Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh looks back at season at 87th Lewis Dinner
3/30/2010 2:15:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh wrestling program held the 87th Lewis Wrestling Dinner on Saturday, March 27 at Iacocca Hall on Lehigh’s Mountaintop Campus to look back on the recently completed 2009-10 season. Over 150 wrestlers, parents, alumni, friends, coaches and support staff were on hand for the event, hosted by Lehigh All-American Solomon Fleckman ’92. The event featured dinner, as well as comments from Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro and the 11 members of Lehigh’s senior class.
Several Lehigh program awards were handed out for individual accomplishments from the recently completed season.
For the second straight year, Zach Rey was named the team’s Outstanding Athlete, awarded to the team member who makes the most outstanding athletic contribution to the accomplishment of the team. Rey posted an impressive 33-4 record in his sophomore season and finished third at heavyweight at the NCAA Champions for Lehigh’s first All-American medal since 2006. Rey also captured the EIWA Championship at 285, extending the Mountain Hawks streak of consecutive years with at least one individual EIWA Champion to 11.
The program’s highest honor, the Scholar-Athlete Award went to Manuel Schubert for the fourth straight year. Given to the student who best combines academics and athletics, Schubert earned his degree in Biology in 2009 and has been doing graduate work in health and biopharmaceutical economics. Schubert earned a 4.0 grade point average in six of his eight undergraduate semesters and also posted a 4.0 GPA in his first semester of graduate study.
Schubert also received the Gerald G. Leeman Award, which was established by Lehigh’s most decorated wrestler, Mike Caruso ’67 to honor annual a special wrestler whose enthusiasm, determination and character most emulates that of the Hall of Fame Coach. The focus of this award is about “heart” and perseverance and not necessarily about skill or won-loss record. The award, which was established in 2009, went to Schubert for his academic prowess and strong work ethic along with his efforts on the mat where he won 28 career bouts for the Brown and White, and qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2008.
The Coaches Award went to senior Matt Fisk. The award is given to the individual who made significant contributions to the well-being of the team in terms of attitude, improvement, or special leadership. Just the seventh three-time team captain in school annals, Fisk went 25-8 his senior season, including seven falls and reached the EIWA finals as well as All-America round of 12 at the NCAA Championships.
The other award now in its second year of existence recognizes the accomplishments of a wrestler who is either a non-starter or who deferred his eligibility this season. Freshman Austin Meys won this award for 2010. Meys deferred his eligibility this season but posted a 19-5 record with 13 falls competing unattached in open tournaments. He enjoyed several top tournament finishes, including a second place finish at the East Stroudsburg Open in November.
As a team, Lehigh enjoyed another strong dual meet season, going 16-3-1 including 5-0-1 against EIWA opponents. Following a third place team finish at the EIWA Championships, Lehigh placed 17th at the NCAA Championships with 30.5 team points. Rey reached the semifinals at heavyweight to become Lehigh’s 128th wrestling All-American.
The Lehigh wrestling banquet was made possible by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership program, whose mission it is to promote interest in Lehigh Athletics, to encourage and provide financial support to the program and to enhance relations with all former participants, fans, friends, and parents of Lehigh student-athletes.
