Mountain Hawks to host Binghamton Thursday in 2012-13 opener
11/7/2012 2:13:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 104th season of Lehigh wrestling begins Thursday night as the 21st-ranked Mountain Hawks host Binghamton. Fans will get their first look at a Lehigh squad that finished eighth at last year's NCAA Championships, but lost three All-Americans to graduation, after last week's Brown and White Wrestle-offs were cancelled due to Superstorm Sandy. Two-time EIWA Champion and All-American Robert Hamlin leads a Lehigh squad that will feature four freshmen making their varsity debuts.
Senior Shane Welsh is coming off a breakout 2011-12 season that culminated in an EIWA championship at 149. Welsh emerged from a three-man battle at 149 to win the starting spot at midseason after placing eighth at the Midlands Championships. The Lower Burrell, Pa. native entered the EIWA tournament as the No. 6 seed but went on an impressive run to capture the title, before dropping two tightly contested bouts at the NCAA Championships to finish his junior season at 22-7. Last weekend Hamlin competed in the 47th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic at American University's Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. Hamlin defeated Kevin Steinhaus on Minnesota 5-3 in a battle of two-time All-Americans and conference champions. Hamlin scored takedowns in the second and third periods and added a third period escape to win the exhibition bout. Hamlin improved to 2-0 against Steinhaus, with the previous win coming by a 3-2 score in last year's NCAA consolation semifinals. Hamlin's victory was the first for a Lehigh wrestler in the NWCA All-Star Classic since Troy Letters won a 3-2 decision over David Bolyard of Central Michigan in November 2004. Lehigh wrestlers now own a 14-13 career record in the NWCA All-Star Classic.
It's a season of change for the Binghamton Bearcats as new head coach Matt Dernlan takes the reins of the program following one of the finest seasons in school history in 2011-12. Binghamton went 15-4 in dual meets before placing second at the CAA Championships and placing 18th at the NCAA Championships with a pair of All-Americans. The Bearcats' top grappler is senior Donnie Vinson, who is ranked second at 149 after placing third at last year's NCAA Championships. Cody Reed (No. 16 at 184) and Nate Schiedel (No. 11 at 197) are also nationally ranked after switching weight classes.
Thursday night Lehigh hosts the first dual meet in its 104th season of wrestling. Lehigh won its first three season openers under Pat Santoro but dropped last season's opener 18-16 to visiting Pittsburgh. The Mountain Hawks are opening up at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall for the sixth straight season.
Lehigh and Binghamton will meet for just the third time with the Mountain Hawks winning both previous meetings. The first two duals between the Mountain Hawks and Bearcats took place at the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y.
Thursday's match gets underway at 7 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME, by logging on to Lehighsports.com, or by visiting the Grace Hall ticket office on match night.
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Date:
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November 8, 2012
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Opponent:
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Binghamton Bearcats
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First match:
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7:05 p.m.
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Arena:
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Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Lehigh's 2011-12 Record:
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12-5
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Binghamton's 2011-12 Record:
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15-4
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Series:
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Lehigh leads 2-0
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Streak:
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Lehigh has won both previous meetings
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Television:
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None
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Radio:
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ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell beginning at 6:45 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
