Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
Wrestling Ready To Continue Move Forward In 09-10 Season; Training Video Included
November 13, 2009 | Wrestling
The mountain that Chris Ayres was brought in to climb remains steep. But for the first time in his four years at Princeton, he needs to squint when he looks back if he wants to see the bottom. And if things go as hoped this season, Ayres is hopeful that the peak will be within sight.
Ayres' task of rebuilding the Princeton wrestling program remains an ongoing one, but his team has several highly touted recruits in place, as well as a few veterans with legitimate success already on their resume. Most importantly, there is a culture in place that can foster success in the demanding sport.
An example of that culture change occurred before Ayres was allowed to even work with his team this preseason. When he started at Princeton prior to the 2006-07 season, he looked forward to seeing members of his roster working on their own after moving back on campus.
“Not one person came down to work out on their own,” Ayres remembered. “This year, every single day, I think every single guy came down here to wrestle. That's huge for us. It's a major culture change, and it's what we've been pushing for.”
Prior to last season, Ayres was pushing for that elusive first win. Now he has set the bar a little higher — another step closer towards his long-term goal of becoming one of the elite programs in the East.
Depth could still become an issue, especially if there are injuries at certain weights, but Ayres is hopeful that the days of starting matches in an 18-point hole because of three forfeits has come and gone. Princeton begins its regular season this Sunday at the Binghamton Open and should get stronger as the season progresses for two key reasons: the progression of its young talent and the return of a key lightweight.
Below is an early weight-by-weight look at the Tigers; check back next week for preseason thoughts from head coach Chris Ayres, as well as veterans Mike Alvarez and Travis Erdman.
125 – Freshman Garrett Frey went 124-24 throughout his career at prep wrestling power Blair Academy and finished in the top three at the national prep championships over the last three years. He leads the way now, with classmate Andrew Hirai, another 100-match winner, adding depth to the weight. Frey is tough in all positions and is a tough competitor who earned big wins over the past summer.
That depth will be bolstered heavily in January with the anticipated return of sophomore Tony Comunale, who should be fully healthy by January. Comunale missed a freshman trip to the NCAA tournament by one match and has recorded one of the most successful seasons during Ayres' tenure.
133 – Along with Frey, freshman Zach Bintliff might have had the most impressive preseason among the Class of 2013 members. Bintliff had a career record of 132-27, including a 39-4 record as a senior, and he capped his high school career with a Missouri state championship. His toughness and confidence has been apparent early in the preseason, and he'll go into the season expecting to win. His presence in a weight class that forfeited numerous matches last season immediately makes Princeton a more formidable opponent.
141 – Another weight class that saw numerous forfeits last season will be strengthened by a freshman. Despite not wrestling until the eighth grade, Luis Ramos won 253 matches in high school and never finished below fifth in the state tournament. He ended his career with a North Carolina state title, and Ayres thinks the ceiling for Ramos is much higher.
“He has unlimited potential,” Ayres said. “From where he started until right now, it's been unreal.”
149 – Sophomore Daniel Kolodzik was the headline recruit last season; he came in with a 144-17 record in high school and two state championships. A slow start that Ayres attributed mostly to wrestling at too low a weight kept Kolodzik from ever getting on a roll, but Ayres is seeing much more of the confidence return in the Ohio sophomore.
“He is wrestling the best I've seen since he got here,” Ayres said. “He is in the toughest weight class in the EIWA. There might be five guys nationally ranked, but that could be good for him because we could get a number of bids to the NCAAs. If he beats a couple of ranked guys, you never know. He was exceptional in high school, and the transition to being a success in college is going on.”
157 – Either senior Danny Scotton or sophomore Andy Lowy are the likely starters at this weight class. Scotton is one of two seniors in the lineup and his physical development throughout his career has been impressive. His 11-9 win against Franklin & Marshall was a crucial turning point in the match, and with greater consistency, could become a surprising force in the lineup.
