Lehigh will have four chances to pick up its first win of the dual season as the Mountain Hawks return from the Thanksgiving holiday to take part in the Journeymen/Brute Northeast Duals on Saturday. Last weekend the Mountain Hawks fell to 0-2 in duals with a loss at No. 14 Nebraska, then went on to place three wrestlers at the UNO Kaufman-Brand Open, led by freshman Alex Caruso’s title in the amateur division at 141. Several tough tests await the Mountain Hawks just outside Albany, N.Y., as Lehigh will wrestle four consecutive duals against a 5-0 Virginia team, No. 9 Central Michigan, a much-improved Binghamton squad, and Clarion.
After wrestling a dual meet against No. 14 Nebraska on Nov. 16, Lehigh was back on the mats the following morning, as the Mountain Hawks entered ten wrestlers in the Kaufman-Brand Open hosted by Nebraska-Omaha. Caruso led the charge for the Brown and White, winning four bouts while allowing just one takedown to take first place at 174 in the amateur (under-21) division. Joining Caruso as place-winners were junior Trevor Chinn who placed fifth in the elite division at 149 and sophomore Justin Allen took sixth in the amateur division at 285. All ten Lehigh entrants won at least one bout on the afternoon, with senior Dave Nakasone (157) and sophomore Manuel Schubert (174) falling just one win shy of placement in the elite division.
Virginia is off to a strong start this season, with a 5-0 dual record. The Cavaliers competed at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge last weekend in North Carolina, posting wins over Purdue and Michigan State; Virginia’s first ever dual wins over a Big Ten team. Virginia features a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers in juniors Eric Albright (133) and Rocco Caponi (184). Both wrestlers are ranked ninth in their respective eight classes.
Central Michigan opens its dual season with four meets Saturday, the second of which will come against Lehigh. The Chippewas are ranked ninth in the nation, and feature six nationally ranked wrestlers. Central Michigan is strongest in the upper weights, where the Chippewas have a top-ten ranked grappler at every weight from 174-285 with senior heavyweight Bubba Gritter leading the way at No. 2.
A much improved Binghamton squad will compete this weekend, facing Lehigh in Saturday’s third dual. The Bearcats have a pair of ranked wrestlers in senior Kyle Fried (No. 14 at 149) and sophomore Josh Patterson (No. 174 at 174). Binghamton opened its dual season last Sunday with a 30-15 loss to No. 2 Iowa State, a dual in which Bearcat sophomore Anwar Goeres upset No. 14 Nick Gallick with a win by fall at 141. Head coach Pat Popolizio led the Bearcats to a ten dual win season in 2006-07.
The once-proud Clarion program is currently in a rebuilding stage under second-year head coach Teague Moore. The Golden Eagles are 1-1 so far this season with a win over Sacred Heart and a loss to No. 2 Iowa State. Last year Moore led Clarion to a 7-13 dual record on the heels of an 0-17 campaign the year before. Junior Sal Liscari (141) and sophomore Hadley Harrison (149) will look to provide leadership for a Clarion team that has zero ranked wrestlers.
Lehigh enjoys a small but successful record all-time versus the four schools it will face in duals today. Of the Mountain Hawks’ four opponents, Binghamton is the only school that Lehigh has never faced. Lehigh is a combined 7-0 all-time versus Virginia, Central Michigan and Clarion, including a 6-0 record under Greg Strobel.
Action gets underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday when Lehigh face off against Virginia at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. The Mountain Hawks will then face Central Michigan at noon, Binghamton at 2 p.m. before wrapping up with Clarion at 4 p.m.
