Saturday, January 26
Bethlehem, Pa.
7:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Arizona State
Mountain Hawks to host two ranked foes in weekend duals
1/24/2019 10:42:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Winners of five straight duals, Lehigh returns to Leeman-Turner Arena to host a pair of nationally-ranked opponents as the Mountain Hawks welcome No. 23 Arizona State Saturday night and No. 12 Virginia Tech Sunday afternoon. Lehigh posted road wins at American and Navy last weekend to run its winning streak to five, as the Mountain Hawks returned to the national rankings at No. 24 following a three week hiatus. The Mountain Hawks' current winning streak has been paced by a group of five that includes seniors Cortlandt Schuyler, Gordon Wolf and Ryan Preisch, plus junior Jordan Kutler and sophomore Jordan Wood. In Lehigh's current five dual winning streak, that group has combined to go 22-0 with 13 bonus wins.
Tickets are still available for both duals. Purchase a ticket for Saturday's match, where the doors will open early at 3 p.m. for the high school match between Bergen Catholic and Blair Academy. The Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club will be putting on a girls wrestling exhibition match at intermission of Sunday's Lehigh-Virginia Tech dual. Tickets to both duals can be purchased by visiting LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
Lehigh enjoyed a successful trip to the Maryland/Washington, D.C. areas as the Mountain Hawks defeated American and Navy to run their dual winning streak to five straight. The Mountain Hawks won the first six bouts in a 25-12 win at American on Jan. 19 and then won eight of 10 bouts with four major decisions to top Navy 28-6 the following afternoon. Competing against one of the nation's toughest dual schedules, Lehigh has now followed an 0-7 dual start by winning five straight duals. The win streak has vaulted Lehigh back into the NWCA Coaches poll at No. 24. Lehigh fell out of the rankings following the South Beach Duals, the Mountain Hawks' first time out of the top 25 since November 2013.
The graduation of Darian Cruz and an injury to Scott Parker has left junior Jordan Kutler as Lehigh's lone active All-American from last season. Kutler capped a 28-5 sophomore season by winning his first EIWA title last March and then gutted through an injury to finish sixth at 174 to earn All-America honors. He earned Lehigh's lone bonus point win at the NCAA Championships with a major decision in the consolation quarterfinals. The Sparta, N.J. native owns a 12-3 record this season and has won six straight bouts, with all six wins producing bonus points. Kutler's three losses this season have come to wrestlers currently ranked No. 1, 3 and 4 in the nation. The seventh-ranked Kutler will be tested over the next two weekends with potential matchups against wrestlers ranked No. 2, 5 and 6.
The return of three seniors to Lehigh's dual meet lineup has played a significant role in the Mountain Hawks' five-dual win streak. Cortlandt Schuyler, Gordon Wolf and Ryan Preisch all saw their first dual action of the season at the South Beach Duals and have wrestled well upon returning to action. Schuyler lost his first three bouts upon returning to dual action but has since won five straight, including the match-clinching sudden victory win over Cornell. Wolf has won six straight bouts, including three bonus point wins, while Preisch is 5-0 in dual competition as the only Mountain Hawk to go 4-0 at the South Beach Duals, while returning to the lineup with a major decision at Navy. Preisch has won nine straight bouts since suffering his lone loss this season in his final match at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic.
Arizona State brings a 4-6 dual record into this weekend's action. The Sun Devils will wrestle Lock Haven Friday in Red Lion, Pa., before visiting Bethlehem on Saturday. Arizona State is coming off a 20-13 win at Oregon State Sunday in its Pac-12 opener. The Sun Devils are heading to the eastern time zone for the second time in three weeks, as they went 2-2 at the Virginia Duals January 11-12 in Hampton, Va. In addition to Oregon State, Arizona State owns wins over South Dakota State, Oklahoma and Chattanooga. The Sun Devils also won the SIUE Cougar Clash and took sixth at the Midlands Championships. Arizona State has four wrestlers ranked in the latest InterMat polls, led by defending NCAA champion Zahid Valencia, who is ranked second at 174. Josh Maruca (149) and fifth-ranked Josh Shields (165) are returning to their home state. Former US National Team head coach Zeke Jones is in his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater.
