Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks begin stretch run vs. Bucknell
2/4/2009 4:30:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to the mats for the first time in nearly two weeks on Friday night as the Mountain Hawks host EIWA rival Bucknell. The Mountain Hawks were idle last weekend, but have won their last four duals since suffering their lone loss of the season in the finals of the Virginia Duals. Two weekends ago Lehigh opened up a regular season-ending seven-match home stand with wins over Drexel, Harvard and Brown to run its season record to 19-1. Friday night’s match kicks-off the stretch run for the Mountain Hawks, who will host EIWA opponents for the season’s final four duals, starting tonight against a Bucknell team that is 9-8 on the dual season and boasts two nationally ranked wrestlers.
At 19-1, Lehigh has already matched the third-highest single- season dual win total in school annals. The Mountain Hawks have a chance at the school record for single-season dual wins as they sit three wins behind the 2004 team with four duals remaining.
In its two weeks away from the mats, Lehigh moved up one spot to No. 7 in the latest NWCA/InterMat polls. The Mountain Hawks have six individuals ranked, led by junior David Craig, who comes in at No. 9 at 184. Classmate Mike Galante is ranked 12th at 165, senior Trevor Chinn is ranked 14th at 149 and junior Matt Fisk comes in at No. 15 at 133. Sophomore Alex Caruso and freshman Zach Rey are ranked 17th at 174 and 285 respectively.
Bucknell enters Friday’s dual at 9-8 overall and 3-2 against EIWA opponents. While Lehigh was off last weekend, the Bison were very busy, traveling to Iowa, where they fell to the top-ranked Hawkeyes 40-3 before returning home to defeat EIWA rival Columbia in their final home dual, 28-12. Within the EIWA, Bucknell owns wins over Franklin & Marshall, Brown and Columbia, but has lost to both Army and Navy. Like Lehigh, Bucknell competed at the Journeymen/Brute Northeast Duals, the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and the Virginia Duals.
Individually, the Bison boast two nationally-ranked wrestlers in juniors David Marble and Andy Rendos. Marble comes in at No. 20 at 133, while Rendos is ranked 14th at 165. Several other Bison wrestlers have experienced success against the Brown and White this season. Freshman Derek Reber knocked Lehigh’s John McDonald out of the Las Vegas invitational with a win by major decision, while sophomore David Thompson upset David Craig in that same tournament.
Lehigh and Bucknell will meet on the mats for the sixth time on Friday, with the Brown and White having captured each of the first five meetings. These two teams met last year in the consolation round of the Virginia Duals, with Lehigh pulling out a one-point win on criteria. Friday’s match marks Bucknell’s first visit to Bethlehem since November 1998. These two programs have never met in Lewisburg.
Action gets underway at 7 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting the Lehigh ticket office, located in Grace Hall.
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Date: |
February 6, 2009 |
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Opponent: |
Bucknell Bison |
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First match: |
7:05 p.m. |
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Arena: |
Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall (2,130) |
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Location: |
Bethlehem, Pa. |
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Lehigh’s record: |
19-1 overall, 5-0 EIWA |
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Bucknell’s record: |
9-8 overall, 3-2 EIWA |
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Series: |
Lehigh leads 5-0 |
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Streak: |
Lehigh has won all 5 meetings |
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Radio: |
ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 beginning at 6:45 p.m. with Steve Lomangino and Kyle Berger |
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Internet broadcast: |
Live video at Lehighsports.com |
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Television: |
Service Electric 2 Sports, Saturday, February 7 |
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Behind enemy lines: |
Watch Pat Santoro preview Bucknell
