Harvard University Men's Wrestling

The wrestling coaches offices are located on the fourth floor of the Malkin Athletic Center at 39 Holyoke St., Cambridge, Mass.   Jay Weiss, The David G. Bunning ’88 Head Coach for Harvard Wrestling, and his coaching staff have put the Harvard wrestling program on the map. Beginning his tenure with the 1994-95 season, Weiss enters his 32nd season at Harvard in 2025-26.   The two-time EIWA Coach of the Year has mentored two national champions, 19 EIWA champions and 20 All-Americans during his 31 years at the helm of the Crimson, creating a culture of excellence never seen before. Prior to Weiss' arrival in Cambridge, Harvard boasted just seven All-Americans in almost 80 years.   During his time at Harvard, Weiss has guided wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in 28 of his 31 seasons, with multiple student-athletes reaching the national meet in 20 of those years. In addition to the six wrestlers who qualified for NCAAs in 2001, Harvard has placed four at the meet seven times under Weiss. The Crimson finished 20th as a team at NCAAs in 1999, 22nd in 2002, 2004 and 2007, 23rd in 2010, 28th in 2000 and 29th in 1998. In 2023-24, Coach Weiss helped three Crimson wrestlers earn their way to the NCAA tournament: senior Philip Conigliaro, junior Diego Sotelo, and sophomore Jack Crook. The team finished 53rd overall at NCAAs. Coach Weiss also helped Conigliaro make his way to a 23-23 overall record, inculding Ivy League Wrestler of the Year Honors.  In 2022-23 Coach Weiss helped lead the program into a very impressive end to the EIWA dual season leading into the 2023 EIWA Championships and NCAA Tournament. The Crimson won four of its last five matches including wins over Columbia, Hofstra, Brown, and most notably the first victory over Princeton in ten years. Senior Yaraslau Slavikouski, juniors Philip Conigliaro and Josh Kim, and sophomore Diego Sotelo all qualified for the NCAA tournament after impressive performances at the EIWA Championships – the most Harvard has sent to the NCAA tournament in ten years.  Weiss helped Jesse Jantzen ’04 and J.P. O’Connor ’10 to heights seen only once before in Harvard history prior to Weiss landing in Cambridge. The duo captured NCAA titles in the 149 and 157-pound weight classes in 2004 and 2010, respectively. John Harkness ’38 was the first to accomplish the feat at 175 pounds in 1938.   Success on the national stage begins at the conference level and the aforementioned 18 EIWA champions trump the four Harvard boasted prior to Weiss’ arrival. From 1998 to 2007, at least one Harvard wrestler won his weight class with two individual champions each in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2006.   The culture of excellence on the mat has translated to the classroom under Weiss as Harvard won the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Top Grade Point Average award in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2016, 2017 and 2018. In 2017, the Crimson broke the record for highest team GPA with a 3.586 effort, a mark established in 1991. The Crimson finished 2011-12 ranked second in the team rankings and has placed in the top 10 of the team standings 14 times under Weiss.   One of the longest-tenured coaches at Harvard, Weiss is well-regarded in the wrestling community. He was the recipient of the 2009 Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award, presented annually to one coach across each division of collegiate wrestling, and is intended to recognize an outstanding coach who epitomizes the qualities and characteristics of a role model and mentor for developing young student-athletes. Weiss was also named the Wrestling USA 2008 Massachusetts Person of the Year for his support and development of the sport at the youth level and earned the 2007 United States Marine Corps Excellence in Leadership Award, which is presented yearly to a collegiate and high school coach that represents the core values of the U.S.M.C. in their passion for wrestling and leadership.   Always giving back to the sport, Weiss has also worked with the Massachusetts Junior National Team and at clinics, raising the level of training, technique, and competition throughout the state, while participating in the first Student-Athlete Development Coaches Forum held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in the summer of 2011.   "Coaching at Harvard is a humbling experience," Weiss said. "We attract individuals who have a passion to succeed both in and out of the athletic arena. Harvard not only allows student-athletes to do this but facilitates this action in every way. Our success on the wrestling mat in the past number of years is a true testament of highly motivated individuals who have a dream to succeed. If they throw themselves into this school, all their talents blossom. The end result of a Harvard wrestler after four years of this program is what the real prize is. That is so rewarding to see."   Weiss, a 1990 Franklin & Marshall graduate and four-year starter on the wrestling team, was an EIWA runner-up and an NCAA qualifier as a senior. He graduated with the school record for most wins in a season with 29 and ranked second in all-time career wins.   His wife, Jennifer, is the head coach of the Harvard women's volleyball team. They have two sons, Colby '23 and Keegan.

