8/5/2016 10:35:00 AM | Athletics, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Swimming and Diving, Men's Track and Field, Men's Rowing, Women's Cross Country, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming and Diving, Women's Track and Field, Volleyball, Men's Wrestling
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(Pictured: Bobby Weaver '83, who won a gold medal during the 1984 Olympics)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The opening ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games are Friday as many athletes from across the world will be representing their countries. While Lehigh does not have any current or former student-athletes competing in these Olympics, the Lehigh Athletics department has featured many who have represented the United States on the senior level.
 Cross Country/Track & Field
Former standout Tyler Mueller '15 qualified for the Olympic marathon trials, but was unable to compete due to injury. Former Lehigh track and field coach Thomas Burke was a two-time Olympic champion in the 100m and 400m at the first modern Olympics in Greece (1896).
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In addition, alum Chris Bryce '00, the current men's hammer Lehigh record holder, participated in two previous Olympic Trials for the men's hammer throw. He finished sixth in the 35-pound weight at the U.S. Indoor Championships. Justina Barone-Lambert '03 finished 12th at the indoor US Championships in the pentathlon and Joe McVeigh '86 made the U.S. Pan American team and competed in the marathon.
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Most recently, Lou Adesida '15 participated in the high jump at USA Indoor Nationals.
 Men's Basketball
C.J. McCollum '13 was named to the U.S. Select Team in June, which practiced with the U.S. team in July in advance of the Olympics. As USA Basketball National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo said, "Being chosen for the Select Team is an honor and it is an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball's National Team program in the future." McCollum eventually opted to not participate, but it reportedly won't hurt any chances of making the U.S. National Team down the road.
 Men's LacrosseKevin Cassese
Current Lehigh head coach Kevin Cassese has a long history with the U.S. National Team as both a player and coach. As a player in 2002, he led the U.S. to a gold medal at the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships. He was also a member of the team that placed second in 2006. Cassese went on to coach the U.S. team, serving as an assistant coach and head coach during select exhibition contests.
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Lehigh players have tried out for the U.S. team, including Cameron and Roman Lao-Gosney '12, who were named to the tryout pool for the national team. They participated in numerous scrimmages for Team USA, beginning with the Capital Lacrosse Classic on Oct. 7, 2012.
 Rowing
Lehigh rowing alums Marcus Bateman '05, Todd Mickelson '08 and Jonathan Winter '06 have all participated on the U.S. Senior National Team (rundown below) while current head coach Brian Conley was the head coach of the U.S. Senior Lightweight Development Team.
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Jonathan Winter - U.S. men's lightweight two (2009, 2010, 2011)
Marcus Bateman - Great Britain heavyweight team (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Todd Mickelson - U.S. men's lightweight four (2010 & 2011)
Lehigh swimmers following Olympic trials this year
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Swimming & Diving
Lehigh sent multiple student-athletes to Olympic trials this year. Rising seniors Jamal Willis, Justin White and Kaitlyn Ruffing all competed in the 50 meter freestyle while Jacob Moyar competed in the 200 meter butterfly in Omaha, Nebraska. The quartet marked the first Lehigh University swimmers to make the trials since Lehigh Hall of Famers Pete Harding in 1968 and Ron Keenhold in 1956.
 Volleyball
Current Lehigh head coach Bob Bertucci made the U.S. National Team (second team) as a player in 1975, and also played in the World University Games in the early 70s. In addition, Bertucci has stayed involved with the U.S. team in some capacity. As recently as this year, he assisted the selection committee at the open tryouts in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 Women's LacrosseAllison LaBeau
Over the years, the Lehigh women's lacrosse program has seen several of its players try out for the U.S. National Team, including current rising senior Allison LaBeau who is trying out this weekend. It marks the second time LaBeau has been invited to try out. Former standout Lauren Dykstra made the second round of tryouts twice, and also competed for Israel in the 2013 World Cup. Ninth-year head coach Jill Redfern has national team experience herself, playing for the United States from 1987-93, capping off her international play by winning the World Cup in 1993, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
 Women's Soccer
Former all-time great Gina Lewandowski '07 has been called up to the U.S. Women's National team on several occasions, earning one cap for the defending World Cup and Olympic champions. This year, she was one of 24 players called up to the U.S. Women's National team in May but was not selected to the 18-player Olympic squad.
 Wrestling
Lehigh wrestling has a long history on the national stage, most notably with Bobby Weaver '83, who won a gold medal during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and won a silver medal at the 1979 World Championships. Weaver is believed to be the first and only Lehigh alumnus to win an Olympic gold medal.
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Current Mountain Hawks' head coach Pat Santoro enjoyed a stellar career on the international scene, which lasted nearly a decade. He was a four time member of the U.S. National Team between 1995 and 1999 and served as an alternate for the 1996 Olympic Team and the 1999 World Team. Santoro placed fourth at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, third at the 1992 Olympic Trials and was runner-up in the 1992 U.S. Open Freestyle Championships.
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In 2004, then-Lehigh assistant coach Kerry McCoy participated in the Athens Olympics, as part of the heavyweight division of the freestyle competition. McCoy also finished fifth at the 2000 games in Sydney, where he wrestled under coach Greg Strobel, the head coach of the U.S. freestyle team (and Lehigh head coach) at the time. Strobel has Olympic experience in other games as well, serving as a head coach, assistant coach and volunteer assistant.
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Most recently, former heavyweight Zach Rey '12, finished second at the Olympic Trials this past April and is the alternate at 125 kg for the United States. Rey finished second in both the 2015 U.S. Open and World Team Trials, but represented the United States at the World Championships last September when Tervel Dlagnev was unable to compete due to injury.
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