Athlete of the Week: Jesse Jantzen `04

Whoever says you can’t go home again certainly hasn’t met Harvard’s Jesse Jantzen.

The sophomore 149-pounder from Shoreham, N.Y. was the first ever four-time N.Y. state wrestling champion and didn’t lose a match throughout four years of high school. But that didn’t stop him from returning to his native Long Island this weekend to defeat No. 14 Jason DeBruin of Hofstra, 6-4. Earlier in the day, Jantzen pinned Sacred Heart’s Justin Ianello in 6:25.

In barely one and a half full seasons of collegiate wrestling, Jantzen has already left an impressive trail of accomplishments. Currently, he is the No. 5 wrestler in the country and the top-ranked competitor in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). Jantzen is also the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year and earned a berth at the NCAA Championships as a freshman.

It is no surprise, then, that a significant percentage of the estimated 2,000 fans in attendance at the Hofstra meet came to support the Crimson, particularly local heroes Jantzen and co-captain Dawid Rechul, the No. 12 heavyweight in the nation.

Anticipating such a turnout, meet organizers made the rare decision to arrange the order of matches such that Jantzen’s would be the last of the day.

“His reputation [in N.Y.] is such that he has a lot of people who look up to him, especially the younger generation of wrestlers and the coaches, who know what it takes to work hard and see that he does that without them having to push him into it,” Rechul said.

Indeed, it is that work ethic to which Jantzen, last year’s winner of the team’s Hardest Worker Award, owes much of his success. He is almost always more fit than his opponents, but he is also an excellent technician. Both prongs of this attack can only come from spending long hours practicing and working to improve.

In addition, Jantzen’s dedication has also had a second, perhaps unintended effect.

“Jesse has, by his work ethic, put himself in a leadership role that I don’t even think he realizes he has,” Rechul said.

Leading by example, Jantzen unintentionally provides a goal for each of his teammates.

“If he’s going to win by points, I want to get the pin. If he’s going to get the pin, I definitely want to win by pin,” Rechul said.

This weekend, Jantzen will lead the Crimson in hosting traditional EIWA powerhouse Penn, Princeton and Boston College. Jantzen’s toughest individual challenge may come Friday night, when he is slated to face No. 10 Joe Henson of the Quakers.

Ultimately, though, Jantzen is focused on the NCAA Championships. Unfortunately for his competitors, the tournament will be held in Jantzen’s native New York. With Jantzen’s talent, combined with his history of success in the state, it is not unrealistic to envision a national title in his future.

—ALAN G. GINSBERG and JESSICA T. LEE