Mountain Hawks close out fall semester vs. Central Michigan
12/9/2010 3:51:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In its final dual meet of the fall semester No. 11 Lehigh returns home to face No. 14 Central Michigan Sunday at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The Mountain Hawks improved to 6-2 on the season with a win over Bucknell in their EIWA opener on December 3. Senior Mitch Berger upset a ranked wrestler at 125 and four other Mountain Hawks won by major decision as Lehigh won the first three bouts and the last four. Central Michigan is 1-3 in duals is coming off a 15th place finish at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend. The Chippewas return four All-Americans, all of whom are nationally ranked.
This afternoon's dual will be Lehigh's first home dual in three weeks and the first at Leeman-Turner Arena since the season-opener against Drexel on November 5. The Mountain Hawks have won 20 straight home duals, a streak which began with a win over Rider on February 14, 2008. Pat Santoro has never lost a home dual at Lehigh in two-plus seasons, going 19-0 at home.
With the graduation of co-captains Matt Fisk and Seth Ciasulli at 133 and 141 Lehigh has filled their spots with true freshmen. Frank Cagnina and Stephen Dutton have combined to go 11-7 this season with eight bonus wins. Both men picked up wins by major decision 
against Bucknell. Cagnina and Dutton are the ninth and tenth true freshmen to start for Lehigh since the start of the 2005-06 season.
against Bucknell. Cagnina and Dutton are the ninth and tenth true freshmen to start for Lehigh since the start of the 2005-06 season.Central Michigan brings a 1-3 dual record into it's first-ever visit to Bethlehem. The Chippewas opened the dual season with a loss at No. 1 Cornell and then went 1-2 at the Northern Quad, defeating Appalachian State but falling to North Dakota State and Minnesota. Last week, CMU finished 15th at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational with Ben Bennett finishing second at 174. Also placing were Jarod Trice (third) at heavyweight and Scotti Sentes (seventh) at 133. All three of Central Michigan's Las Vegas place winners are former All-Americans who are currently ranked nationally. A fourth Chippewa, Mike Miller did not place in Las Vegas, but is ranked ninth at 165 and reached the national finals at 174 in 2009.
Lehigh and Central Michigan will meet for just the fourth time Sunday afternoon, and the first time at a non-neutral site. The Mountain Hawks won the first meeting in November 2003 at the University of Michigan, while the Chippewas have captured the last two, with wins at the Northeast Duals and Virginia Duals. Lehigh has a limited history with the six current Mid-American conference schools that sponsor wrestling, with an 8-4 record against Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State and Ohio. Lehigh has never faced Northern Illinois.
Sunday's match gets underway at 1 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:
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December 12, 2010
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Opponent:
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No. 14 Central Michigan Chippewas
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First match:
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1:05 p.m.
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Arena:
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Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall (2,130)
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Lehigh's Record:
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6-2 overall, 1-0 EIWA
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Central Michigan's Record:
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1-3 overall, 0-0 MAC
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Series:
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Central Michigan leads 2-1
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Television:
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Service Electric 2 Sports live with Doug Heater and Kyle Berger
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Radio:
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WLVR-FM with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell beginning at 12:45 p.m.
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Internet broadcast:
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Lehighsports.com
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Behind enemy lines:
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Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Thursday, February 20
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, December 04
Season Preview: Wrestling
Wednesday, October 30
