Zach Rey '12 added to U.S. roster for next month's World Championships
8/11/2015 3:31:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Former Lehigh standout Zach Rey has been added to the United States men's freestyle roster for next month's World Championships in Las Vegas. Rey will replace U.S. Open and World Team Trials champion Tervel Dlagnev, who is unable to compete due to injury. The 2011 NCAA heavyweight champion for the Mountain Hawks, Rey made the U.S. National Team by way of his finishing second to Dlagnev at both the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials.
Rey currently resides in Bethlehem and wrestles for the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club. He will compete at 125 kg/275 lbs. at the World Championships September 12 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
In addition to his runner-up finishes, Rey has enjoyed a strong freestyle year in 2015. He won the Pan American Championships in Chile in April and recently subbed for Dlagnev to win a gold medal at the Pan American Games last month in Toronto. Rey also won the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba and finished third at the Alexander Medved International in Belarus.
Rey was a three-time All-American for the Mountain Hawks, finishing third in 2010 and second in 2012 in addition to winning Lehigh's 27th and most recent individual national championship in 2011. He posted a 116-14 career record for the Mountain Hawks and ranks third on Lehigh's career wins list.
Rey will be the first Lehigh wrestler to compete in the Olympics or World Championships since Bobby Weaver '83 won gold at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Weaver also placed at the World Championships in 1979 and 1983. More recently, Kerry McCoy represented the United States at heavyweight in the 2004 Athens Olympics when he was serving as an assistant coach on Greg Strobel's staff at Lehigh.
The United World Wrestling World Championships will run from September 7-12 in Las Vegas with competition in men's freestyle, women's freestyle and Greco-Roman.
Rey currently resides in Bethlehem and wrestles for the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club. He will compete at 125 kg/275 lbs. at the World Championships September 12 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
In addition to his runner-up finishes, Rey has enjoyed a strong freestyle year in 2015. He won the Pan American Championships in Chile in April and recently subbed for Dlagnev to win a gold medal at the Pan American Games last month in Toronto. Rey also won the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba and finished third at the Alexander Medved International in Belarus.
Rey was a three-time All-American for the Mountain Hawks, finishing third in 2010 and second in 2012 in addition to winning Lehigh's 27th and most recent individual national championship in 2011. He posted a 116-14 career record for the Mountain Hawks and ranks third on Lehigh's career wins list.
Rey will be the first Lehigh wrestler to compete in the Olympics or World Championships since Bobby Weaver '83 won gold at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Weaver also placed at the World Championships in 1979 and 1983. More recently, Kerry McCoy represented the United States at heavyweight in the 2004 Athens Olympics when he was serving as an assistant coach on Greg Strobel's staff at Lehigh.
The United World Wrestling World Championships will run from September 7-12 in Las Vegas with competition in men's freestyle, women's freestyle and Greco-Roman.
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, March 12
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Thursday, February 20
Lehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
Wednesday, December 04
Season Preview: Wrestling
Wednesday, October 30
