Lehigh University Athletics
Wrestling squad prepares to make their run at NCAA title
3/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
Bethlehem, PA – The most successful regular season in Lehigh history has already produced a third straight EIWA title. Will it produce Lehigh’s first ever team national championship? The Mountain Hawks will seek the answer this weekend as they travel to compete in the 2004 NCAA Wrestling Championships, held at the
Lehigh will bring eight entrants to the championships for the second straight year, tied for the most in school history. Last year the Mountain Hawks used two national runner-up performances from Jon Trenge and Troy Letters to finish 4th, the team’s highest finish since placing third in 1979. They also had four All-Americans, including current senior (and No. 2 ranked wrestler at 174) Brad Dillon and sophomore Derek Zinck.
Lehigh head coach
The Mountain Hawks come into the championships with a ton of confidence, thanks to placing a Lehigh record nine wrestlers in the semifinals at the EIWAs and seven finalists. Troy Letters (No. 2 at 165), Brad Dillon, and Travis Frick at 184 all won titles, while Mario Stuart (125), Matt Ciasulli (133), Cory Cooperman (141), and Zinck (157) all placed second.
Cooperman is another Lehigh wrestler to keep an eye on in
After their fourth place finish last year and a ninth place finish in 2002 (when they had their last national champion, Rob Rohn at 184), the Mountain Hawks are looking for their third straight top-ten finish, something they have not accomplished since 1985-87.
The events begin Thursday, March 18, with the first round of matches set for
