LEHIGH SINKS NAVY, 20-12

[ngineer]

The Mountain Hawks came roaring (soaring?) back from a 6-0 deficit suffering an upset loss in the opening match at 197 and then losing, as expected, at Hwt. to run off three straight wins from 125, 133 and 141 with Cooperman providing bonus points and Stout pulling off a huge upset at 133 (only his second win this year). Navy pulled mild upset at 149, with #19 Cox defeating #16 Ciasulli, 5-3 to bring the match to 10-9. However, Lehigh then won 3 of the four remaining bouts with Zinck (157), Frick (174) and Helfrich (184) winning solidly. One of the biggest applauses of the afternoon, however, came at 165 where Lehigh's 149 pounder scored an escape and takedown in the last 20 seconds to avert a major decison, which at the time looked important.
Next up Cornell on the Jan. 22.

[Hansel]

What's the outlook for Lehigh this year, and why no National Duals?

NDSU went 1-2 at the Virginia Duals, getting stomped by Penn, losing to UVA (who we beat last year :( ) and beating El Cid

about half our starters transferred to a DII school (they were Seniors and wanted a chance at a National title, can't blame them a whole lot, since we aren't eligible for the DI tourney until next year)

One bright spot is that our HWT Mike Maresh, is now 3 and 0 after only being on the team for a week or two (he is also a starting LB on our FB team)

[ngineer]

What's the outlook for Lehigh this year, and why no National Duals?

NDSU went 1-2 at the Virginia Duals, getting stomped by Penn, losing to UVA (who we beat last year :( ) and beating El Cid

about half our starters transferred to a DII school (they were Seniors and wanted a chance at a National title, can't blame them a whole lot, since we aren't eligible for the DI tourney until next year)

One bright spot is that our HWT Mike Maresh, is now 3 and 0 after only being on the team for a week or two (he is also a starting LB on our FB team)

IF we get Letters and Santos back from serious injuries, and they are 'ready' Lehigh should win the EIWA for the 5th straight year--which has only been accomplished once before by anyone and by Lehigh from 1930-34. The team title chase will be primarily among Lehigh, Cornell (who Lehigh edged by only 2.50 pts last year) and Navy. Penn and Army are strong, but I wouldn't expect them to challenge for the team title unless some major upsets occur in the tourney. IF Letters and/or Santos are out, then Cornell will be favored. Lehigh will be favored to win EIWA titles at 141, 157 and 174 with Cooperman, Zinck and Frick. IF Letters and Santos are back, Lehigh could possibly qualify 8 to Nationals;Hwt and 125 being questionable.

No 'official reason' I have heard as to why no National Duals entry this year. Strobel likes to mix things up in scheduling--and he may have felt adding the Duals to the existing schedule may have been asking too much in terms of injury and academics. Lehigh does have several 'double dual' meets left this year: Harvard and Brown on Jan. 28; Maryland and Hofstra on Feb. 4 and Penn and Drexel on Feb. 19 with matches AT Cornell and Army in between--tough places to win.

Interesting comment about your heavyweight. It has been decades since we had a football player also wrestle. As I sit here, I can't even specifically recall one, though I think I've heard of it. With the tremendous physical demands of both sports and the heavy academic load, I can't imagine the school allowing it. I know it's been done at other schools--Penn State used to have some heavyweights from their football team--and I remember Jim Nance of Syracuse a 'few' years back doubling up.

Hope you'll get to send a contingent to Auburn Hills, MI next year. I went to my first Nationals last year in St. Louis and loved it.

[Hansel]

Thanks for the info

BTW here is our "wrestling" bio for our HWT, his old man wrestled at BYU

http://www.gobison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?KEY=HOYVDEQCLPBQQKH.2006011500222 4&SPSID=11992&SPID=701&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=224154&Q_SEASON=2005

[ngineer]

Thanks for the info

BTW here is our "wrestling" bio for our HWT, his old man wrestled at BYU

http://www.gobison.com/ViewArticle.dbml?KEY=HOYVDEQCLPBQQKH.2006011500222 4&SPSID=11992&SPID=701&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=224154&Q_SEASON=2005

Hope he does well--doesn't look too big for Hwt--225 maybe? We're going with one of our 197 pounders at hwt, who did a nice job last year filling in, but he's usually giving away40-50 lbs. Admirable, but it must get old...
See you have one of our newer EIWA members as your last dual--American. They made some noise last year in the Easterns, but not sure how many graduated.