Rey wins title; LU places four at Univ. Nationals
4/28/2009 2:15:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh freshman Zach Rey went 5-0 to win the 120kg/264 lb. weight class title at the University National Championships in Akron, Ohio last weekend. Rey’s victory led a Lehigh contingent of 13 wrestlers who competed in the freestyle event, including three others who placed in the top eight in their respective weight classes. The event capped a successful spring freestyle season for the Mountain Hawks, who also placed two wrestlers at the FILA Junior National Championships in Las Vegas and had nine grapplers compete in the Northeast Regional Freestyle Championships in Brockport, N.Y.
“We had some strong results in some big time tournaments,” explained Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro. “Competing and doing well in these tournaments are important for our program, important as we get ready for next season.”
Rey, an EIWA finalist who fell one victory shy of All-America status in his freshman campaign, did not allow a point in five bouts in Akron as his victory marked the third straight year a Lehigh wrestler won a University National title, joining Mike Galante who won titles in 2007 and 2008. The New Jersey native beat Minnesota freshman Atticus Disney 2-0, 2-0 in the semifinals before defeating Jarod Trice of Central Michigan 1-0, 1-0 in the championship match.
Last spring, Rey won a Northeast Regional freestyle title, and went on to compete in the Olympic Trials.
Joining Rey as University National place winners were Alex Caruso, Matt Fisk and Sean Bilodeau. Caruso went 5-1 to claim third place at 79kg/174. He lost his semifinal match to Mike Benefiel, but rallied with a pair of wins over Minnesota wrestlers to claim third place. At 66kg/132 Fisk became a three-time University Nationals place winner with a fifth place finish. Fisk went 6-2 with notable wins over Minnesota All-America Jayson Ness and Cornell’s Mike Grey.
Bilodeau placed eighth at 74 kg/163 going 5-3 on the weekend, to place in his second tournament of the spring. The Lehigh freshman also placed fourth at the FILA Junior National Championships, which were held April 7-11 in Las Vegas. Bilodeau reached the semifinals before falling in three periods to Eren Civan of Columbia. Also placing in Las Vegas was freshman Robert Hamlin, who took third at 79kg/174. Hamlin also reached the semifinals before losing and then came back to defeat Maryland’s Corey Peltier for third place.
The spring season began in early April with nine wrestlers entering the Northeast Regional Championships in upstate New York. Brian Tanen led the way for the Brown and White with a fourth place finish at 66 kg/145.5.
“The biggest thing is the competition,” said Santoro. “We have guys out there competing against tough competition. It tests their skill level. Anytime you can wrestle against the best guys in the country. That’s why guys are here, to be the best. To do that they have to wrestle against the best.”
Rey, Bilodeau and Hamlin have all qualified for the FILA Junior/University World Team Camp and World Team Trials, May 18-23 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
