Harvard Hosts Army and BU in First Home Matches of the Season

The Story Line
The Harvard wrestling team competes at the Malkin Athletic Center for the first time this season when it hosts Army and Boston University Saturday afternoon. The Crimson takes on the Terriers for the Charles Cup at 1 p.m. and then meets Army at 5 p.m.

Scouting the Crimson
Harvard heads into the weekend with a 2-6-1 dual record. The Crimson is lead by senior co-captains J.P. O’Connor and Louis Caputo. O’Connor is ranked No. 1 at 157 pounds and Caputo is eighth at 184 pounds. Harvard has wins over Sacred Heart and Franklin & Marshall and a tie with Hofstra.

Scouting the Terriers
Boston University is 2-8-1 on the season and is coming off a 29-16 win over Sacred Heart Sunday afternoon. Mike Roberts (149), Hunter Meys (174) and John Hall (197) all have 20 or more wins thus far. Meys has 16 bonus point wins, including 13 wins by fall.

The Series
The Crimson leads the all-time series 21-18-3 and has won 10 of the last 14 meetings. Boston University Professor John McGrath announced the dedication of the Charles Cup for the BU/Harvard rivalry earlier this week. The cup will be presented for the first time Saturday to the winner of the dual meet.

Scouting the Black Knights
Army is 3-2 in dual action this season and has seen success at both the New York State Championships and the Southern Scuffle. The Black Knights were second at the NY State Championships last weekend behind champions Matt Kyler (149) and Casey Thome (141). Kyler, ranked eighth in the most recent Intermat poll, is 27-2 on the season with 19 bonus point wins and nine wins by fall.

The Series
Army leads the series 21-10 after a 30-11 win in West Point, N.Y., last year. Harvard’s last win was a 22-18 triumph in 2007 on ESPNU.

Team Leaders
J.P O’Connor leads the Crimson with an 18-0 record this season. Louis Caputo, who only started competing in January is not far off with his 11-2 record. O’Connor has seven bonus point wins, while freshman Steven Keith has six.

The Harvard Victory Club
J.P. O’Connor is tied for second on Harvard’s all-time wins list with 115 career victories. Louis Caputo currently sits in third with 114 wins. Jesse Jantzen ’04 holds the program record for wins with 132.

Wrestling and Volunteering
During preseason the Harvard wrestling spent several weekends volunteering in the community and bonding with each other. J.P O’Connor spearheaded the team to help out with a Habitat for Humanity project in Dorchester. The team worked together off the mat to help out a community by hanging sheet rock and painting. The team helped out the Harvard Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in a three-mile walk as a tribute to Myles Brand, the former NCAA President who passed away in September. During the January break from classes, members of the team volunteered at the Lutheran Church Homeless Shelter in Cambridge. The wrestlers worked four shifts several times a week.

Up Next
Harvard opens up Ivy League action next weekend when it hosts Penn and Princeton Saturday at the Malkin Athletic Center. The Crimson takes on the Tigers at 10 a.m., followed by the Quakers at 3 p.m.