Lowy was a three-time state champion from Maryland who won 10 matches as a freshman and represented Princeton in the 165-pound weight class at the EIWA Championships. After the good experience gained last year, Lowy is a potential starter at both 157 and 165 pounds.
165 – Lowy will likely compete with senior Mike Alvarez, whose progress through four years with Ayres has been a microcosm of the entire program. He went from a virtually unknown freshman to an upperclassman who believes in the lifestyle of a college wrestler and has built himself into a potential full-season starter this year. Alvarez also earned a key win in the team victory over Franklin & Marshall, and Ayres will count heavily on his leadership with such a young and inexperienced team.
174 – Junior Travis Erdman is now an upperclassman and is being called to be a leader both on and off the mat. After a strong freshman season, which ended with All-Ivy honors, Erdman didn't have quite the same success last season. Ayres is pleased with Erdman's work over the offseason and wants to see if he the junior open up on the mat more. He has 25 career wins at Princeton, including one in the EIWA championships last year, and has set his sights much higher this season.
184 – Sophomore Kurt Brendel led all returning wrestlers last season with 15 victories, including two in Ivy League matches, and recorded a major decision in the victory over Penn. The experience of going through an entire season will serve Brendel well, who will looking for a stronger finish this season. Brendel has really come on over the last two years, including a 52-win senior year in high school, and should be part of Princeton's foundation for the next three seasons.
197 – Freshmen Charles Fox and Bobby Grogan will compete for this position. Fox started late in the sport but improved quickly enough to win a Brute/Adidas national championship and to finish second in the South Dakota state championship. Grogan won nearly 100 matches in his career at in-state wrestling power Delbarton and he finished sixth in the state tournament last year. Ayres believes both have potential but will need to adjust to the collegiate level during their first year. If one can make a big early jump, it would fortify what could be a strong trio of weights (174 through 197).
HWT – Sophomore Stephen Turner won 70 matches in high school and took over the starting role last year, but he will need to hold off a pair of freshmen this season. Freshman Greg Field was a three-time league placewinner and a two-time NCS qualifier in California, while either Fox or Grogan could move up if they don't get the starting spot at 197.
Ayres' task of rebuilding the Princeton wrestling program remains an ongoing one, but his team has several highly touted recruits in place, as well as a few veterans with legitimate success already on their resume. Most importantly, there is a culture in place that can foster success in the demanding sport.
An example of that culture change occurred before Ayres was allowed to even work with his team this preseason. When he started at Princeton prior to the 2006-07 season, he looked forward to seeing members of his roster working on their own after moving back on campus.
“Not one person came down to work out on their own,” Ayres remembered. “This year, every single day, I think every single guy came down here to wrestle. That's huge for us. It's a major culture change, and it's what we've been pushing for.”
Prior to last season, Ayres was pushing for that elusive first win. Now he has set the bar a little higher — another step closer towards his long-term goal of becoming one of the elite programs in the East.
Depth could still become an issue, especially if there are injuries at certain weights, but Ayres is hopeful that the days of starting matches in an 18-point hole because of three forfeits has come and gone. Princeton begins its regular season this Sunday at the Binghamton Open and should get stronger as the season progresses for two key reasons: the progression of its young talent and the return of a key lightweight.
Below is an early weight-by-weight look at the Tigers; check back next week for preseason thoughts from head coach Chris Ayres, as well as veterans Mike Alvarez and Travis Erdman.
125 – Freshman Garrett Frey went 124-24 throughout his career at prep wrestling power Blair Academy and finished in the top three at the national prep championships over the last three years. He leads the way now, with classmate Andrew Hirai, another 100-match winner, adding depth to the weight. Frey is tough in all positions and is a tough competitor who earned big wins over the past summer.
That depth will be bolstered heavily in January with the anticipated return of sophomore Tony Comunale, who should be fully healthy by January. Comunale missed a freshman trip to the NCAA tournament by one match and has recorded one of the most successful seasons during Ayres' tenure.
