Lehigh Rallies to Knockoff Penn at Palestra

[ngineer]

Trailing 14-16 with two weight classes to go, Matt Cassidy upset Paul Velekei at 197 and then 197 pounder, Paul Weibel clobblered Penn's heavyweight, 17-4 to seal a 21-16 victory. Very important match for seeding purposes going into the EIWA Tournament March 4. Lehigh's dual meet season goes to 12-5-1, with one dual remaining with Drexel later tonight. Troy Letters returned after a 7 week injury layoff to pull off a major victory at 165.

[kardplayer]

Were you at the match? I read on another board that Letters didn't look that good - they poster was worried Letters wouldn't actually wrestle in EIWA's...

[ngineer]

I was not there. I went to the Lafayette basketball game. Couldn't take all the time to go to PHilly. However, I did hear the announcers talk about the match and said he started 'sluggishly' but then came on and won 10-2. He said in the paper he was not yet 100% and won't be, so he'll just have to deal with the injury. He's in a tough weight class, nationally, so it will be a shame if he's not ready by nationals. Still has 3 1/2 weeks til then, assuming no aggravation at the EIWA. I don't see any way that he wouldn't go--this is his last shot.

[ngineer]

IN the nightcap, the Mountain Hawks went with four subs and almost paid the price. Derek Zinck sat out both Penn and Drexel with a back injury. Santos did not wrestle--not because of his rehabed quad, but due to illness. Ciasulli injured his knee in his loss at Penn and Weibel didn't wrestle at Hwt.
Letters won, again, 17-4 so any rumors that his performance at Penn would lead him to miss the EIWA are unfounded.
Biggest win of weekend, IMO, was Freshman Matt Fiske beating Penn's #13 ranked wrestler at 125. He had two-three point near falls in the first period. He's becoming quite aggressive after a 'quiet' first half of the year, and could make some noise at the EIWA.