2016-2017 Wrestling Roster
Cruz, Randy
Randy Cruz
- Class:
- Senior
- Eligibility:
- Sr.
- Weight:
- 141
- Major:
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Hometown:
- Bethlehem, Pa.
- High School:
- Bethlehem Catholic
Bio
Why Lehigh?: “To get a great education and be part of an elite wrestling program.”
On coach Santoro: “He’s a great guy. He’s very understanding and will make you the best student-athlete you can be.”
In 2016-17: Became four-time NCAA qualifier… went 2-2 at NCAA Tournament… finished second at EIWA Championships… earned 100th career victory with 3-2 win over Bucknell’s Tyler Smith in EIWA semifinals… had one fall and seven bonus wins in senior season… went 3-0 at Journeymen Collegiate Classic including 7-3 win over N.C. State All-American Kevin Jack… went 5-2 at Southern Scuffle.
In 2015-16: Earned first All-America medal with eighth place finish at 141… defeated Micah Jordan of Ohio State in All-America round… went 26-10 with 11 bonus point wins… finished third at EIWA Tournament… opened season with title at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open… had only pin for Lehigh at NCAA Championships… one of four Mountain Hawks with at least 10 dual meet victories.
In 2014-15: Moved up to 141 and captured his second career EIWA title… reached round of 12 at NCAA Championships, finishing one win short of earning All-America honors… finished with three falls and eight bonus wins… pinned ranked opponents from Illinois and Northwestern on consecutive days in late November… went 3-2 with a major decision at NCAA Championships… led Lehigh starters with five major decisions.
In 2013-14: Deferred eligibility… went 22-8 competing unattached in open tournaments… won Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic in January… finished second at Edinboro Open… on four matches by fall… spent most of the season at 141 except for Midlands Championships, where he wrestled 133… competed in six open tournaments plus the Midlands.
In 2012-13: Entered starting lineup at mid-season and went on to win EIWA title at 133… led Lehigh attached wrestlers with 31 wins and ten falls… placed in early-season Knight Point Clarion, Binghamton Bearcat and East Stroudsburg Opens… placed seventh competing unattached… allowed just one point in four matches at EIWA Tournament… went 1-2 with a major decision win in first NCAA appearance… posted first varsity dual win over Colton Rasche of Navy.
In secondary school: Ranked No. 37 overall by Intermat … holds the most wins in school history with a 152-20 career record … captured an AA state title as a senior … four time AA place winner and three time AA Finalist … won the Walsh Ironman title and placed second at the Beast of the East at 132 lbs. … Three time District XI champion and Regional champion … placed third and first in two appearances at NHSCA nationals … fourth place finish at Super 32.
Personal: Son of Randy Cruz and Tara Miller… brother Darian (21) is a teammate and 2017 NCAA Champion.
CAREER RECORD
Getting to know Randy
Major and Why: Industrial and Systems Engineering; it interests me!
Favorite Class at Lehigh: Industrial and Systems Engineering III – probability course
Favorite Place on Campus: Wrestling Room
Favorite Food: Ice cream cake
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Musical Artist: Riff Raff and Based God
Favorite Movie: Anything with Liam Neeson
Favorite TV Show: Eastbound and Down
Favorite Pro Team: Miami Heat
Favorite Athlete in Another Sport: Laike Gardner
Hobbies: Reading books
Magazine Cover I’d Like to Be On: Flex body building magazine
Place I’d Like to Visit: China
Talent I’d Most Like To Have: Teleportation
Dream Job: Taste tester
If I Didn’t Wrestle, I Would Play: Basketball
If I Had $1 Billion, I would: First buy shoes, then hook my boys up and give the rest to charity.
On coach Santoro: “He’s a great guy. He’s very understanding and will make you the best student-athlete you can be.”