Virginia Tech brings a 5-2 dual mark into this weekend's action. The Hokies will host Pitt in their ACC opener Friday night before visiting Lehigh on Sunday. In its most recent action, Virginia Tech won the team title at the Virginia Duals, going 3-0 with wins over Chattanooga, Old Dominion and Virginia. The Hokies also own dual wins over Princeton and West Virginia, while their losses were in November to Missouri and Northwestern. Virginia Tech also sent wrestlers to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle. Six Hokies are ranked by InterMat, led by David McFadden, who is sixth at 174. Bucknell transfer Tom Sleigh is seventh at 197 while Mekhi Lewis (165) and Zack Zavatsky (184) are both ranked eighth in their weight classes. Longtime Virginia Tech assistant Tony Robie is in his second season as the Hokies' head coach.
Lehigh and Arizona State will meet for the eighth time as the Sun Devils will visit Bethlehem for just the second time and the first since November 2005. The Mountain Hawks have won the last four duals in the series. Virginia Tech has won the last three duals against Lehigh to take a 3-2 lead in the all-time series. Lehigh is 2-0 versus Arizona State and 1-3 against Virginia Tech under Pat Santoro.
Saturday's dual versus Arizona State begins at 7 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall, while Sunday's match versus Virginia Tech will start at 2 p.m.
Lehigh will wrestle two duals for the fourth consecutive weekend as the Mountain Hawks head to Oklahoma for two duals Feb. 2 and 3. The trip will begin with a dual against Oklahoma Saturday Feb. 2 in Norman and will conclude with a visit to No. 3 Oklahoma State, Sunday Feb. 3 in Stillwater. The Mountain Hawks will be visiting Norman for the first time since December 2015 and Stillwater for the first time since December 2005. Lehigh will then be off from dual competition the weekend of Feb. 9-10.
The 2018-19 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Tickets are still available for both duals. Purchase a ticket for Saturday's match, where the doors will open early at 3 p.m. for the high school match between Bergen Catholic and Blair Academy. The Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club will be putting on a girls wrestling exhibition match at intermission of Sunday's Lehigh-Virginia Tech dual. Tickets to both duals can be purchased by visiting LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
Lehigh enjoyed a successful trip to the Maryland/Washington, D.C. areas as the Mountain Hawks defeated American and Navy to run their dual winning streak to five straight. The Mountain Hawks won the first six bouts in a 25-12 win at American on Jan. 19 and then won eight of 10 bouts with four major decisions to top Navy 28-6 the following afternoon. Competing against one of the nation's toughest dual schedules, Lehigh has now followed an 0-7 dual start by winning five straight duals. The win streak has vaulted Lehigh back into the NWCA Coaches poll at No. 24. Lehigh fell out of the rankings following the South Beach Duals, the Mountain Hawks' first time out of the top 25 since November 2013.
The graduation of Darian Cruz and an injury to Scott Parker has left junior Jordan Kutler as Lehigh's lone active All-American from last season. Kutler capped a 28-5 sophomore season by winning his first EIWA title last March and then gutted through an injury to finish sixth at 174 to earn All-America honors. He earned Lehigh's lone bonus point win at the NCAA Championships with a major decision in the consolation quarterfinals. The Sparta, N.J. native owns a 12-3 record this season and has won six straight bouts, with all six wins producing bonus points. Kutler's three losses this season have come to wrestlers currently ranked No. 1, 3 and 4 in the nation. The seventh-ranked Kutler will be tested over the next two weekends with potential matchups against wrestlers ranked No. 2, 5 and 6.
The return of three seniors to Lehigh's dual meet lineup has played a significant role in the Mountain Hawks' five-dual win streak. Cortlandt Schuyler, Gordon Wolf and Ryan Preisch all saw their first dual action of the season at the South Beach Duals and have wrestled well upon returning to action. Schuyler lost his first three bouts upon returning to dual action but has since won five straight, including the match-clinching sudden victory win over Cornell. Wolf has won six straight bouts, including three bonus point wins, while Preisch is 5-0 in dual competition as the only Mountain Hawk to go 4-0 at the South Beach Duals, while returning to the lineup with a major decision at Navy. Preisch has won nine straight bouts since suffering his lone loss this season in his final match at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic.
