Lehigh University
Midlands
Trenge wins first Midlands in 21 years
9/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
Lehigh wrestlers won four medals and placed sixth as a team, for the school’s highest ever official team finish at the Midlands Championships. Jon Trenge became the second Midlands champion in school history with a 4-1 upset win over Lee Fullhart of the Gator Wrestling Club at 197 pounds. Fullhart was an alternate on the U.S. World Team.
Trenge used a cradle fall combination for a three-point near fall, while riding in the second period. It was the exact same sequence he used in the semifinals to beat Hofstra’s Chris Skretkowicz, 5-2.
Troy Letters placed third for the second straight year, with his only loss a 6-3 semifinal decision to top-ranked Matt Lackey of Illinois. Troy then beat Kevin Carr of Central Michigan, 9-3, and Ohio State’s John Clark, 8-3. Lackey earned the Outstanding Wrestler Award by beating three-time NCAA finalist Joe Heskett of Iowa State, 9-5.
Placing fourth was fellow freshman Derek Zinck. Zinck was unbeaten versus college competition but dropped two bouts to Heath Eslinger of the Gator Wrestling Club. The scores were 3-2 and 3-1 in overtime. Zinck beat all five of his collegiate opponents in the tournament.
Brad Dillon scored a spectacular win by fall in his first consolations bout, pinning Penn’s top freshman Matt Herrington in 3:58. Dillon led 8-3 at the time of the fall. After losing a 1-1 tie-breaker to Northern Iowa’s Eric Hauan, Dillon defeated Matt Irwin of VMI to earn his seventh place medal.
It was only the third time in school history that Lehigh has earned four Midlands medals, but the second time in three years. The EIWA set a league record with three champions, with Cornell winning at 125 and 149, with a freshman and a sophomore.
The Mountain Hawks will take to the mat again on January 5, when they travel to Penn State for a dual meet. Lehigh will also tangle with Pittsburgh the following day. Both matches will be broadcast on The Sports Monster 1230 AM, as well as on the Lehigh website. Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh will carry the dual with the Nittany Lions live and the match can be found on Direct TV channel 628.
For complete results click here.
Team points:
1-Iowa, 129.5; 2-Sunkist WC, 99; 3-Ohio State, 96.5; 4-Illinois, 92.5; 5-Penn State, 84.5; 6-LEHIGH, 77.5; 7-Iowa State, 75.5; 8-Cornell, 73; 9-Hofstra, 72; 10-Michigan, 66.5
Lehigh Place-Winners
Jon Trenge, 197, Champion
Troy Letters, 165, third
Derek Zinck, 157, fourth
Brad Dillon, 174, seventh
Posted Sunday, December 29, 2002
