Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh celebrates 2013-14 season at annual Lewis Wrestling Dinner
4/9/2014 11:30:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh wrestling team gathered together for the 91st annual Lewis Wrestling Dinner this past weekend to reflect back on a successful season and honor this year's standout wrestlers. The banquet was held in the Wood Dining Room in Iacocca Hall on Lehigh's Mountaintop Campus on Saturday April 5 with an attendance of nearly 200 guests including wrestlers, coaches, families and supporters of Lehigh wrestling.
The dinner featured video highlights from the 2013-14 season and remarks from head coach Pat Santoro and the team's four graduation. Several program awards were handed out as well as the Mountain Hawks celebrated a season that featured a 10-6 dual record, three All-Americans and a top-20 finish at the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Mason Beckman was named this year's Athlete of the Year, which is award to the wrestler who makes the biggest athletic contributions to the team throughout the season. Beckman won the Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year award last year and finished this season at an impressive 29-6 record. He earned All-America honors at 133 with a sixth place finish at the NCAA Championship. At the EIWA Championships, Beckman became the 124th Lehigh wrestler to win an individual title claiming the 133-pound crown to earn Lehigh's 204th individual title.
The Scholar-Athlete award was given to freshman Zach Diekel for his stellar performance in both academics and athletics. As a mechanical engineering major, Diekel maintains a GPA of 3.54. He posted a 17-14 record on the mats as Lehigh's starter at 184.
Senior Joey Napoli was honored with the Coaches Award, which recognizes the team member who makes the most significant contributions to the team in terms of leadership, attitude or improvement. Napoli battled through several injuries to post a 12-5 record in his senior season. He finished his Lehigh career with a record of 69-34. He is the 2013 EIWA Champion, a three-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time member of the NWCA All-Academic Team.
The Gerald G. Leeman award went to sophomore Laike Gardner, which honors him for his all-around enthusiasm, determination and character in a way that mirrors that of the Hall of Fame coach that the award is named after. This award is not based on statistics or records, but more recognizes the wrestler for his hard work and dedication throughout the season. An exciting wrestler with a knack for battling back from early deficits, Gardner finished the season with a 17-10 record at 141. He qualified for his first NCAA Championship, going 1-2 with a thrilling come-from-behind win over No. 16 seed Joe Spisak of Virginia in the opening round.
The final honor of the night was the Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year Award, which this year went to junior Nathaniel Brown. This award is presented to the athlete who is either a non-starter or has deferred eligibility for the season. Brown went 19-3 this season at 184 with three open tournament titles and finished third at the prestigious Midlands Championships while competing unattached.
The dinner also featured reflections from Lehigh's four-member senior class that included Napoli, Austin Meys, Dillon Smith and Cal Stack.
The dinner featured video highlights from the 2013-14 season and remarks from head coach Pat Santoro and the team's four graduation. Several program awards were handed out as well as the Mountain Hawks celebrated a season that featured a 10-6 dual record, three All-Americans and a top-20 finish at the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Mason Beckman was named this year's Athlete of the Year, which is award to the wrestler who makes the biggest athletic contributions to the team throughout the season. Beckman won the Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year award last year and finished this season at an impressive 29-6 record. He earned All-America honors at 133 with a sixth place finish at the NCAA Championship. At the EIWA Championships, Beckman became the 124th Lehigh wrestler to win an individual title claiming the 133-pound crown to earn Lehigh's 204th individual title.
The Scholar-Athlete award was given to freshman Zach Diekel for his stellar performance in both academics and athletics. As a mechanical engineering major, Diekel maintains a GPA of 3.54. He posted a 17-14 record on the mats as Lehigh's starter at 184.
Senior Joey Napoli was honored with the Coaches Award, which recognizes the team member who makes the most significant contributions to the team in terms of leadership, attitude or improvement. Napoli battled through several injuries to post a 12-5 record in his senior season. He finished his Lehigh career with a record of 69-34. He is the 2013 EIWA Champion, a three-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time member of the NWCA All-Academic Team.
The Gerald G. Leeman award went to sophomore Laike Gardner, which honors him for his all-around enthusiasm, determination and character in a way that mirrors that of the Hall of Fame coach that the award is named after. This award is not based on statistics or records, but more recognizes the wrestler for his hard work and dedication throughout the season. An exciting wrestler with a knack for battling back from early deficits, Gardner finished the season with a 17-10 record at 141. He qualified for his first NCAA Championship, going 1-2 with a thrilling come-from-behind win over No. 16 seed Joe Spisak of Virginia in the opening round.
The final honor of the night was the Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year Award, which this year went to junior Nathaniel Brown. This award is presented to the athlete who is either a non-starter or has deferred eligibility for the season. Brown went 19-3 this season at 184 with three open tournament titles and finished third at the prestigious Midlands Championships while competing unattached.
The dinner also featured reflections from Lehigh's four-member senior class that included Napoli, Austin Meys, Dillon Smith and Cal Stack.
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