Jantzen Posts Highest Harvard Finish at NCAAs Since 1953

In the best performance for a Harvard wrestler in half a century, sophomore Jesse Jantzen placed third in the 149-lb. class at the NCAA Tournament in Albany, N.Y., held March 18-20. Jantzen’s triumph was the most notable for the Crimson since John Lee also placed third at the national tournament in 1953.

Heavyweight captain Dawid Rechul joined Jantzen as an All-American, ending his Harvard career by battling back for a seventh-place finish. Junior Pat O’Donnell, the only other Harvard wrestler at the national tournament, had a disappointing tournament, bowing out after three matches in the 165-lb. division.

Jantzen won his first two matches, narrowly defeating Scott Frohardt of Air Force, 9-8, and then blanking Illinois’ Ryan Berger, 4-0. The victories earned him a spot in the quarterfinals.

However, the dream was not be. Jantzen was taken down early and never recovered, losing 7-2 to Oklahoma’s Jared Frayer, who would finish second overall.

Jantzen defeated Jarrod Sanders of Oklahoma State and then bested top-ranked Mike Zadick of Iowa, 5-4, in double overtime. Jantzen also downed third-seeded Jamaar Billman of Lock Haven, 5-4, to earn a spot in the third-place match. Jantzen pinned Ohio State’s Jake Percival to capture third. Jantzen closed out his sophomore season with a 38-3 record.

“He works too hard to give up when things get tough,” O’Donnell said. “That’s the kind of work ethic that I and the other guys on the team are trying to learn.”

Rechul’s route to seventh place was even more circuitous. The 225-lb senior lost his opening match to Purdue’s Jake Vericelli, 3-1, in overtime.

“In the last 10 seconds of the match, I lost my focus and let up a bit,” Rechul said.

With the loss, Rechul knew he would have to win at least three matches in a row to gain All-American distinction.

Undaunted, Rechul set about this task, defeating Penn State’s Pat Cummins, 4-1, Ryan Kehler of West Virginia, 6-1 and Kellan Fluckiger of Arizona State, 6-2. Both Kehler and Fluckiger had beaten Rechul in the past.

“I lost to a guy from Penn State as a sophomore in the NCAAs,” Rechul said. “So even in that first match [against Cummins] I got a little vengeance.”

After earning his place as an All-American, Rechul fell to Illinois’ John Lockhart, the defending champion, 6-3.

“It was my fourth match of the day and only his second,” Rechul said. “I was physically tired, and especially mentally tired after winning my all-American match [over Fluckiger].”

A true champion, Rechul came back to win his final match the tournament, 6-5, over Kevin Hoy of Air Force. Hoy had defeated Rechul earlier this season, yet Rechul came out on top in the final match of his Harvard career.

“I had mixed feelings,” Rechul said. “I set my goals really high and I came to win the tournament. It’s easy to say ‘I got All-American,’ but I could have done more.”

“But getting All-American is not an easy thing to do,” Rechul added. “I tried twice before and couldn’t do it. [Being an All-American] is a great honor and something I can be very proud of.”

Rechul now has the U.S. Open tournament in April to think about. Rechul hopes to one day compete in the Olympics, either for the U.S. or for his native Poland. While Poland will pay for his training, he would have to work part-time if he wrestled for the U.S.

“My first choice is the to wrestle for the U.S.,” Rechul said. “But if there’s a guy I can’t beat here, it may be easier to make it in Poland. Financial reasons may also be a factor.”

Rechul sprained his MCL in his final match at the NCAAs and is uncertain as to whether he will compete in the U.S. Open tournament.

O’Donnell is also thinking about his wrestling future. The Harvard junior lost his opening match to Kent State’s Nick Nemeth by a 14-5 count. He won his first consolation contest, 6-4 over Ryan Kane of Northwestern but was eliminated after losing 17-4 to Charles Martilli of Michigan.

“I never felt truly comfortable in any of my matches,” O’Donnell said. “I know that I should have placed in the tournament and that I have a year to put all the pieces together. I will learn from the experience, and make sure it doesn’t happen next year.”