If students on campus were asked to name a successful Wesleyan sports team, I imagine many would simply laugh, and say something along the lines of, “successful Wesleyan sports team is an oxymoron.” The better informed might mention men’s soccer, or perhaps bring up the recent success the men’s cross-country team has enjoyed. Few, however, would say wrestling—arguably the best program within Wesleyan athletics, a team that has produced New England champions and finished last season with a .800 win percentage.

On Saturday, the Wesleyan wrestling team opened its 2011-12 campaign with a scrimmage at Roger Williams University in Providence, RI. They entered the competition after just a week and a half of practice, facing teams that had been able to practice for a month before the meet. Despite this significant disadvantage, the wrestling team, which returns five All-New England grapplers and has a deep store of young talent, managed top-five finishes in six of the eight weight divisions they entered. In addition, Jefferson Ajayi ’13, who took second in New England in the 184-pound division last year, won the tournament. Wesleyan did not participate in team scoring because they treated the tournament as a scrimmage, but if they had, they would have placed fourth out of the twelve teams that competed.

The six top-five finishers were: Joey Schwartz ’14, who finished 2nd at 133, Nick Scotto ’13, who took 5th place at 141, Howard Tobochnik ’13, who took 3rd at 149, Ryan Sblendorio ’15, who took 5th in his first collegiate competition at 165, Ajayi, who was the champion at 184, and Luke Erickson ’12, who took 4th at 197.

These strong finishes bode well for a team that has high ambitions for the season. The next test for the team is this Saturday at the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College.