Harrington previously served on the staff at Boston University for three years from 2011-13. While at BU, Harrington took the Terriers to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in 2013, helped the squad receive eight individual NCAA berths and the team earned two NCAA Public Recognition Awards in the multi-year Academic Progress Report (APR). Prior to that he was an assistant at Harvard from 2009-11, where he helped Weiss and the Crimson secure eight individual NCAA berths over three seasons, including 2010 national champion J.P. O'Connor 10. A native of Dracut, Massachusetts, Harrington has been involved in the sport of wrestling as an athlete or coach for over 20 years. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell and later coached for the River Hawks from 1997-98.  Harrington returned to competition as a member of the New York Athletic Club and went on to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for four years. In 2011, Harrington received the PCA Double-Goal Coaching Award presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance. A Double-Goal Coach's first goal is winning, and second, more-important goal is teaching life lessons through sports. As PCA and Liberty Mutual Insurance strive to create a positive, character-building youth sports environment for all youth athletes. Harrington served as the Massachusetts Junior National Wrestling team coach in 2008-09. He is also a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Committee. Harrington, who graduated from UMass Lowell in 1997 with a degree in business administration, managed BrickHouse Wrestling Fitness LLC, a wrestling and fitness company in Lowell, Mass. IN DIVISION I ATHLETICS

Christian Monseratt enters his fourth season as assistant coach of the Harvard wrestling program in 2025-26. In his tenure thus far, he has helped coach 11 EIWA placewinners,  In the 2023-24 season, Monseratt helped coach three NCAA qualifiers: Senior Phil Conigliaro, junior Diego Sotelo, and sophomore Jack Crook. Conigliaro earned IVy Wrestler of the Year honors after a 20-1 regular season.  In 2022-23 season, Monseratt coached four NCAA qualifiers including junior Philip Conigliaro, sophomore Diego Sotelo, senior Yaraslau Slavikouski, and junior Joshua Kim. He also coached five EIWA placewinners that year.  Born and raised in Methuen, Mass., Monserrat joins the program from Roger Williams University where he was an assistant coach. While he was with the program, Roger Williams wrestling had a regional champion, two regional finalists, and three NCAA qualifiers. Currently, Monserrat is also a resident athlete at the New England Regional Training Center where he finished in the top six at the 2022 Bill Farrell Memorial Tournament.    Monserrat attended and wrestled for West Virginia University throughout his collegiate career from 2014-19 where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Activity and Sport Science. During his time at West Virginia, he competed in the 141 and 149-pound weight divisions. In his senior season, he was selected as one of five Male Exceptional Seniors due to an impressive final season that saw him ranked No. 16 in the country at 149 pounds. He also finished fourth at the Big 12 tournament and competed in the NCAA Division I NCAA Championships. He finished his collegiate career with a total of 74 matches won including going 23-9 in his senior year on his way to winning Most Valuable Wrestler.    Monserrat was a four-year letter winner at Methuen High School and won four state Championships, four All-State Championships, and two New England Championships. He became the second wrestler in Massachusetts history to win All-State four times and the fourth wrestler in Massachusetts history to win Division I state titles four times. Monserrat finished his high school career with a winning percentage of 99.1 percent with a 212-2 overall record. 

