Princeton University
EIWA Championships Day 1
Players Mentioned
Princeton Looks For EIWA Titles, NCAA Berths This Weekend At Bucknell
February 28, 2017 | Wrestling
The 2017 EIWA Championships will take place March 3-4 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. Tickets can be purchased through the Bucknell Campus Box Office at www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice or by calling 570-577-1000. An advance all-session ticket is $75 for adults and $30 for students of competing institutions and children 18 and under. Single-session tickets are also available. Session 1 and Session 2 tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students, while Session 3 and Session 4 cost $25 for adults and $12 for students.
Once again, the two-day event will be streamed live via FloWrestling. The weekend schedule is below:
Friday, March 3
Session 1:
- 11 a.m.: Championship First Round
- 2:15 p.m.: First Round Wrestlebacks
Session 2:
- 6 p.m.: Championship Quarterfinals
- 7:30 p.m.: Wrestleback Quarterfinals
Saturday, March 4
Session 3:
- 10 a.m.: Semifinals
- 11:45 p.m.: Wrestleback Semifinals
- 12:35 p.m.: 7th-Place Matches
Session 4:
- 4 p.m.: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Place Matches
Princeton posted its best team finish since 1978 when it finished fifth last year, and senior Brett Harner ended a 13-year individual title drought by winning the 197-pound title by a 14-4 major decision over Army's Bryce Barnes. Harner returns with a trio of upperclassman teammates who will look to return to the NCAA Championships, where Harner also earned All-America honors last season. The EIWA will offer 43 direct bids to the NCAA Championships, the second-most of any conference tournament in the NCAA.
Below are several fast facts about Princeton heading into the EIWAs, as well as a look at the projected Tiger starters.
Moving Up • Princeton posted its best EIWA Championships team finish since 1978 last year when it took fifth overall. That was also the first time the Tigers posted a top-five finish since 1978, when Princeton won its third EIWA team title. After 10 straight finishes outside the Top 10 between 2005-2014, the Tiger have finished seventh (2015) and fifth (2016) the last two years.
Championship Pedigree • Princeton senior Brett Harner became the first Tiger in 13 years and only the second in 30 years to win an EIWA individual title last season, which came via a 14-4 major decision over Army's Bryce Barnes. Harner became the 36th different Tiger to win an EIWA title, and he can become the 11th to win multiple titles for Princeton. Jacob Frantz, Richard Harding, and Bob Eberle won three titles apiece, while Bill Graham, Julian Gregory, Warren Taylor, Bradley Glass, John Sefter, Dave Crisanti, and Greg Parker each won two.
Rank & File • Princeton brings four nationally ranked wrestlers (InterMat) into the latest EIWA Championships. Freshman Matthew Kolodzik leads the way with the #4 ranking at 141, while Brett Harner is ranked #11 at 197. Senior Jordan Laster is #17 at 149, while classmate Ray O'Donnell is #19 at heavyweight.
Seventh Heaven • Seven Princeton wrestlers were ranked in the latest NCAA RPI: Matthew Kolodzik (8th, 141); Jonathan Schleifer (14th, 174); Brett Harner (16th, 197); Jordan Laster (17th, 149); Ray O'Donnell (18th, heavyweight); Mike D'Angelo (26th, 157); and Pat D'Arcy (30th, 133).
Return Trip • Six of Princeton's projected starters this weekend will have competed in at least one EIWA Championships during their career. Seniors Jordan Laster and Ray O'Donnell will be in their fourth EIWAs, while Brett Harner (injured in 2015) and Jonathan Schleifer will be in their third. Both Pat D'Arcy and Mike D'Angelo made their debuts last season.
Fresh Faces • Four freshmen are set to make their EIWA Championships debuts this weekend. Both Ty Agaisse (125) and Matthew Kolodzik (141) have been starters at their weights throughout the season, while Leonard Merkin (165) and Kevin Parker (184) earned their spots later in the year. Kevin is the younger brother of Princeton's two-time EIWA champion Greg Parker '03.
Looking For History • Matthew Kolodzik, who went 22-2 on the season and 9-0 against EIWA opponents, will try to make Princeton history this weekend. No Tiger freshman has ever won an EIWA individual title. The last freshman to reach the EIWA finals was Garrett Frey '14, who upset two higher-seeded wrestlers to take second at the 2010 EIWA Championships.
Century Mark • Senior Brett Harner reached the 100-win club at Princeton during the 2016 Midlands Championships, and he enters the EIWAs with 103 career wins. Classmate Jordan Laster could also reach that mark during the postseason; he enters the EIWAs with 94 victories.
Climbing Ivy • Princeton placed second in the Ivy League for the second consecutive season. After defeating its first four Ivy opponents by a combined score of 93-17, the Tigers fell 21-12 to Cornell at the Friedman Wrestling Center.
Head Of The Class • The Class of 2017 came into the Princeton wrestling room four years ago determined to build a winning culture. They did so by never experiencing a losing season. For the first time in 30 years, a Tiger senior class posted four straight .500-or-better seasons.
| Wt | Wrestler | Class | Hometown (High School) | Record | vs. EIWA |
| 125 | Ty Agaisse | Fr. | Warren, N.J. (Delbarton) | 12-5 | 6-1 |
| 133 | Pat D'Arcy | So. | Galloway, N.J. (Holy Spirit) | 11-11 | 7-2 |
| 141 | Matthew Kolodzik | Fr. | Bellbrook, Ohio (Blair Academy) | 22-2 | 9-0 |
| 149 | Jordan Laster | Sr. | Bolingbrook, Ill. (Bolingbrook) | 17-7 | 8-0 |
| 157 | Mike D'Angelo | So. | Commack, N.Y. (Commack) | 12-8 | 5-3 |
| 165 | Leonard Merkin | Fr. | Brooklyn, N.Y. (Poly Prep) | 11-11 | 1-3 |
| 174 | Jonathan Schleifer | Jr. | East Brunswick, N.J. (East Brunswick) | 12-6 | 4-3 |
| 184 | Kevin Parker | Fr. | Clifton Park, N.Y. (Shenendehowa) | 12-12 | 3-6 |
| 197 | Brett Harner | Sr. | Norristown, Pa. (Norristown) | 11-6 | 4-1 |
| 285 | Ray O'Donnell | Sr. | Bethlehem, Pa. (Saucon Valley) | 12-6 | 5-1 |