Lehigh preps for season with wrestle-offs a week away
10/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
“These four weeks have been very productive,” said Strobel, who enters his 11th season at the helm of the Lehigh wrestling program. “The guys came in good shape, have been working hard and are for the most part healthy, so I’m pleased with how things have gone overall.”
The Mountain Hawks have four returning All-Americans in their wrestling room, but it has been some of the new faces that have been a surprise so far in practice.
“The quality of the freshman class has been impressive,” Strobel said. “They’ve taken a few lumps at times, but overall they’ve been good. They’ve been pushing a lot of the experienced guys we have and its need to see them compete like they have done.”
Lightweights Matt Fisk and Seth Ciasulli and 165 pounder Mike Galante headline the group of newcomers that have been impressive early on.
Strobel also praised the work of his four seniors, who have helped pick up the teams intensity as the season draws near.
“Coop (senior Cory Cooperman ) has looked very good. He’s probably been the most intense guy we’ve had throughout the preseason practice,” said Strobel. “To have seniors who are intense is good because they will help the team develop a sense of urgency. The season is right around the corner.”
Lehigh will kick-off the 2005-06 season on Tuesday night with the annual Wrestle-offs at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The Wrestle-offs get underway at 7:00. The Mountain Hawks will open the regular season on Thursday, November 10 when they welcome Rider to Grace Hall.
