ngineer
November 21st, 2021, 11:57 PM
Few people gave Lehigh much chance of winning more than three bouts this afternoon in Grace Hall for the first home dual meet of the season. After a dismal start to the season, Lehigh had fallen out of the top 25, with only two top 10 wrestlers. Pitt came in with 3 grapplers ranked in the top 5, plus fairly seasoned supporting cast. Lehigh sent out four freshmen and two sophs. When the smoke cleared Lehigh had taken 7 of the 10 bouts, and even more shocking was knocking off 2 the 3 top five guys.
Malyke Hines (FR) had the rafters shaking with a defensive pin of #5 Phillippi (SR) with :01 remaining in the match at 133. That catapulted Lehigh into a 9-0 lead after Lane (JR) at 125 got things rolling with a solid win Camacho. Another stunner was Manzona Bryant (FR) manhandling Kemerer (JR) at 149 with a major decision. After #9 Humphreys (JR) had a workmanlike decision to put Lehigh up 16-3, we waited for the upper weight onslaught from Pitt, beginning with the Panthers' #4 ranked Wentzel at 165. Meyer went toe to toe scoring the winning takedown with seconds left on the clock creating another din in Old Grace. The momentum helped carry Jake Logan, another frosh, to an upset of undefeated Kernan, 5-4 upping the lead to an insurmountable 22-3 lead with 3 bouts to go. Lehigh's Burkhart (SO, 184) and Davis (FR, 197) ran into to senior buzz saws Harvey and #2 Bonaccorsi, but fought hard and dropping regular decisions. Lehigh's #10 ranked 285 pounder, Jordan Wood was surprised by an early takedown by Slinger, but Slinger paid a 'heavy' price as the takedown seemed to rile Wood, who put a whooping on the 5-1 Slinger, 14-3.
Collegiate wrestling is a 'long' season,, and after the slow start with some wrestlers still getting acclimated to their weights, a lot of shifting of the rankings will likely occur. But, from what was shown this Sunday afternoon in Grace Hall, Lehigh has a team the could well be in the top 15 come tournament time.
Malyke Hines (FR) had the rafters shaking with a defensive pin of #5 Phillippi (SR) with :01 remaining in the match at 133. That catapulted Lehigh into a 9-0 lead after Lane (JR) at 125 got things rolling with a solid win Camacho. Another stunner was Manzona Bryant (FR) manhandling Kemerer (JR) at 149 with a major decision. After #9 Humphreys (JR) had a workmanlike decision to put Lehigh up 16-3, we waited for the upper weight onslaught from Pitt, beginning with the Panthers' #4 ranked Wentzel at 165. Meyer went toe to toe scoring the winning takedown with seconds left on the clock creating another din in Old Grace. The momentum helped carry Jake Logan, another frosh, to an upset of undefeated Kernan, 5-4 upping the lead to an insurmountable 22-3 lead with 3 bouts to go. Lehigh's Burkhart (SO, 184) and Davis (FR, 197) ran into to senior buzz saws Harvey and #2 Bonaccorsi, but fought hard and dropping regular decisions. Lehigh's #10 ranked 285 pounder, Jordan Wood was surprised by an early takedown by Slinger, but Slinger paid a 'heavy' price as the takedown seemed to rile Wood, who put a whooping on the 5-1 Slinger, 14-3.
Collegiate wrestling is a 'long' season,, and after the slow start with some wrestlers still getting acclimated to their weights, a lot of shifting of the rankings will likely occur. But, from what was shown this Sunday afternoon in Grace Hall, Lehigh has a team the could well be in the top 15 come tournament time.