In 2016-17: Became four-time NCAA qualifier… went 2-2 at NCAA Tournament… finished second at EIWA Championships… earned 100th career victory with 3-2 win over Bucknell’s Tyler Smith in EIWA semifinals… had one fall and seven bonus wins in senior season… went 3-0 at Journeymen Collegiate Classic including 7-3 win over N.C. State All-American Kevin Jack… went 5-2 at Southern Scuffle.
In 2015-16: Earned first All-America medal with eighth place finish at 141… defeated Micah Jordan of Ohio State in All-America round… went 26-10 with 11 bonus point wins… finished third at EIWA Tournament… opened season with title at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open… had only pin for Lehigh at NCAA Championships… one of four Mountain Hawks with at least 10 dual meet victories.
In 2014-15: Moved up to 141 and captured his second career EIWA title… reached round of 12 at NCAA Championships, finishing one win short of earning All-America honors… finished with three falls and eight bonus wins… pinned ranked opponents from Illinois and Northwestern on consecutive days in late November… went 3-2 with a major decision at NCAA Championships… led Lehigh starters with five major decisions.
In 2013-14: Deferred eligibility… went 22-8 competing unattached in open tournaments… won Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic in January… finished second at Edinboro Open… on four matches by fall… spent most of the season at 141 except for Midlands Championships, where he wrestled 133… competed in six open tournaments plus the Midlands.
In 2012-13: Entered starting lineup at mid-season and went on to win EIWA title at 133… led Lehigh attached wrestlers with 31 wins and ten falls… placed in early-season Knight Point Clarion, Binghamton Bearcat and East Stroudsburg Opens… placed seventh competing unattached… allowed just one point in four matches at EIWA Tournament… went 1-2 with a major decision win in first NCAA appearance… posted first varsity dual win over Colton Rasche of Navy.
In secondary school: Ranked No. 37 overall by Intermat … holds the most wins in school history with a 152-20 career record … captured an AA state title as a senior … four time AA place winner and three time AA Finalist … won the Walsh Ironman title and placed second at the Beast of the East at 132 lbs. … Three time District XI champion and Regional champion … placed third and first in two appearances at NHSCA nationals … fourth place finish at Super 32.
Personal: Son of Randy Cruz and Tara Miller… brother Darian (21) is a teammate and 2017 NCAA Champion.
CAREER RECORD
| Overall | Dual | PCT | Bonus | Tournaments | |
| 2012-13 | 31-12 | 7-4 | .721 | 18 | 1st EIWA, 3rd Clarion, 3rd ESU Open, 6th Binghamton, 7th Midlands |
| 2013-14 | Deferred | Eligibility | 1st Millersville, 2nd Edinboro | ||
| 2014-15 | 22-9 | 14-5 | .710 | 8 | 1st EIWA |
| 2015-16 | 26-10 | 11-4 | .722 | 11 | 8th NCAA, 3rd EIWA, 1st Binghamton |
| 2016-17 | 23-9 | 10-4 | .719 | 7 | 2nd EIWA |
| Total | 102-40 | 42-17 | .718 | 44 |
Getting to know Randy
Major and Why: Industrial and Systems Engineering; it interests me!
Favorite Class at Lehigh: Industrial and Systems Engineering III – probability course
Favorite Place on Campus: Wrestling Room
Favorite Food: Ice cream cake
Favorite Color: Black
Favorite Musical Artist: Riff Raff and Based God
Favorite Movie: Anything with Liam Neeson
Favorite TV Show: Eastbound and Down
Favorite Pro Team: Miami Heat
Favorite Athlete in Another Sport: Laike Gardner
Hobbies: Reading books
Magazine Cover I’d Like to Be On: Flex body building magazine
Place I’d Like to Visit: China
Talent I’d Most Like To Have: Teleportation
Dream Job: Taste tester
If I Didn’t Wrestle, I Would Play: Basketball
If I Had $1 Billion, I would: First buy shoes, then hook my boys up and give the rest to charity.
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Thursday, February 20
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, December 04
Season Preview: Wrestling
Wednesday, October 30
