
Aburn Hills, Mich. – It was a historical weekend for the Harvard wrestling team at the 2007 NCAA Championships at the Palace at Auburn Hills. Three grapplers finished as All-Americans, while Harvard had it first freshman All-America and scored the most points ever at an NCAA Championships.
Freshman J.P. O'Connor took fifth at 149 pounds and became the first freshman All-American in program history. O?Connor battled No. 1 Dustin Schlatter for a chance to go to third, falling just short in a 5-4 match. The rookie bounced back to take a 6-4 decision over Tyler Turner of Wisconsin in the fifth-place bout. O?Connor took and early 3-1 lead on a takedown and escape, Turners ties it up with a takedown, but O?Connor counters with a reversal. Turner managed to get loose, and chose down for the third, but was rode out.
O?Connor finishes his rookie campaign with a 37-8 mark. He is just one of two true freshmen to All-American this year.
Sophomore Louis Caputo placed seventh at 184 pounds to earn his first All-American honors. Caputo, the 10th seed, defeated a familiar foe Josh Arnone of Cornell, 2-0. Caputo defeated Arnone in the EIWA semifinals two weeks ago. Caputo earns an escape and riding time for his two points in the win. Caputo finishes his second year campaign with 39-2 mark.
Senior tri-captain Max Meltzer took eighth at 141 pounds and earned All-America honors to close out his collegiate career. Meltzer lost to Jeff Jaggers of Ohio State, 7-1 in the seventh place bout. It was the second meeting between the two this weekend. Meltzer finishes the season with a 25-7 mark and a career record of 88-29. Meltzer is a three-time NCAA qualifier.
Senior tri-captain Robbie Preston went 3-2 in his third NCAA Championships and finishes his junior campaign with a 10-4 record.
Heading into the finals, the Crimson is tied for 21st with 29 points. Harvard?s 29 points are the most in program history and Harvard?s three All-Americans are also a program first.