Princeton University Athletics
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Eight Wrestlers Head To 104th EIWA Championships
March 06, 2008 | Wrestling
Freshman duo Tony Comunale and Travis Erdman, along with returning co-captain Marty Everin and senior heavyweight Sam Ritter, will be among the eight Princeton wrestlers heading to Lancaster, Pa., for the 104th EIWA championships, hosted by Franklin & Marshall. Head coach Chris Ayres is hopeful that his team can earn valuable experience this weekend, as seven of his eight competitors will return next season.
Those four will join Nikhil Pereira, Alex Enriquez, Anthony Salerno and Zach Morse at the Eastern championships. Princeton has had 52 EIWA champions since the tournament began, although the Tigers haven't had an individual title since 2003, when Greg Parker won his second of consecutive championships. Princeton has won three team titles, including its most recent championship 30 years ago. Steve Grubman and John Sefter were individual champions and led the 1978 squad to a 10-point victory over Syracuse.
While Princeton is not a threat for the team crown this season, Ayres is hopeful to send a handful of wrestlers into the later rounds of the championship draw. Two of his most successful wrestlers this season have been his impressive freshman duo of Comunale and Everin. Comunale (125) leads the team with 18 victories and was a Central Jersey Open winner earlier this season. He has four victories over EIWA rivals this season, as does Erdman (174), who has 13 wins on the season and enters the championships having won six of his last eight matches.
Ritter had the chance to be Princeton's winningest wrestler on the season, but injuries derailed that effort over the last month. He brings in a record of 14-6 to the heavyweight division and had won four of five before suffering an injury. Like Ritter, Everin has also returned from injury, although the 157-pound co-captain was only able to wrestle seven matches during his junior season. Everin went 6-1, although he hasn't wrestled an actual match since Nov. 17 (he earned a forfeit win in the final regular season weekend).
Enriquez will be making his third trip to the Eastern championships this weekend and brings a 6-7 record into the 165-pound weight class, while Morse will be competing for the second straight year at 197 pounds. Both Pereira (133) and Salerno (184) are making their EIWA debuts.
B2 Networks have partnered with Franklin & Marshall to broadcast the EIWA Championships over the web this weekend. Individual day passes are $9.95 each, while an all-session pass is $14.99. For more information, click here.
GoPrincetonTigers.com will have nightly updates as the Tigers compete for EIWA championships this weekend.