Muzaffar Abdurakhmanov joined the Harvard wrestling staff as an assistant in 2008-09, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience on both the collegiate and international levels. He enters his 18th season with the program in 2025-26.   Abdurakhmanov made his name known collegiately as an All-American at American University and a two-time junior college national champion at Colby Community College and has won multiple medals on the international stage   In August 2021, Abdurakhmanov earned Uzbekistan’s highest coaching honor after coaching his brother Bekzod Abdurakhmanov – a former volunteer assistant coach with the Crimson – to a bronze medal at 74 kg in men’s freestyle at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.   In 16 seasons since his arrival in Cambridge, the Crimson has celebrated a national champion in J.P. O'Connor '10, six All-Americans, 35 NCAA qualifiers and 61 EIWA place-winners. In the 2023-24 season, Abdurakhmanov helped coach three NCAA qualifiers: Senior Phil Conigliaro, junior Diego Sotelo, and sophomore Jack Crook. Conigliaro earned IVy Wrestler of the Year honors after a 20-1 regular season.    Harvard returned to the mat in the 2021-22 season following the COVID-19 pandemic with Philip Conigliaro leading the Crimson as the EIWA champion at 165 pounds and earning a berth in the NCAA Championships.   In 2019-20, Conigliaro and Yaraslau Slavikouski both earned spots at the NCAA Championships before the event was canceled due to COVID-19. Slavikouski captured All-America honors as well as earning Ivy League Rookie of the Year and EIWA Rookie of the Year. The Crimson did not compete in 2020-21 due to COVID-19.   Harvard persevered through injuries in 2018-19 with Hunter Ladnier winning a team-best 22 matches, including five in EIWA action, at 157 pounds. Lukus Stricke had 16 victories, including a team-high six in EIWA action en route to Honorable Mention All-Ivy honors.   In 2017, Harvard sent three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships, including Josef Johnson, Jeffrey Ott, and Hunter Ladnier. Ladnier and A.J. Jaffe were named Second Team All-Ivy, while – off the mat – senior Henry Cousins was the recipient of the Hoopes Prize and earned the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.   In 2016, Devon Gobbo (165) won an EIWA title and joined Todd Preston (141) and Johnson at the NCAA Championships. A total of five Crimson grapplers earned All-Ivy honors.   During the 2015 campaign, David Ng (heavyweight) earned a bid to the NCAA Championships and was one of three Crimson wrestlers to earn All-Ivy honors.   The 2014 season saw the return of an EIWA champion to Cambridge as Preston won the 141-pound title. Preston's performance, which included a sudden-victory overtime win over ninth-ranked Luke Vaith of Hofstra in the finals, earned him EIWA Most Outstanding Wrestler honors, making him the third Crimson grappler to receive the award. Preston was one of five Harvard wrestlers to reach the podium at EIWAs and was joined at the NCAA Championships by junior co-captain James Fox, who made his third consecutive trip to Nationals.   In 2013, Abdurakhamanov helped Harvard post its first winning record in dual meets (8-5) and its first winning record against the EIWA (5-4) since 2001 with seven Crimson earning All-Ivy selections, the most since the same year. At the EIWA Championships, eight Crimson finished on the podium with three grapplers earning a spot in the NCAA Championships.   In 2012, Steven Keith '13 and Walter Peppelman '12-'13 both reached the podium at NCAAs, marking the seventh consecutive season and fourth with Abdurakhmanov on staff that Harvard had produced at least one All-American. Additionally, Peppelman was just the seventh student-athlete in Harvard history to reach the podium in back-to-back years while Keith and Peppelman became the first Crimson teammates to earn a place on the podium at the same tournament since Louis Caputo '09-'10, Max Meltzer '07 and J.P. O'Connor '10 did so in 2007.   Abdurakhmanov joined the Harvard staff after spending two seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, American University. In his first season with the Eagles, American crowned its first national champion in Josh Glenn and the next season put two individuals on the podium at the NCAA's.   Abdurakhmanov, one of the finest wrestlers to ever don the American University colors, made a lasting impression on the program in just two years. During the 2004-05 season, his first season at AU, Abdurakhmanov became the first EIWA champion in school history with a 12-11 decision over Derek Zinck of Lehigh at 157 lbs. Combined with his championship and a 27-1 overall record, Abdurakhmanov entered the NCAA Championship as the fourth seed. His tournament run was cut short as he was slowed by a knee injury and was eliminated in the third round.   Coming back at 165 pounds for his senior year, Abdurakhmanov again dominated the competition. He defeated then-No. 13 Stephen Anceravage of Cornell, 9-3, in the EIWA finals for his second-consecutive conference championship and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. As the No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, Abdurakhmanov placed third with his only loss coming by way of a 4-3 decision to the returning National Champion, Johny Hendricks of Oklahoma State, who later went on to repeat. His third-place finish, the highest in AU wrestling history at the time, earned Abdurakhmanov All-America honors.   Before becoming an Eagle, Abdurakhmanov spent two seasons at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas. As a Trojan, Abdurakhmanov won two Junior College National Championships, was twice named a JUCO All-American and was also once named Outstanding Wrestler.   Abdurakhmanov is also a three-time Uzbekistan National Champion and a Junior World runner-up. In 2004 he placed second at the Sunkist International Tournament and in 2006 placed second in the New York Athletic Club International Tournament. Abdurakhmanov represented Uzbekistan on the 2001 senior national team at the World Championships.

Alexis Overstreet was announced as Harvard’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics – Finance and Administration in Sept. 2025.   Overstreet, with more than 25 years of strategic finance and operations experience, joined Harvard after senior leadership roles at Boston Consulting Group and Iron Mountain, where she oversaw global financial strategy, resource allocation, and long-range planning.   At Boston Consulting Group, Overstreet served as the senior-most finance advisor to business unit leadership, overseeing global financial strategy and operations for a $750M portfolio. She led the firm’s first enterprise-wide rollout of multi-year planning tools, integrated finance across HR and marketing, and delivered $42M in annualized savings by aligning resources with strategic growth initiatives.   Before BCG, Overstreet spent more than two decades at Iron Mountain, where she advanced through a series of leadership roles in enterprise FP&A and corporate finance. She directed enterprise-wide financial planning and performance management for global corporate functions, and built frameworks that shaped long-range growth and investment strategy.   Overstreet began her career at Deloitte & Touche as an auditor after earning her degree from Northeastern University. She later completed a Master Certificate in Applied Project Management from Villanova. A lifelong believer in the power of athletics to develop leadership and resilience, she is excited to bring her financial expertise to support Harvard student-athletes.