Arizona State brings a 4-6 dual record into this weekend's action. The Sun Devils will wrestle Lock Haven Friday in Red Lion, Pa., before visiting Bethlehem on Saturday. Arizona State is coming off a 20-13 win at Oregon State Sunday in its Pac-12 opener. The Sun Devils are heading to the eastern time zone for the second time in three weeks, as they went 2-2 at the Virginia Duals January 11-12 in Hampton, Va. In addition to Oregon State, Arizona State owns wins over South Dakota State, Oklahoma and Chattanooga. The Sun Devils also won the SIUE Cougar Clash and took sixth at the Midlands Championships. Arizona State has four wrestlers ranked in the latest InterMat polls, led by defending NCAA champion Zahid Valencia, who is ranked second at 174. Josh Maruca (149) and fifth-ranked Josh Shields (165) are returning to their home state. Former US National Team head coach Zeke Jones is in his fifth season as head coach at his alma mater.
Virginia Tech brings a 5-2 dual mark into this weekend's action. The Hokies will host Pitt in their ACC opener Friday night before visiting Lehigh on Sunday. In its most recent action, Virginia Tech won the team title at the Virginia Duals, going 3-0 with wins over Chattanooga, Old Dominion and Virginia. The Hokies also own dual wins over Princeton and West Virginia, while their losses were in November to Missouri and Northwestern. Virginia Tech also sent wrestlers to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle. Six Hokies are ranked by InterMat, led by David McFadden, who is sixth at 174. Bucknell transfer Tom Sleigh is seventh at 197 while Mekhi Lewis (165) and Zack Zavatsky (184) are both ranked eighth in their weight classes. Longtime Virginia Tech assistant Tony Robie is in his second season as the Hokies' head coach.
Lehigh and Arizona State will meet for the eighth time as the Sun Devils will visit Bethlehem for just the second time and the first since November 2005. The Mountain Hawks have won the last four duals in the series. Virginia Tech has won the last three duals against Lehigh to take a 3-2 lead in the all-time series. Lehigh is 2-0 versus Arizona State and 1-3 against Virginia Tech under Pat Santoro.
Saturday's dual versus Arizona State begins at 7 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall, while Sunday's match versus Virginia Tech will start at 2 p.m.
Lehigh will wrestle two duals for the fourth consecutive weekend as the Mountain Hawks head to Oklahoma for two duals Feb. 2 and 3. The trip will begin with a dual against Oklahoma Saturday Feb. 2 in Norman and will conclude with a visit to No. 3 Oklahoma State, Sunday Feb. 3 in Stillwater. The Mountain Hawks will be visiting Norman for the first time since December 2015 and Stillwater for the first time since December 2005. Lehigh will then be off from dual competition the weekend of Feb. 9-10.
The 2018-19 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
| Date: | January 26, 2019 |
| Opponent: | No. 23 Arizona State Sun Devils |
| First match: | 7:05 p.m. |
| Arena: | Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 5-7 overall, 4-1 EIWA |
| Arizona State's record: | 4-6 overall, 1-0 Pac-12 |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 5-2 |
| Streak: | Lehigh has won the last four duals |
| Television: | Service Electric 2 Sports (Channel 50/550) |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320 with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell beginning at 6:45 p.m. |
| Internet broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at LVFoxSports.com |
| Behind enemy lines: | http://www.thesundevils.com |
| Date: | January 27, 2019 |
| Opponent: | No. 12 Virginia Tech Hokies |
| First match: | 2:05 p.m. |
| Arena: | Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 5-7 overall, 4-1 EIWA |
| Virginia Tech's record: | 5-2 overall, 0-0 ACC |
| Series: | Virginia Tech leads 3-2 |
| Streak: | Virginia Tech has won the last three duals |
| Television: | Service Electric 2 Sports (Channel 2/502) |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320 beginning at 1:45 p.m. with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell |
| Internet broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at LVFoxSports.com |
| Behind enemy lines: | http://www.hokiesports.com |
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
125
/ Men's Wrestling
174
/ Men's Wrestling
133
/ Men's Wrestling
184
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
157/165
/ Men's Wrestling
285
/ Men's WrestlingLehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
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