Saturday, November 9
7:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell
Mountain Hawks host Bucknell Saturday in dual meet opener
11/7/2013 11:53:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
Match Notes | Tickets | Watch on PLN
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 105th dual meet season of Lehigh wrestling season begins Saturday night as the 22nd-ranked Mountain Hawks host EIWA foe Bucknell inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Twenty Mountain Hawks opened their seasons last Sunday at the Clarion Knight Point Open, where eight wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weight classes, led by sophomore Laike Gardner who won the 141 pound title. Lehigh's projected starters include three nationally-ranked wrestlers including senior Joey Napoli and sophomore Mason Beckman who both posted wins last weekend in the NWCA All-Star Classic.
Â
Last weekend Beckman and Napoli competed in the NWCA All-Star Classic at George Mason's Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va. Beckman scored takedowns in each of the first two periods to defeat A.J. Schopp of Edinboro 5-1 in a battle of top ten wrestlers at 133. For his efforts, Beckman was named Outstanding Wrestler for the blue team. Napoli was a late replacement for top ranked Derek St. John of Iowa and used a third period reversal to edge Nestor Taffur of Boston University 2-1. Lehigh was the only school with two individual winners at the All-Star Classic. Lehigh wrestlers now own a 16-13 career record in the NWCA All-Star Classic and have won their last four bouts.
Â
As many as five freshmen could make their varsity dual debuts Saturday, including four who deferred their eligbility last year: Mitch Minotti at 149, Brian Brill at 165, Elliot Riddick at 174 and Zach Diekel at 184. Lehigh will likely start a true freshman at 125, either Darien Cruz or Artem Timchenko.
Â
While Lehigh opens its dual season Saturday, the Bucknell Bison already have two duals under their belts. Bucknell competed in the Lock Haven Duals last Saturday, blanking Shippensburg 50-0 before falling 19-13 to host Lock Haven. Last year Bucknell went 6-14 in duals and finished tenth at the EIWA Championships. The Bison are led by junior heavyweight Joe Stolfi, Bucknell's lone NCAA qualifier a year ago but one who reached the All-America round of 12. Stolfi enters the season ranked tenth nationally and second in the EIWA. He is one of just two Bison to appear in the initial EIWA rankings, along with sophomore Paul Petrov who is ranked fifth at 125. Bucknell's probable lineup also features a pair of local freshmen in Bethlehem product Grim Gonzalez (133) and Easton native Tyler Greene (184).
Â
On Saturday, Lehigh hosts the first dual meet in its 105th season of wrestling. Lehigh has won four of its first five dual meet openers under Pat Santoro but dropped the 2011-12 opener 18-16 to visiting Pittsburgh. The Mountain Hawks are opening up at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall for the seventh straight season.
Â
Lehigh and Bucknell will meet on the mats for the tenth time, with the Brown and White having captured each of the first nine meetings. The Mountain Hawks are 5-0 against the Bison in Bethlehem, 3-0 in Lewisburg and 1-0 at a neutral site.
Â
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 LehighTickets.com, or by visiting the Grace Hall ticket office on match night.
Â
Â
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 105th dual meet season of Lehigh wrestling season begins Saturday night as the 22nd-ranked Mountain Hawks host EIWA foe Bucknell inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Twenty Mountain Hawks opened their seasons last Sunday at the Clarion Knight Point Open, where eight wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weight classes, led by sophomore Laike Gardner who won the 141 pound title. Lehigh's projected starters include three nationally-ranked wrestlers including senior Joey Napoli and sophomore Mason Beckman who both posted wins last weekend in the NWCA All-Star Classic.
Â
Last weekend Beckman and Napoli competed in the NWCA All-Star Classic at George Mason's Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va. Beckman scored takedowns in each of the first two periods to defeat A.J. Schopp of Edinboro 5-1 in a battle of top ten wrestlers at 133. For his efforts, Beckman was named Outstanding Wrestler for the blue team. Napoli was a late replacement for top ranked Derek St. John of Iowa and used a third period reversal to edge Nestor Taffur of Boston University 2-1. Lehigh was the only school with two individual winners at the All-Star Classic. Lehigh wrestlers now own a 16-13 career record in the NWCA All-Star Classic and have won their last four bouts.
Â
As many as five freshmen could make their varsity dual debuts Saturday, including four who deferred their eligbility last year: Mitch Minotti at 149, Brian Brill at 165, Elliot Riddick at 174 and Zach Diekel at 184. Lehigh will likely start a true freshman at 125, either Darien Cruz or Artem Timchenko.
Â
While Lehigh opens its dual season Saturday, the Bucknell Bison already have two duals under their belts. Bucknell competed in the Lock Haven Duals last Saturday, blanking Shippensburg 50-0 before falling 19-13 to host Lock Haven. Last year Bucknell went 6-14 in duals and finished tenth at the EIWA Championships. The Bison are led by junior heavyweight Joe Stolfi, Bucknell's lone NCAA qualifier a year ago but one who reached the All-America round of 12. Stolfi enters the season ranked tenth nationally and second in the EIWA. He is one of just two Bison to appear in the initial EIWA rankings, along with sophomore Paul Petrov who is ranked fifth at 125. Bucknell's probable lineup also features a pair of local freshmen in Bethlehem product Grim Gonzalez (133) and Easton native Tyler Greene (184).
Â
On Saturday, Lehigh hosts the first dual meet in its 105th season of wrestling. Lehigh has won four of its first five dual meet openers under Pat Santoro but dropped the 2011-12 opener 18-16 to visiting Pittsburgh. The Mountain Hawks are opening up at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall for the seventh straight season.
Â
Lehigh and Bucknell will meet on the mats for the tenth time, with the Brown and White having captured each of the first nine meetings. The Mountain Hawks are 5-0 against the Bison in Bethlehem, 3-0 in Lewisburg and 1-0 at a neutral site.
Â
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 LehighTickets.com, or by visiting the Grace Hall ticket office on match night.
Â
| Date: | November 9, 2013 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| First match: | 7:05 p.m. |
| Arena: | Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-0 overall, 0-0 EIWA |
| Bucknell's Record: | 1-1 overall, 0-0 EIWA |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 9-0 |
| Streak: | Lehigh has won all nine previous meetings |
| Television: | None |
| Radio: | ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 beginning at 6:45 p.m. with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell |
| Internet broadcast: |
Video via the Patriot League Network Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Behind enemy lines: | http://www.bucknellbison.com/ |
2025-2026 Men's Wrestling Season Preview
Wednesday, October 29
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Thursday, February 20
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, December 04
