Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Daniel Kolodzik Named EIWA Wrestler Of The Week
February 07, 2012 | Wrestling
Senior Daniel Kolodzik, once the first nationally ranked recruit for head coach Chris Ayres, was named the EIWA Wrestler of the Week after upsetting a Top-5 Ivy rival last Saturday.
Kolodzik is currently 26-7 on the season and has won 11 straight matches, but it was his 11th victory that earned him this league honor. After losing four matches over the last 1.5 seasons to Harvard's Walter Peppelman, ranked fourth going into the weekend, Kolodzik scored a 9-1 major decision to lead Princeton to a 25-14 win at Harvard.
It was the first Princeton win over a reigning All-America since the days of two-time EIWA champion Greg Parker '03, and it helped Princeton to its first victory over a Top-25 opponent in more than a decade.
Kolodzik, who hadn't scored a takedown over Peppelman during the previous four matches, opened Saturday's 157-pound showdown with a first-period takedown. Leading 2-1 going into the second, he stunned the 2011 NCAA eighth-place finisher with a reversal and back points to take control of the match.
"He wrestled great," Ayres said after the match. "Just amazing. It is without question the best win we've had here. I'm very happy for him."
Kolodzik moved up to the No. 16 position in the Intermat Top 20 at 157 pounds, making him Princeton's second-highest ranked wrestler. Sophomore Adam Krop, who has won 14 of his last 15 at 141 pounds, has moved up to No. 13 in the Top 20.
Both Kolodzik and Krop are 3-0 in the Ivy League, and both will have a chance to improve on that total Friday night when Princeton hosts Columbia Friday night at Dillon Gym. Check back to GoPrincetonTigers.com later this week for a preview of Princeton's three-match homestand this weekend.