Princeton Closes Season With Two Huge Home Rivals, Will Give Out Bobbleheads Sunday In Jadwin

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Two of the Tigers' most historic rivals will make their way to Princeton this weekend during the final weekend of the regular season to renew a pair of tradition-rich series, and both have intriguing individual matchups that could play a big role in seeing at the EIWA and NCAA level. Princeton will close its 2018 Ivy League season Saturday against Penn (12 pm, Dillon Gym), and then will honor its Class of 2018 prior to a Sunday dual against #18 Rutgers (1 pm, Jadwin Gym).

Both matches will be streamed live on the Ivy League Network.

Penn (9-6, 2-2 Ivy) at Princeton (3-8, 2-2 Ivy)
Saturday, Feb. 17 • 12 pm • Dillon Gym
Live Video Stream

You can look at the recent history of the Penn-Princeton rivalry in two different ways. On one hand, Penn has won 24 of the last 26 dual meets against Princeton. On the other hand, Princeton has won the last two, and it finished ahead of the Quakers in the last two EIWA Championships.

Either way, you know this is one that both programs badly want. While the Ivy League title went to Cornell after the Big Red topped both programs last weekend, second place in the Ivy League is on the line in Dillon between these two historic rivals. While Princeton took last year's match 28-8 at the Palestra, the last meeting in Dillon Gym wasn't decided until the final match, when then-freshman Pat D'Arcy closed the win with a decision at 125.

There are several potential matchups to watch, starting with a battle between experience and youth at 197. Penn senior Frank Mattiace is the reigning EIWA champion and has gone 23-4 this season to climb to #9 in the national rankings, and he is set to face Princeton freshman Patrick Brucki (22-6), who leads the Tigers in wins this season and has moved to #17 in the national polls. Penn's other ranked starter as 165-pounder May Bethea (20-6), who should see fellow Ivy League veteran Jonathan Schleifer (13-8). These two met at the Midlands Championships in December, where Schleifer earned a 10-4 win on his way to the finals.

There could also be a Midlands rematch at 184 between Princeton's Kevin Parker (8-13) and Penn's Joe Heyob (17-7). The Penn senior was ranked 18th nationally when they met at Midlands, but it was Parker who came away with the 6-3 win.

Rutgers (6-7) at Princeton
Sunday, Feb. 18 • 1 pm • Jadwin Gym
Live Video Stream

The all-time series is fairly close (Rutgers leads 42-33-5), but the Scarlet Knights have dominated it in recent years. Rutgers has won the last 21 matchups, including the 2016 "Battle at the Birthplace" when the Scarlet Knights claimed a tight 19-16 win in front of more than 16,000 fans at High Point Solutions Stadium. The Scarlet Knights, who wrestle at Wisconsin Friday night, enter the weekend with a losing record, but they have a loaded starting lineup and have been tested by the gauntlet of a Big Ten schedule.

Rutgers has five nationally ranked starters, including New Jersey native Nick Suriano, the Penn State transfer who is 20-0 on the season and ranked #1 at 125. #7 Richie Lewis is 12-3 at 165 and is set to face Schleifer, while 12th-ranked Nicholas Gravina is 12-3 at 184 and could be the opponent for Parker.

The highlight match is expected to come at 149, as Princeton All-American Matthew Kolodzik (18-5) is ranked #12 nationally, one spot behind Rutgers senior Eleazar DeLuca (9-7). This will be the first collegiate meeting between the two.

Sunday will also be Senior Day for Princeton, which will honor Trey Aslanian, Francesco Fabozzi, Michael Markulec, Jordan Reich, and Schleifer prior to the match. Fans will want to arrive early for more than just the Senior Day festivities, as the first 250 in attendance will receive a Princeton Wrestling bobblehead.

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