He's first in his class

When Jay Weiss began his tenure as head coach of the Harvard wrestling team a decade ago, his immediate goal, he recalled, was "on the here and now -- rebuilding the program."

But then came the tip from a former Harvard All-America wrestler, Andrew McNerney, about an eighth-grader named Jesse Jantzen who had finished third in the New York State high school championships. After watching video of the youngster, Weiss was sold. McNerney, later a Harvard volunteer assistant coach, lived a block away from the Jantzens on Long Island and was close to the family.

"My immediate reaction was, `Wow,' " said Weiss. "I couldn't believe how well this boy handled himself."

Now a Harvard senior, Jantzen has fulfilled just about all the expectations that he and Weiss could have hoped for: He is the nation's top-ranked college wrestler in his weight class (149 pounds); he's the first individual in the 88-year history of Harvard's varsity program to advance to four NCAA Championships, with No. 4 coming up this week in St. Louis (tomorrow through Saturday); and on March 7 he became the first Harvard wrestler to win three straight Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships when he defeated Brown's David Dies, 5-2, at the Palestra in Philadelphia.

Jantzen is 34-1 this season, with the only loss coming out of his usual weight class to a heavier opponent, Alex Tirapelle, runner-up in the 157-pound class at the NCAAs last year from the University of Illinois.

"Based on accomplishment," said Weiss, "Jesse's the greatest wrestler in Harvard history."

Jantzen, who had a 221-3 record -- losing as only a seventh- and eighth-grader -- at Shoreham Wading River High, is the only New York high school wrestler to win four state championships. From the time he was 6 years old through his senior year of high school, he was coached by his father, Don, a Suffolk County (N.Y.) police officer who started a youth wrestling program in Shoreham. Don Jantzen is now head coach of the Shoreham high school team, whose roster includes Jesse's younger brother, Corey, a ninth-grader who recently finished second in the New York State Championships in the 98-pound bracket.

"I was kind of aggressive at a young age and I enjoyed the one-on-one competition," said Jantzen, who as an elementary school student enjoyed writing about Olympic wrestling -- something he hopes to participate in by 2008. "My dad was an assistant coach at the high school while I was there and I have always respected the way he deals with me, as an athlete and as his son. He's never negative.

"I've had my losses, and afterwards he would say, `If you can fix this, you can beat him next time.' He always stressed hard work and education, and I wasn't the type of kid he had to yell at because I like working hard. My dad and Jay have similar approaches and they have always been there for me."

Weiss said he has never coached anyone with more drive than Jantzen, who was third in the NCAA Championships as a sophomore and junior.

"It's amazing to be around him," said Weiss. "You never have to push him; in fact, you have to do more pulling back.

"There was a lot of pressure on Jesse to succeed here because of his great high school record, and most of that was self-imposed. The good part of that is he wouldn't be at the point he is now if not for that inner drive."

A three-time All-American and two-time national champion in high school, Jantzen was Ivy League Rookie of the Year when he went 17-7, but did not qualify for the NCAAs. In his sophomore year, Jantzen became the first Harvard wrestler to finish as high as third at the NCAAs since John Lee in 1953. He was 37-3 as a sophomore and 39-2 last year.

"My focus for the NCAAs is staying calm and wrestling my match," he said. "You can't let the pressure get to you and you must be healthy and fit because it's a long season."

Jantzen's 6-5 victory over Brown's Dies Feb. 21 was his toughest challenge during the regular season in his weight class.

"David had a tough style for me and we were tied at 5-all after I was penalized 2 points," said Jantzen. "But I was able to pull out that first match with him with an escape point. I learned from that match, and being pushed like that was good for me."

Jantzen, who will compete at the NCAAs with Harvard teammates Max Meltzer, Reginald Lee, and Bode Ogunwole, will have his entire immediate family in St. Louis to root him on. The contingent includes his mother, Deborah, and sisters Jami, Doni-Melissa and Debi-Michelle. Jami is a former gymnast, Doni-Melissa started a youth field hockey program in Shoreham and is also a member of the field hockey team at Hofstra, while Debi-Michelle, the youngest of the siblings (9), is an avid field hockey player. Don Jantzen, who works the night shift so he can coach wrestling, said no matter what the outcome, he's content that Jesse has learned important life lessons during their rides to tournaments, stays in hotels, and on the mat. He plans to retire from coaching after Corey's senior year.

"When people have success," said Don, "they sometimes lose sight of what it's all about. For us, what's important are the experiences we share as a family. I've seen kids pulled off the mat by angry parents after a loss, and that's not what it's about.

"I've tried to be there for my kids not only when things went well, but when things went the other way. What I'm most proud of about Jesse is the way he's conducted himself on and off the mat during this journey -- with humility."

His son's journey, however, is far from over.

"After the NCAAs, I plan to go home for spring break, then get back into training," said the soon-to-be three-time All-American.

Jantzen plans to compete next month at the Freestyle Nationals in Las Vegas, where a top six finish would qualify him for the Olympic trials May 21-23 in Indianapolis. He has gone to the world trials twice, finishing fifth and sixth (there's just one qualifer in each class), but those were impressive showings for a collegian adapting to a different style.

"He had big goals in college, but you get the sense the curtain won't close on his wrestling career Saturday in St. Louis," said Weiss. "No matter where he stands on the platform next weekend, you know there's going to be more wrestling in his future. I'd never put a limit on Jesse and neither would he."