Peppelman Steps Up in First Year

The expectations seemed too large for a first-year wrestler.

Walter Peppelman (20-11, 11-7 dual matches) had big shoes to fill this year, following junior co-captain J.P. O’Connor and 2004 National Champion Jesse Jantzen in the 149 lb. weight class.

However, the shoes seem to fit, as the freshman grappler has dominated opponents all year, often overwhelming competitors 17-0 en route to leading the team with eight technical falls. Peppelman is also close behind O’Connor (27-2, 16-1) and fellow junior co-captain Louis Caputo (27-4, 14-1), as well as sophomore NCAA qualifier Corey Jantzen (12-1, 5-0), with four falls so far this season.

“With Walter, he’s just as good as other guys coming in—Corey, Louis, J.P.,” Harvard coach Jay Weiss says. “The only thing he’s missing is that one win that says ‘Okay, I can do this.’”

Peppelman notes the difficulties of being a freshman, making the adjustment on and off the mat.

“It’s a big transition between high school and college wrestling,” he says. “I have been really working to improve my hand-fighting skills, my bottom wrestling, and the mental aspect of the sport.”

However the rookie is modest, bringing much more to the table than he acknowledges.

“Obviously he’s very talented, but his enthusiasm [stands out],” Weiss admires. “To this day, I’ve yet to see him have a bad practice. I’ve never had to tell him to pick it up.”

Peppelman is driven in his own right, with ambitions of qualifying for the NCAA tournament and becoming an All-American. While the rookie prepares for the lofty goals he has set for himself, he is grounded and ‘family’ oriented, relying on his teammates and coaches.

“So far, the closeness and support of the Harvard wrestling family has been one of the major highlights of my college career,” Peppelman says.

For a freshman, it is easy and almost natural to hang in the background and not contribute as an active voice on the team, especially surrounded by star grapplers O’Connor and Jantzen as workout partners. Then again, Peppelman is not the average freshman.

“The biggest thing I see is his leadership,” Weiss says. “He’s not afraid to open his mouth. He’ll call himself out, too. He’s really added a lot, and allows other people to open their mouths as well.”

The confidence and leadership Peppelman exhibits stems from a combination of talent and experience. He began wrestling 13 years ago in first grade when his friend persuaded him to try it, and the sport has proven to be an ideal outlet for an energetic grappler.

“[Peppelman] is constantly going,” Weiss says. “He’s real difficult to wrestle when he’s on top of you. He’s in great shape, constantly pushing himself, and brings a lot of intensity to the room.”

The rookie standout was a rare three-time state finalist in high school in Pennsylvania, finishing third at the PIAA Championships as a freshman, second as a sophomore and senior, and claiming the title as a junior. After high school, he was considering programs like the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and Lehigh University. But ultimately, the draw of Harvard’s education and atmosphere proved too much, as the grappler has found a truly supportive environment.

“I chose to go to Harvard because I would have two of the best workout partners in the country [O’Connor and Jantzen], I loved the coaching staff, and I felt at home on the campus,” Peppelman says. “Not to mention it’s the number one academic institution in the world.”

The fit seems natural for Peppelman and the rookie class. After benefitting from such high-level training and opportunities to compete right away, Peppelman and his classmates have tried to give something back, bringing a new focus and determination to a team that is only growing stronger as the EIWA Championships approach.

“Nowadays in practice, I don’t have to say much...[I] let them do their thing and what I’ve seen is just [great],” Weiss says. “I’m going to attribute that to the freshmen and the chemistry they’ve added coming in.”

As for this weekend, Weiss believes that Peppelman is “saving his best for last.”

The coach pointed to the rookie’s past success in big high school matches as an indicator that Peppelman’s “big step” may be coming soon.

The freshman may surprise a few people in the season’s final tournaments, as Weiss hints, “I’m convinced he’s going to get more than one big win [at EIWAs].”