Lehigh looks back at season at annual Lewis Dinner
4/20/2011 5:22:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh wrestling program held the 88th annual Lewis Wrestling Dinner on Saturday, April 16 at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Over 150 wrestlers, coaches, parents, alumni, staff and friends attended the event. The dinner was hosted by Lehigh All-American Solomon Fleckman '92 and featured dinner, a highlight film and comments from head coach Pat Santoro and senior Mitch Berger.
Several awards were also given out during the dinner for accomplishment on the mat and in the classroom for the recently completed season in which Lehigh finished eighth at the NCAA Championships, with three All-Americans and its first national champion since 2004.
For the third straight season, junior Zach Rey was named the team's Outstanding Athlete, awarded to the team member who makes the most outstanding athletic contribution to the team throughout the season. Rey had an outstanding season, finishing 34-1. He earned All-American honors for the second straight year and became Lehigh's 27th individual NCAA Champion after winning the heavyweight title last month. Rey was named EIWA Co-Wrestler of the Year last month and also won the prestigious Midlands Championships in December before becoming Lehigh's first NCAA heavyweight champion since 1936.The Scholar-Athlete of the Year award went to sophomore Kevin Bailey. Given to the student who best combines academics and athletics, Bailey owns a 3.71 grade point average as a mechanical engineering major. Bailey also had success on the wrestling mat this year going 26-9 on the season at 184, including three open tournament titles.
The Coaches Award went to sophomore Robert Hamlin. This award goes to the team member who made significant contributions to the well-being of the team in terms of leadership, attitude or improvement. Hamlin had quite the season, finishing 32-3, winning the EIWA Championship at 184 and advancing to the NCAA finals, giving Lehigh two national finalists in one year for the first time since 2003.
The Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year award is in its third year of existence and it recognizes the performance of a wrestler who either is a non-starter or has deferred eligibility for the season. This year's winner was freshman Anthony Salupo. Salupo went 35-11 this season at 149 and placed in seven open tournaments, including wins at the Mat Town Invitational, Cleveland State Open, and Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic.
Lastly, the Gerald G. Leeman award went to senior Mitch Berger. This award is to honor a special wrestler whose enthusiasm, determination and character most exemplifies that of the Hall of Fame coach. The focus of this award is more about perseverance and heart rather than wins and losses. This award went to Berger for his continual commitment to hard work and perseverance. Berger, a former walk-on, always did the right thing on and off the mat. He also enjoyed his best season in the Brown and White as a senior, finishing 9-19 and scoring two points for Lehigh at the EIWA Championships.As a team, Lehigh had a very successful season going 15-6 in dual meets including 7-1 against EIWA opponents. The Mountain Hawks also had an upset of top-ranked Cornell during the season, the program's first-ever win over a No. 1 ranked team. Lehigh finished second at the EIWA Championships and eighth at the NCAA Championships, with Rey, Hamlin and junior Brandon Hatchett earning All-America honors.
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.
Story written by Prentice Small '11, Lehigh Sports Media Relations
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