Lehigh wrestling announces class of 2009
5/12/2005 8:00:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
“I’m pleased with the quality of the kids we are bringing in,” said Strobel. “They’re all solid kids who wrestled at a variety of weights. It is very tough to get into Lehigh but in this year’s class they are all good students and good wrestlers.”
A pair of lightweights from the Keystone State headline this year’s class. Both Matt Fisk (Wyalusing, PA/Wyalusing) and Seth Ciasulli (Easton, PA/Easton) are both nationally ranked by Intermat at 125 pounds.
Fisk is a two-time state champion and comes to Lehigh as the all-time winningest wrestler in Pennsylvania history. He is a three-time finalist and placed third and fifth in junior nationals freestyle competition. Ciasulli is a two-time winner of the Reno Tournament of Champions and with one of those victories was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. The two-time Pennsylvania runner-up is the younger brother of current Mountain Hawk NCAA qualifier Matt Ciasulli. Both could perhaps compete for a starting spot in the fall.
Also in the mix for the Mountain Hawks is Mike Galante (Ocean City, NJ/Blair Academy). A National Prep champion, Galante posted top three finishes at the Ironman, Junior Nationals Freestyle and New Jersey state tournaments. After wrestling at 160 at Blair, Galante will probably wrestle at 157 or 165 for the Mountain Hawks. Joining Galante from the Garden State is 141 pounder Frankie Gayeski (Malaga, NJ/Delsea). Gayeski won a pair of district championships and a regional championship at the high school level.
Rounding out the Class of 2009 are Pennsylvanians Andy Knerr (Jeffersonville, PA/Norristown) and Alex Iacocca (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) and a former Michigan state champion, Manuel Schubert (Westland, MI/Livonia Churchill).
“This year presented us the opportunity to re-stock and re-load,” Strobel explains. “We have a few kids who can make an immediate impact; one or more could possibly start. Having all these talented freshmen in our wrestling room will definitely be great for training.”
The Mountain Hawks will open the 2005-06 season on Friday, November 11, inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall against Rider.
Lehigh Wrestling Class of 2009
Name | Hometown/High School | Projected Weight | College |
Seth Ciasulli | Easton, PA/Easton | 125/133 | Arts and Sciences |
Matt Fisk | Wyalusing, PA/Wyalusing | 125/133 | Arts and Sciences |
Mike Galante | Ocean City, NJ/Blair Academy | 157/165 | Arts and Sciences |
Frankie Gayeski | Malaga, NJ/Delsea | 141 | Engineering |
Alex Iacocca | Allentown, PA/Emmaus | 149 | Business |
Andy Knerr | Jeffersonville, PA/Norristown | 165 | Engineering |
Manuel Schubert | Westland, MI/Livonia Churchill | 174 | Arts and Sciences |
Photo © 2005, Lehigh Athletics/Jeff Nolan