133 – Along with Frey, freshman Zach Bintliff might have had the most impressive preseason among the Class of 2013 members. Bintliff had a career record of 132-27, including a 39-4 record as a senior, and he capped his high school career with a Missouri state championship. His toughness and confidence has been apparent early in the preseason, and he'll go into the season expecting to win. His presence in a weight class that forfeited numerous matches last season immediately makes Princeton a more formidable opponent.
141 – Another weight class that saw numerous forfeits last season will be strengthened by a freshman. Despite not wrestling until the eighth grade, Luis Ramos won 253 matches in high school and never finished below fifth in the state tournament. He ended his career with a North Carolina state title, and Ayres thinks the ceiling for Ramos is much higher.
“He has unlimited potential,” Ayres said. “From where he started until right now, it's been unreal.”
149 – Sophomore Daniel Kolodzik was the headline recruit last season; he came in with a 144-17 record in high school and two state championships. A slow start that Ayres attributed mostly to wrestling at too low a weight kept Kolodzik from ever getting on a roll, but Ayres is seeing much more of the confidence return in the Ohio sophomore.
“He is wrestling the best I've seen since he got here,” Ayres said. “He is in the toughest weight class in the EIWA. There might be five guys nationally ranked, but that could be good for him because we could get a number of bids to the NCAAs. If he beats a couple of ranked guys, you never know. He was exceptional in high school, and the transition to being a success in college is going on.”
157 – Either senior Danny Scotton or sophomore Andy Lowy are the likely starters at this weight class. Scotton is one of two seniors in the lineup and his physical development throughout his career has been impressive. His 11-9 win against Franklin & Marshall was a crucial turning point in the match, and with greater consistency, could become a surprising force in the lineup.
Lowy was a three-time state champion from Maryland who won 10 matches as a freshman and represented Princeton in the 165-pound weight class at the EIWA Championships. After the good experience gained last year, Lowy is a potential starter at both 157 and 165 pounds.
165 – Lowy will likely compete with senior Mike Alvarez, whose progress through four years with Ayres has been a microcosm of the entire program. He went from a virtually unknown freshman to an upperclassman who believes in the lifestyle of a college wrestler and has built himself into a potential full-season starter this year. Alvarez also earned a key win in the team victory over Franklin & Marshall, and Ayres will count heavily on his leadership with such a young and inexperienced team.
174 – Junior Travis Erdman is now an upperclassman and is being called to be a leader both on and off the mat. After a strong freshman season, which ended with All-Ivy honors, Erdman didn't have quite the same success last season. Ayres is pleased with Erdman's work over the offseason and wants to see if he the junior open up on the mat more. He has 25 career wins at Princeton, including one in the EIWA championships last year, and has set his sights much higher this season.
184 – Sophomore Kurt Brendel led all returning wrestlers last season with 15 victories, including two in Ivy League matches, and recorded a major decision in the victory over Penn. The experience of going through an entire season will serve Brendel well, who will looking for a stronger finish this season. Brendel has really come on over the last two years, including a 52-win senior year in high school, and should be part of Princeton's foundation for the next three seasons.
197 – Freshmen Charles Fox and Bobby Grogan will compete for this position. Fox started late in the sport but improved quickly enough to win a Brute/Adidas national championship and to finish second in the South Dakota state championship. Grogan won nearly 100 matches in his career at in-state wrestling power Delbarton and he finished sixth in the state tournament last year. Ayres believes both have potential but will need to adjust to the collegiate level during their first year. If one can make a big early jump, it would fortify what could be a strong trio of weights (174 through 197).
HWT – Sophomore Stephen Turner won 70 matches in high school and took over the starting role last year, but he will need to hold off a pair of freshmen this season. Freshman Greg Field was a three-time league placewinner and a two-time NCS qualifier in California, while either Fox or Grogan could move up if they don't get the starting spot at 197.
Tuesday, November 04
Tuesday, June 04
Wednesday, June 22
Monday, June 06