We knew it was going to be a rebuilding year, and we feel we're actually doing a lot better individually than last year."

"We're disappointed, in that we thought coming in that we'd give a lot of teams and take them down to the wire," Griesener said. "The core of the team is returning. With more experience, we'll have more presence in closer matches."