Yale wrestlers have the right stuff

How often does Yale celebrate national championships? In a sport where Yale is nowhere near a powerhouse, or even a varsity team, Eli wrestlers have garnered top honors at both the individual and team levels time and time again. This year's team qualified three wrestlers for the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championships, and two of them finished in the top three of their weight classes. Kevin McGill, SY '02, took the gold medal in the 184-lb. class.

COURTESY DAVE FARRELL Matched against top varsity programs from around the Northeast, two members of Yale's wrestling team finished in the top three of their weight classes, and Kevin McGill, SY '02, took home the gold metal in the 184-lb. class.

"This is a great club to be a part of," McGill, who acts as captain and coach, said. "Our guys are enthusiastic and self-motivated, and our hard work pays off in competition." Since wrestling was cut from Yale's varsity athletic program during Title IX reworking in 1990, responsibility for the team has passed entirely into student hands. The squad currently consists of eight wrestlers, many of whom are dual-sport athletes, such as McGill, who also plays rugby, and Ryan Farrell, TC '03, and David Farrell, MC '03, who both play football.

The team placed 11th overall this season out of more than 70 competing schools, although it was one of only three teams present without at least one full-time coach. "Most of these teams have at least two professional coaches," McGill explained. "We've got nothing but wrestlers." The Eli wrestlers won the national championship as a team in 1998 but have not claimed the title since. McGill would like to see the team regain varsity status, but he's not optimistic. "All the other Ivy schools have varsity programs, but I don't really foresee a change for us," he said.

The wrestlers may not have the top-level funding that other schools have, but they certainly have top-level talent. McGill is a three-time All American, an honor he shares with only one other wrestler in the country who will be returning next year. McGill and Dave Farrell both were Northeast Regional Champions this year, and their success was complemented by strong performances from newcomers Michael Liu, SM '02, Benjamin Klay, CC '03, and Kris Siriratsivawong, MC '02, who enjoys making his opponents try to pronounce his name. McGill believes that recruiting is the key to future success for Yale. "These young guys will be the heart of our team. If we can keep getting talented guys, I think this club can return to the top as team champions at Nationals," he said.

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