Wrestling Hindered By Lack Of Depth

Long Island native and co-captain Jesse Jantzen entered the wrestling team’s meet against No. 10 Hofstra to a hero’s welcome, as the thousands of people filling the stands cheered on their local legend.

But Jantzen and the rest of the injury-ridden Harvard wrestling team left Hofstra Arena with a bitter taste in its mouth, as the Crimson remains winless in team competition after losing its fifth straight, 31-11.

No. 1 Jantzen (149 lbs.) was one of just three Harvard (0-5) wrestlers to win on the day, defeating James Strouse 18-3 to narrow the Pride (4-1) lead to just seven points. However, this was the closest the Crimson would come to pulling off an upset, as Harvard dropped its next three matches.

No. 14 sophomore Max Meltzer (141 lbs.) and junior heavyweight Jonas Corl were the only other Crimson wrestlers who posted victories, winning by scores of 8-5 and 4-2, respectively. These two wins were also the closest matches of the day, since no Hofstra wrestler won by fewer than five points.

“I really didn’t think that Jonas’ match was that close,” Harvard coach Jay Weiss said. “I thought he was in control for most of the match, and that he actually could have scored a lot more points.”

Jantzen—who lives a short drive away from Hofstra—was honored for his wrestling accomplishments before the match began.

“It was nice for me because I got to see some of my close family and friends,” Jantzen said. “I had a pretty good cheering section in the crowd.”

Harvard now begins a much-needed rest period for exams before resuming competition on Jan. 30 against Sacred Heart.

The Crimson expects that match to witness the return of some of its key wrestlers, including Eddie Jones.

The junior wrestles at 174 lbs., a weight class at which the Crimson has no backup, and his absence due to a sprained knee has forced Harvard to forfeit the six points in both the Lone Star Duals on Jan. 3 and against the Pride yesterday.

Jones, who is expected to return to competition after exams, is just one of the injuries that forced Weiss to drastically shuffle his lineup.

Freshman Robbie Preston (125 lbs.) is likely out for the rest of the season with a concussion, and a shoulder injury has forced senior Max Odom (157 lbs.) out of competition.

Filling in for Preston was freshman Brent Kakesako, who lost in his first collegiate action 25-10.

Weiss then moved junior Greg Cook, who normally wrestles at 125 lbs., up a spot to the 133-lb. vacancy, now that freshman Bobby Latessa, usually a 133-pounder, has been moved to 157 lbs. Rounding out the shuffle is senior Brandon Kaufmann, who was also moved up a spot from 157 lbs., and is now competing at the 165-lb. position.

“There was a bit of ‘strategery’ to figure everything out this weekend,” Weiss said.

Due to NCAA regulations, after being moved up, Cook can no longer wrestle any lower than the 133-lb. position, while Latessa and Kaufmann cannot compete under 157 lbs. for the remainder of the season.

Absent from the realignment was sophomore Mike Baria (141 lbs.), who was not called up to fill one of the heavier vacancies for fear of a possible injury to a wrestler in one of the lower weight classes.

—Staff writer Evan R. Johnson can be reached at erjohns@fas.harvard.edu.