Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks to close out dual season Saturday vs. Princeton
2/16/2012 2:01:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 15 Lehigh returns home for its final dual meet of the regular season Saturday night as the Mountain Hawks host Princeton on senior night inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The Mountain Hawks enjoyed last weekend's trip to New England, winning 18-of-20 bouts against Brown and Harvard and outscoring the two schools 75-9 in two dominant victories. Senior Zach Rey went 2-0 to set a new Lehigh career record with 71 dual meet victories.
Princeton has improved significantly under the direction of former Lehigh All-American, EIWA Champion and assistant coach Chris Ayres. The Tigers are 2-4 in duals this month and will host Penn prior to making the trek to Bethlehem.
Five Mountain Hawks are ranked in the latest polls conducted by Amateur Wrestling News, while six Mountain Hawks are recognized in the latest rankings by InterMat. Four Lehigh grapplers are ranked by W.I.N. Magazine. Freshman Mason Beckman cracked the InterMat rankings and moved up in the A.W.N. polls with his win by fall over Steven Keith.
Last week the NCAA unveiled the second of three coaches' panel rankings, with six Mountain Hawks recognized in the top 33 at their weight class. Seniors Brandon Hatchett and Joe Kennedy fell out of the coaches' panel rankings because they were both out of action due to injury. Kennedy made his return t
o the lineup last weekend.
o the lineup last weekend. Saturday's match marks the final home appearance for Lehigh's seven member senior class. The Mountain Hawks' wrestling class of 2012, consisting of Sean Bilodeau, Brandon Hatchett, Joe Kennedy, Zach Rey, Kyle Rosser, Kadeem Samuels and Brian Tanen will be recognized prior to the dual. The group features a NCAA Champion, an EIWA Champion, two All-Americans, three NCAA qualifiers. All seven seniors have seen significant mat time this season.
Princeton enters the final weekend of the dual meet season at 6-12 overall and 2-5 against EIWA foes. The Tigers hosted three duals last weekend, falling to Columbia Friday night and Clarion Sunday afternoon, before downing Franklin & Marshall to earn a Sunday split. Princeton has a pair of wrestlers ranked in the latest Amateur Wrestling News poll in Adam Krop (No. 14 at 141) and Daniel Kolodzik (No. 9 at 157). Junior Garrett Frey, a two-time NCAA qualifier at 125 has been out of the lineup since mid-January. Lehigh and Princeton wrestlers crossed paths once at the Midlands Championships, with Robert Hamlin winning a 12-4 major decision over Dan Santoro at 184.
Lehigh and Princeton meet for the 56th time Saturday but just the second time since 2003. The Mountain Hawks a commanding edge in the series, and has won the last nine duals versus the Tigers, covering a span of 44 years. Princeton is 0-27 all-time in dual meets at Lehigh.
Saturday'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 Lehigh ticket office, located in Grace Hall, prior to the match.
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Date:
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February 18, 2012
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Opponent:
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Princeton Tigers
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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 Record:
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11-5, 6-1 EIWA
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Princeton's Record:
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6-12, 2-5 EIWA
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Series:
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Lehigh leads 49-5-1
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Streak:
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Lehigh has won the last nine 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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