Lehigh University
No. 21 Navy
Mountain Hawks hold off tough Navy squad 20-12
1/14/2006 2:30:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
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“I was a little concerned about Navy heading into this match,” said head coach Greg Strobel. “They (Navy) are a well coached team with a lot of talent. We competed well though and got a couple good efforts from our backups.
After the Midshipmen raced to an early 6-0 lead with a pair of decision wins at 197 and heavyweight respectively, Lehigh freshman Matt Fisk excited a raucous Grace Hall crowd, riding out the second period then taking down Alex Usztics in the third period for a 4-0 win at 125.
“That’s two in a row for him and he’s starting to gain some confidence,” said Strobel of his true freshman 125 pound grappler. “He beat a tough wrestler who has placed at the EIWAs and with our schedule he’s wrestled some of the best guys in the nation.”
Junior John Stout then kept the crowd on its feet as he snapped a personal losing streak and evened the dual at six with a 9-3 win over Joe Baker. Lehigh would then take the lead at 141 as Cory Cooperman scored three first period takedowns and two more in the second en route to a 15-5 major decision over Spencer Manley.
Navy rallied back within one point, when John Cox erased a two point third period deficit, earning a penalty point for stalling then a two point near- fall to edge Lehigh’s Matt Ciasulli in a battle of top 20 ranked wrestlers at 149. Derek Zinck then got the Mountain Hawks back on track, scoring six takedowns while earning crucial bonus points in a 14-6 major decision over John Jarred.
The Mids climbed back within two at 165 as Craig Dziewiatkowski won a 11-6 decision over sophomore Dave Nakasone. Bonus points were critical in this dual, and Nakasone was able to score a reversal and a takedown late in the third period to ensure that he did not give up a major decision.
Travis Frick then put Lehigh up by five with one bout remaining, as he held off Matt Stolpinski 9-6. In the afternoon’s final bout, junior David Helfrich nearly pinned Navy’s Matt Parsons in the first period, but was forced to settle for a three point near fall and went on to win 7-1.
The Mountain Hawks will return to the mat on Sunday, January 22, when they will travel to No. 12 Cornell in a battle of the top two teams from last year’s EIWA Championships. Last year, Lehigh held off the Big Red by two and a half points to claim its fourth straight team title. The dual gets underway at 1:00 from
|
Weight |
Match-up |
Result |
|
Score |
|
197 |
Chris Pogue (N) |
Dec. |
Matt Cassidy (LU) |
5-3 |
|
285 |
Tanner Garrett (N) |
Dec. |
Paul Weibel (LU) |
11-5 |
|
125 |
Matt Fisk (LU) |
Dec. |
Alex Usztics (N) |
4-0 |
|
133 |
John Stout (LU) |
Dec. |
Joe Baker (N) |
9-3 |
|
141 |
Cory Cooperman (LU) |
Maj. dec. |
Spencer Manley (N) |
15-5 |
|
149 |
John Cox (N) |
Dec. |
Matt Ciasulli (LU) |
5-4 |
|
157 |
Derek Zinck (LU) |
Maj. dec. |
John Jarred (N) |
14-6 |
|
165 |
Craig Dziewiatkowski (N) |
Dec. |
Dave Nakasone (LU) |
11-6 |
|
174 |
Travis Frick (LU) |
Dec. |
Matt Stolpinski (N) |
9-6 |
|
184 |
David Helfrich (LU) |
Dec. |
Matt Parsons (N) |
7-1 |
Attendance – 1,672
Referee – George Chilmonik
Photos © 2006, Lehigh Athletics, Jeff Nolan
