Sometimes sharing just is not fun. The men’s wrestling team knows all about the bittersweetness of sharing and is hungry for something of its own.
Last weekend, by beating Princeton, the Red earned a share of the Ivy league title. Left unsatisfied, the grapplers look to this weekend’s EIWA conference finals for a little fulfillment. The tournament doubles as the national qualifier, with all finalists earning a spot in the national tournament as well as 12 other wild cards.
Cornell comes into the tournament expecting to place well and looks to place many of its wrestlers in the national tournament.
“Every weight class has a shot at qualifying or even winning, if they wrestle the way they can,” commented freshmen Alejandro Alvarez who is also expected to do well this weekend.
The tournament includes 13 other teams, including all of the Ancient Eight. Most of the wrestlers in each weight class have wrestled each other at some point during the season which intensifies the competition and thickens the sweet taste of rivalry throughout the tournament’s two days.
The Red comes into the tournament with a record of 7-4-1, 4-1 Ivy league. Many of Cornell’s wrestlers are also seeded in the tournament but a sweep of the tournament would be a surprise by all accounts. Of course, the Red are not counting out the possibility.
“Most of us feel like we’re peaking right now, and if that’s true we can really shock some people this weekend and put together a great tournament,” added senior Jim Stanec.
At least five Cornellians are considered favorites in their respective weight classes which adds to the anticipation for Sunday’s results.
This season is certainly a success already but even the veteran had to admit that, “A really good showing this weekend would be pretty sweet and would take some of the bite out of having to share the [Ivy league] title.”
You cannot share an individual title. And this weekend the Red look to be a little more stingy.
Archived article by Scott Jones