"Building Something Special" is the motto of the Harvard wrestling program.

Indeed, this year's wrestlers have taken that adage to heart.

The Crimson capped off a successful 1999-2000 season by continuing to take the program to new levels within the conference and the nation. Accumulating many team and individual achievements, this year's squad has finally earned a place among the nation's elite.

For the second consecutive year, two Crimson grapplers earned highly coveted All-American accolades. Co-captains Joey Killar (165 pounds) and Ed Mosley (174 pounds) were both named All-Americans with matching eighth-place finishes at the NCAA Championships in March. These standout performances, together with those of sophomore Dawid Rechul and freshman Max Odom, gave the Crimson a 28th-place finish.

"Nationals is a very difficult, intimidating tournament, bringing together the best wrestlers in the nation," Coach Jay Weiss said. "Placing two guys for two consecutive years is an amazing accomplishment. They should be very proud."

With his incredible finish, Killar became only the third wrestler in Harvard history to earn All-American accolades twice. Last year, Killar placed sixth at the tournament despite missing two months of the regular season due to injury. Killar, Dustin DeNunzio '99 and John Lee '53 are the only repeat All-Americans for the Crimson.

For Mosley, who is the only Crimson wrestler to qualify all four years for Nationals, securing All-American status proved a fitting ending to an incredible collegiate career.

"The program is definitely on the right track," Mosley said. "I am really going to miss hanging out with the team. Wrestling has been a really good sport to me, and I hope that I've given something back."

In their first trip to Nationals, Rechul and Odom turned in terrific performances that will propel the program into next season.

"I am so happy with these guys," Weiss said. "They are skipping steps in the progression. They are not just going out there--they are going out there and winning matches the first time around."

Indeed, this season has highlighted a talented group of senior leaders, experienced upperclassmen and promising freshmen. The Crimson had a strong fourth-place finish at the EIWA championship in which it claimed seven top-six finishes and four NCAA berths.

Killar grappled to his second consecutive EIWA title. Mosley and Rechul both finished second in the tournament to guarantee their NCAA spots, while Odom's third-place finish earned him a wild card berth.

Senior Kevin Kurtz (157 pounds) rounded out a terrific four years with the Crimson by placing fourth while freshman Patrick O'Donnell (184 pounds) and junior Matt Picarsic (133 pounds) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

The team had an auspicious start to the season when it captured third place at the Ivy Classic in early November. Both Picarsic and Mosley captured first place in their weight classes, while Kurtz and sophomore Brandon Rhoades (125 pounds) each grappled to a strong second-place finish.

Odom, Rechul, O'Donnell and freshmen Reggie Lee (197 pounds), David Germakian (125 pounds), Eric Swick (141 pounds) and Nick Picarsic (141 pounds) all placed within the top six.