Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh celebrates successful 2014-15 season at annual Lewis Wrestling Dinner
4/8/2015 11:05:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh wrestling team concluded their successful 2014-15 campaign on Saturday, April 4 with the 92nd annual Lewis Wrestling Dinner in the Wood Dining Room at Iacocca Hall. Wrestlers, coaches, families and supporters of Lehigh wrestling gathered to reflect upon a successful season that saw Lehigh go 14-6 in dual meets and finish 13th at the NCAA Championships with three All-Americans.
The program also featured comments from head coach Pat Santoro and seniors Santiago Martinez and Marshall Peppelman.
Junior Nathaniel Brown reached the NCAA Finals at 184, becoming Lehigh's sixth NCAA finalist since 2011. Also earning All-America honors for Lehigh were junior Mason Beckman and sophomore Mitch Minotti, who both became All-Americans for the second time. Brown, Beckman and Minotti claimed three of the major program awards at Saturday's Lewis Dinner.
Brown earned the Outstanding Athlete award, which recognizes the wrestler who has made the most significant athletic contribution to the team. On the season, Brown amassed an impressive 29-6 record and earned All-America honors for the first time. He finished second at both the NCAA and EIWA tournaments and led the Mountain Hawks with six wins by fall.
The Scholar-Athlete award, which is awarded to the wrestler who in the eyes of his teammates best exemplifies the ideal of the scholar-athlete, went to Minotti. A finance major with a 3.32 cumulative GPA, Minotti was named to the NWCA All-Academic Team in 2014 and is a likely candidate for the team again this year. Minotti moved up to 157 and finished eighth at the NCAA Championships, capping a 19-8 season.
Beckman was awarded the Coaches Award, given to the individual who made significant contributions to the well-being of his team in terms of attitude, improvement, or special leadership as evidenced by growth or presence of strong self-awareness, integrity, competitiveness, team-first mentality, and toughness. For the second consecutive year, Beckman finished sixth at 133 at the NCAA Championships, this time winning five consecutive bouts following a first round loss. He finished with a team-leading 30 victories this season.
For his prolonged display of enthusiasm, determination, character and heart throughout the season, junior John Bolich was awarded the Gerald G. Leeman Award. The honor is intended to highlight the accomplishments of an athlete who has displayed strong perseverance through the year and not necessarily the highest level of skill or success on the mat. Bolich lost his starting spot at 197 but still made several key contributions to Lehigh's success. He finished the season with a 15-3 record that included a perfect 6-0 mark in dual meets.
The final award of the night went to sophomore Darian Cruz. The Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year honor recognizes a student-athlete who either was not a starter on the team or who deferred eligibility for the year. After earning All-America honors as a true freshman, Cruz deferred his eligibility and finished the season with a 22-3 record that included individual titles at the East Stroudsburg Open, the Shorty Hitchcock Classic and the Edinboro Open.
The 2015 Lewis Wrestling dinner was held in memory of Lehigh graduate Alvin B. Lewis, Jr. '54 who passed away March 16 at the age of 82. The Lewis family has been prominently involved in the dinner since it was originate by Al's grandfather Roy A. Lewis in 1924. In the early 1990s, Al Lewis, Jr. spearheaded a successful fundraising effort to endow a scholarship fund to preserve the tradition of Lehigh wrestling.
The program also featured comments from head coach Pat Santoro and seniors Santiago Martinez and Marshall Peppelman.
Junior Nathaniel Brown reached the NCAA Finals at 184, becoming Lehigh's sixth NCAA finalist since 2011. Also earning All-America honors for Lehigh were junior Mason Beckman and sophomore Mitch Minotti, who both became All-Americans for the second time. Brown, Beckman and Minotti claimed three of the major program awards at Saturday's Lewis Dinner.
Brown earned the Outstanding Athlete award, which recognizes the wrestler who has made the most significant athletic contribution to the team. On the season, Brown amassed an impressive 29-6 record and earned All-America honors for the first time. He finished second at both the NCAA and EIWA tournaments and led the Mountain Hawks with six wins by fall.
The Scholar-Athlete award, which is awarded to the wrestler who in the eyes of his teammates best exemplifies the ideal of the scholar-athlete, went to Minotti. A finance major with a 3.32 cumulative GPA, Minotti was named to the NWCA All-Academic Team in 2014 and is a likely candidate for the team again this year. Minotti moved up to 157 and finished eighth at the NCAA Championships, capping a 19-8 season.
Beckman was awarded the Coaches Award, given to the individual who made significant contributions to the well-being of his team in terms of attitude, improvement, or special leadership as evidenced by growth or presence of strong self-awareness, integrity, competitiveness, team-first mentality, and toughness. For the second consecutive year, Beckman finished sixth at 133 at the NCAA Championships, this time winning five consecutive bouts following a first round loss. He finished with a team-leading 30 victories this season.
For his prolonged display of enthusiasm, determination, character and heart throughout the season, junior John Bolich was awarded the Gerald G. Leeman Award. The honor is intended to highlight the accomplishments of an athlete who has displayed strong perseverance through the year and not necessarily the highest level of skill or success on the mat. Bolich lost his starting spot at 197 but still made several key contributions to Lehigh's success. He finished the season with a 15-3 record that included a perfect 6-0 mark in dual meets.
The final award of the night went to sophomore Darian Cruz. The Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year honor recognizes a student-athlete who either was not a starter on the team or who deferred eligibility for the year. After earning All-America honors as a true freshman, Cruz deferred his eligibility and finished the season with a 22-3 record that included individual titles at the East Stroudsburg Open, the Shorty Hitchcock Classic and the Edinboro Open.
The 2015 Lewis Wrestling dinner was held in memory of Lehigh graduate Alvin B. Lewis, Jr. '54 who passed away March 16 at the age of 82. The Lewis family has been prominently involved in the dinner since it was originate by Al's grandfather Roy A. Lewis in 1924. In the early 1990s, Al Lewis, Jr. spearheaded a successful fundraising effort to endow a scholarship fund to preserve the tradition of Lehigh wrestling.
Players Mentioned
133
/ Men's Wrestling
197
/ Men's Wrestling
184
/ Men's Wrestling
125
/ Men's Wrestling
165
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
165/174
/ Men's WrestlingMHT EP8 - Men's Wrestling
Friday, February 13
Lehigh Sports Central: Men's Wrestling
Wednesday, January 21
2025-2026 Men's Wrestling Season Preview
Wednesday, October 29
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
