Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh travels to the National Duals
9/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
Tenth ranked Lehigh looks for its fourth straight win on Saturday when they meet third ranked Oklahoma in the first round of the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals at Ohio State. The Brown and White recently met and defeated Penn State 32-6, Hofstra 29-6, and Princeton 34-6, improving their record to 6-3. Oklahoma has won its last eight. The Sooners most recently defeated Fresno State 30-6 and Cal Poly 40-3, making them 11-1 on the season.
Lehigh last met Oklahoma January 18, 1998, when they fell to the Sooners 18-20. This was the closest the Brown and White have come to defeating the wrestling powerhouse since January 10, 1978 when Lehigh came within four. Oklahoma leads the all-time series 11-1, with Lehigh's only win coming in 1962 when the Mountain Hawks defeated the Sooners 17-8.
The Sooners have nine nationally ranked men scheduled to hit the mat against Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks will make no adjustments to the line-up that has brought them so much success. With several ranked wrestlers going up against each other, this promises to be an exciting match.
To start things off Lehigh’s 20th ranked Mario Stuart will match up against second ranked Sooner, Matt Ridings at 125. Stuart has won three in a row for the Mountain Hawks. One win came over 11th ranked Tom Noto of Hofstra. Ridings will be a true test for Stuart. Ridings has only lost one bout thus far and is currently 19-1 on the season.
At 149 Lehigh’s 16th ranked Mike Pirozzola will meet fourth ranked Jared Frayer. Pirozzola 2-1 in the last three duals, is coming off an 8-0 decision over Princeton’s Milo Adams. Frayer is 21-2 on the season.
At 165 fourth ranked Chris Vitale will face fifth ranked Robbie Waller. Vitale is 14-1 on the season but 9-0 in dual meets. Waller is 5-1 on the 2001-02 campaign.
At 184 tenth ranked Rob Rohn will look to upset second ranked Josh Lambrecht of Oklahoma. Rohn 11-4 has won three straight for the Brown and White. Lambrect has only suffered one loss and stands at 19-1.
Second ranked Jon Trenge will take on the only Sooner wrestler not nationally ranked, at 197. Tom Grossman, 12-4 on the season, will face Trenge who is 6-0 in duals and 18-1 overall. All three of Trenge's last three wins came from pins.
The winner of this match will take on the winner of the sixth ranked Iowa State and 11th ranked Arizona St.
On Saturday Lehigh's dual against Oklahoma is scheduled to begin at 11:00. Win or loose the Mountain Hawks' second match will be at 1:00.
