Pat Glory (16-0) from Princeton.

Josh Humphreys (12-0) of Lehigh.

2023  

EIWA CHAMPIONSHIPS

PREVIEW

Cornell's three-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis (12-1, 104-2 career). He will seek his 4th EIWA title this weekend.

Zachary Knighton-Ward (16-11) of Hofstra.

Top- seeded Vito Arujau (16-1) from Cornell.

EIWA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

By Jim and Tony Nordland

www.thematslap.org

There will be seventeen member collegiate wrestling teams at the 119th annual EIWA Wrestling Championships at The Palestra, Philadelphia, PA, on the weekend of March 4th-5th.

Defending team champion, Cornell University, will be paced by three-time NCAA champion YianniDiakomihalis (12-1, 104-2 career) at 149 pounds and two-time All-American Vito Arujau (16-1) in the 133-pound class. The Big Red also point to Brett Unger (14-9) at 125, freshman Vince Cornella (18-6) at 141, sophomore Julian Ramirez (20-3) at 165, nationally ranked and possible finalist, sophomore Chris Foca (21-1) at 174 and Jacob Cardenas (12-3) in the 197-pound class.

UPenn finished a close second behind Cornell,153 points to 143, and will challenge as being the host school.The Quakers will be led by returning champion Michael Colaiocco (20-4) at 133, Doug Zapf (18-6) at 149, along with and a pairof finalists; Anthony Artalona (23-5) at 157and Nick Incontrera (22-7) at 174. Other team points will be earned by EIWA placers Ryan Miller (125) and Ben Goldin (18-11) at 285.

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Princeton finished third at the 2022 meet and boast two NCAA finalists; unbeaten Patrick Glory (16-0) at 125 and Quincy Monday (19-1) at 165 pounds. The Tigers also return two EIWA finalists; sophomore Luke Stout (16-8) at 197 and Travis Stefanik, now in the 285-pound class. Also to watch are 4th place finisher Marshall Keller at 149 and former NYS champ and MOW winner KoleMulhauser at 174 pounds

Lehigh has sophomore returning EIWA placers Connor McConagle (11-2) at 133 and Max Brignola (13-8) at 149. The Mountain Hawks also have bronze medalist unbeaten Josh Humphreys (12-0) at 157 and Jake Logan, a two-time NY state champion from New Rochelle at 174. Other firepower will come from Tate Samuelson (17-7) at 184 and sophomore Michael Beard (16-2), a 2021 All-American, while at Penn State, he is currently ranked second in the nation at 197 pounds.

Columbia finished fifth at the 2022 EIWAs and return champion Matt Kazimir (17-7) at 141 and returning finalist, junior Josh Ogunsanya (16-5) at 165. The Lions also look to Nick Babin (17-10) at 125, placer Danny Fongaro (149), Cesar Alvan (18-5) at 157 and Lenox Wolak (15-8) at 174. 

A quick glance at the other New York State EIWA member collegiate teams:

Army West Point have freshman Ethan Berginc (23-4) at 125 and Trae McDaniel (28-9) at 149. Other Black Knight stalwarts are Dalton Hawkins (165) and returning bronze medalist Ben Pasiuk (19-4) at 174 pounds. 

Binghamton has North Babylon state finalist Anthony Sobotker (133) and a pair of 2022 placers; Brevin Casella (17-4) at 165 and former Hilton HS star Sam DePrez at 174. Other talented Bearcat upper weights include Saranac NY native  Jacob Nolan (17-6) at 184 and Cory Day (15-8) in the 285-pound class.

Hofstra points to Jacob Moon (125), Massapequa's Chase Liardi (133) and Justin Hoyle at 141. Other Pride standouts are: Ross McFarland (174),  Jacob Ferreira (19-8) at 184, Trey Rogers (197) and NCAA qualifier, former state champion from Uniondale, Zachary Knighton-Ward at 285 pounds.

LIU-Post will send a much improved squad to the 2023 EIWA meet. Head coach Joe Patrovich, now in his 7th year at the helm, will have the Sharks ready for tournament action. They have a solid lightweight in Robbie Segaris (125) and middleweights, Devin Matthews (141) and tough Drew Witham at 149. Other podium possibles are Rhise Royster (157) and Blake Bahna at 165 pounds.

MAT NOTES:

 Two 2022 EIWA champions and NCAA All-Americans; Jonathan Loew (Cornell) and Lou DePrez (Binghamton) will not be in the field at the 2023 EIWA meet, due to injuries. We wish them both all the best on their road to recovery.

The EIWA has been granted 45 pre-allocations for the upcoming NCAA Championships.

Other returning EIWA champions include Philip Conigliaro (7-4) of Harvard and Michael O'Malley (14-2) of Drexel, both are lodged in the 174-pound bracket, which could make for an intriguing final.

Drexel also former Clarke HS state king Jordan Soriano (141) and an outstanding upper weight in Evan Barczak (24-3, 92-38 career) at 165.

Harvard has potential champion with rugged Yaraslau Slavikouski (23-2), a junior at 285. Another elite Crimson 285-pound star was Dawid Rechel (Huntington HS state champion) who won the OSW Award in 2001 and led Harvard to the EIWA team title.

Navy has a pair of 2022 EIWA finalists, sophomore Josh Koderhandt (24-9) and Andrew Cerniglia (157), The Midshipmen also look to David Key (184), Jake Koser (23-8) and junior Grady Griess who has 30 wins on the season at 285 pounds.

Sacred Heart has potential EIWA medalist with Nick Palumbo at 174 pounds.

Congratulations to the EIWA Hall of Fame Inductees, Class of 2023:

   * Ryan Flores - Columbia University/American University - 2012

   * Clinton Matter - UPenn - 1997

   * Richard Springman, Ph.D. - UPenn - 2002

   * Marty Strayer - Penn State - 1965

The EIWA Tournament action is scheduled to begin on:

Saturday, March 4th at 10:30 AM - (Preliminaries) and the Quarterfinals slated at 4:30 PM.

Sunday, March 5th at 10:30 AM - (Semifinals), with the Championships Finals at 4:30 PM.

Special thanks to Jonathan Glass, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, for all his assistance as the Media Coordinator.

Best of Luck to all the EIWA competitors, enjoy your championships, win or lose.