PHILADELPHIA – On Thursday, InterMat released its preseason rankings and three members of the University of Pennsylvania wrestling team earned recognition heading into the 2021-22 campaign.
Michael Colaiocco was ranked 15th at 133,
Anthony Artalona was tabbed 22nd at 149 and
Doug Zapf landed at 27th at 157.
In 2020, Colaiocco became the first Penn freshman to be named an All-American. He was tabbed as a NWCA second-team All-American after the NCAA Championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2019-20 campaign, Colaiocco was honored as a second-team All-Ivy selection. He also racked up a third-place finish at the prestigious Ken Craft Midlands Championships, and a first-place finish at the Keystone Classic. Colaiocco wrapped up his first year at Penn with a 24-7 record, including a team-leading nine wins over ranked opponents.
Artalona posted a 14-6 record in 2019-20, including a prestigious Midlands Sem-Finals appearance, before missing the second half of the season due to an injury. As a freshman in 2018-19, he won the EIWA championship and was a Round of 12 finisher at the NCAA Championships at 149 pounds. A multiple national champion in freestyle wrestling, Artalona led the Quakers with 28 wins in 2018-19 including a nation-leading eight in overtime.
Zapf had an impressive 2019-20 season, he was an NCAA Championships qualifier at 141, a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection, Keystone Classic champion and he finished fourth at the EIWA Championships. He wrestled in 13 of Penn's 15 duals and posted a 12-1 record as a sophomore and he reeled off a 17-match unbeaten streak during the middle of the season and he ended the year with a 20-2 mark against EIWA wrestlers. In 2019-20, he had three wins over ranked opponents, while leading the team in both points (102) and takedowns (89).
Penn opens the season on Sunday, November 14 at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic in Manheim, Pennsylvania.
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