McDonald named EIWA Wrestler of the Week
12/1/2008 11:15:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh freshman John McDonald has been named the EIWA Wrestler of the Week for the week ending November 30, it was announced on Monday. McDonald enjoyed a 4-0 weekend of action at the Journeymen/Brute Northeast Duals and helped lead the Mountain Hawks to a 4-0 showing at the duals, including Lehigh’s first-ever win over Oklahoma State, as the Mountain Hawks improved to 8-0 on the dual season for the program’s best start since the 1999-2000 season.
McDonald set the tone for Lehigh’s history-making day with an upset win over Oklahoma State’s fifth-ranked Obenson Blanc in the opening bout of the day for both teams. The Rehoboth, Delaware native struck early against Blanc, a former All-American for Lock Haven, scoring a takedown just eleven seconds into the first period. The match was tied at three after two periods, and with McDonald working from the top position in the third period, the freshman was able to ride out the entire two minutes to earn riding time advantage, the deciding point in a 4-3 victory.
The Mountain Hawks went on to win six of ten bouts against the seventh-ranked Cowboys in an 18-13 victory; Lehigh’s first in nine tries against Oklahoma State. In the process Lehigh became just the third wrestling program from the East to defeat college wrestling’s most successful program in a dual meet.
Later in the day McDonald added victories over Mitchell Johnson of UNC Greensboro (14-8), Drew Bloss of Binghamton (7-6) and Andrew Sifakis of Appalachian State (technical fall, 18-3). McDonald is now 6-2 on the season with a fall and a pair of bonus wins.
