Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh set to host two nationally ranked foes this weekend
1/23/2013 6:11:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks look to bounce back from a heartbreaking one-point loss to Rutgers last weekend as Lehigh returns home for weekend duals against nationally-ranked Oklahoma and Oregon State. Lehigh won five bouts in a back-and-forth dual with the Scarlet Knights, but two bonus points and a win at heavyweight gave Rutgers its first win over Lehigh since 1950. Lehigh will meet No. 16 Oklahoma Friday at Stabler Arena before meeting No. 10 Oregon State Saturday afternoon inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The Sooners and Beavers both feature top five-ranked 141 pound wrestlers who will challenge Lehigh sophomore Anthony Salupo and freshman Laike Gardner.
Gardner has made a habit of displaying his best wrestling in the third period. Last week against Rutgers, with Lehigh facing a potential 10-0 deficit, Gardner trailed Trevor Melde 2-0 after two periods, but the Biglerville native battled back in the third, collecting a takedown and two-point near fall en route to a 5-4 win. Gardner is 4-4 in dual competition at 133 and 141 this season. He has trailed entering the third period in all four of those victories. Oklahoma brings a 6-4 dual meet mark into Friday night's match. The Sooners dropped to 16th in the latest Coaches' Poll after a 1-1 showing last weekend. Oklahoma suffered an 18-15 upset loss at Northern Iowa on Friday before returning home to defeat West Virginia on Sunday. Oklahoma won the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold tournament in November and finished third at the Midlands. The Sooner lineup features five ranked wrestlers from 133 through 165. Junior Kendric Maple is regarded as Oklahoma's top wrestler as he is ranked No. 1 at 141 after a 19-0 start to the season. Maple won his second straight Midlands title in December. American transfer Bubby Graham also won a Midlands title at 165 and is ranked fourth. Graham transferred to Oklahoma from American, where he wrestled for Mark Cody, who is now in his second season as the Sooners head coach.
Oregon State visits the Lehigh Valley for the first time since 1996 on Saturday as the Beavers will wrestle Lehigh before heading up to Ithaca, N.Y. to face Cornell Sunday. The Beavers come in with a 5-3 dual record that includes a three-match winning streak. Last weekend Oregon State defeated Pac 12 rival Stanford 32-6 in Corvallis, Ore. Oregon State has also been busy on the tournament circuit with a win at the Reno Tournament of Champions and a fourth place showing at the Las Vegas Invitational and the Midlands. The Beaver lineup features six ranked wrestlers including four men ranked in the top ten. Michael Mangrum is the highest rated Beaver, coming in at No. 3 at 141, while heavyweight Chad Hanke is ranked fourth. Former Iowa coach Jim Zalesky is in his seventh season in Corvallis.
The Mountain Hawks are just 3-13-1 versus Oklahoma but have two wins and a tie in the last four meetings against the Sooners. Lehigh is 3-5 versus Oregon State, but the teams have not met since November, 2003. Oklahoma is visiting Bethlehem for the first time since 1998, while Oregon State visits for the first time since December, 1996.
Action begins Friday night when Lehigh hosts Oklahoma at 7 p.m. at Stabler Arena. Saturday's Lehigh-Oregon State dual will begin at 2 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets can be purchased by logging on to Lehighsports.com at any time, by 610-7LU-GAME during normal business hours, or at the arena box office prior to the match.
The Lehigh-Oklahoma match is presented by Dunkin' Donuts and ROTC of the Lehigh Valley.
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Date:
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January 25, 2012
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Opponent:
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No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners
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First match:
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7:05 p.m.
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Arena:
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Stabler Arena (5,600)
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Lehigh's record:
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5-5 overall, 2-3 EIWA
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Oklahoma's record:
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6-4 overall, 2-1 Big 12
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Series:
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Oklahoma leads 13-3-1
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Streak:
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Oklahoma won the most recent meeting
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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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Date:
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January 26, 2013
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Opponent:
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No. 10 Oregon State Beavers
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First match:
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2:05 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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5-5 overall, 2-3 EIWA
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Oregon State's record:
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5-3 overall, 2-1 Pac 12
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Series:
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Oregon State leads 5-3
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Streak:
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Lehigh won the last meeting
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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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ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Steve Lomangino and beginning at 1:45 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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