Sunday, January 27
Bethlehem, Pa.
2:00 PM
Lehigh University
9
vs
23
Virginia Tech
Photo by: Hunter Julius
Mountain Hawks' six dual win streak snapped by No. 12 Virginia Tech, 23-9
1/27/2019 5:08:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 24 Lehigh saw its six match winning streak come to an end as No. 12 Virginia Tech won seven bouts to top the Mountain Hawks 23-9 Sunday at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The visiting Hokies won the first four bouts by decision and Lehigh was never able to recover as the Mountain Hawks fall to 6-8 on the dual season.
"We knew we had to win at least two of the first five," Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro said. "We were hoping we could get two or three. I don't think the effort was there and effort is something you can always control."
The dual began at 125 where freshman Luke Resnick fell 5-1 to Joey Prata. The Hokie sophomore used a first period takedown and second period reversal plus more than four minutes of riding time.
Fourteenth-ranked Korbin Myers made it two straight for the visitors with a 4-1 decision over sophomore Brandon Paetzell at 133. Myers scored a first period takedown, and while leading 3-1 after two, fought off several quality shots from Paetzell in the third.
Mitch Moore made it three straight wins for Virginia tech, making a second period takedown stand in a 3-1 decision over junior Ryan Pomrinca at 141. The Hokies (7-2) extended their lead to 12-0 after Ryan Blees' 8-3 decision over senior Cortlandt Schuyler at 149.
"Our hand-fighting left a lot to be desired," Santoro said. "If you don't hand fight you're not going to set up your shots. I don't think we took a shot in the first period of the first four matches. It's hard to win in wrestling that way. Today was tough but we'll work on things for next week because we need to be ready next weekend."
Freshman Josh Humphreys got Lehigh on the board with a 6-1 win over B.C. LaPrade at 157. Humphreys scored takedowns in each of the first two periods and added a pair of escapes for his second win of the weekend and his fifth straight victory overall.
"Josh is getting better each week," Santoro said. "He's figuring things out. He's has a unique style. Once he gets his hand fighting down and starts finishing some shots he's going to be really hard to beat."
The lone bonus point win of the dual came at 165 as eighth-ranked Mekhi Lewis won a 22-7 technical fall over junior Kent Lane, who subbed for injured senior Gordon Wolf.
In the first of back-to-back matches pitting top eight opponents against one another, junior Jordan Kutler battled to a 4-2 decision over David McFadden at 174. Kutler's status was in doubt after suffering a minor injury Saturday night, but he fought through and broke a 1-1 tie with a third period takedown, keeping McFadden down for most of the remainder of the third period to earn the victory.
"This morning I didn't think he was going to wrestle but he came to us and said 'I'm wrestling,'" Santoro said. "He said he was 100 percent and that he was wrestling, and he went out and did a great job."
Lehigh looked for its second straight win at 184 as seventh-ranked senior Ryan Preisch met No. 8 Zack Zavatsky. Preisch escaped early in the third period to go up 2-1 but Zavatsky came back with a takedown and added two near fall points to earn a 6-2 decision.
At 197, Tom Sleigh scored a pair of first period takedowns on the way to a 7-2 decision over sophomore Chris Weiler.
Sophomore Jordan Wood closed out the dual with a 3-2 decision over Billy Miller in a battle of ranked heavyweights. Wood broke a 1-1 tie with a third period takedown.
The Mountain Hawks will return to the road next weekend for two duals in the state of Oklahoma. Lehigh will face Oklahoma Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) in Norman and will then face No. 3 Oklahoma State Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (CT) in Stillwater. Audio for both duals will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320 and LVFoxSports.com.
The 2018-19 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
No. 12 Virginia Tech 23, No. 24 Lehigh 9
125 – Joey Prata (VT) dec. Luke Resnick (Lehigh) 5-1
133 – Korbin Myers (VT) dec. Brandon Paetzell (Lehigh) 4-1
141 – Mitch Moore (VT) dec. Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) 3-1
149 – Ryan Blees (VT) dec. Cortlandt Schuyler (Lehigh) 8-3
157 – Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) dec. B.C. LaPrade (VT) 6-1
165 – Mekhi Lewis (VT) tech fall Kent Lane (Lehigh) 22-7, 7:00
174 – Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) dec. David McFadden (VT) 4-2
184 – Zack Zavatsky (VT) dec. Ryan Preisch (Lehigh) 6-2
197 – Tom Sleigh (VT) dec. Chris Weiler (Lehigh) 7-2
285 – Jordan Wood (Lehigh) dec. Billy Miller (VT) 3-2
Attendance – 1,769
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
"We knew we had to win at least two of the first five," Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro said. "We were hoping we could get two or three. I don't think the effort was there and effort is something you can always control."
The dual began at 125 where freshman Luke Resnick fell 5-1 to Joey Prata. The Hokie sophomore used a first period takedown and second period reversal plus more than four minutes of riding time.
Fourteenth-ranked Korbin Myers made it two straight for the visitors with a 4-1 decision over sophomore Brandon Paetzell at 133. Myers scored a first period takedown, and while leading 3-1 after two, fought off several quality shots from Paetzell in the third.
Mitch Moore made it three straight wins for Virginia tech, making a second period takedown stand in a 3-1 decision over junior Ryan Pomrinca at 141. The Hokies (7-2) extended their lead to 12-0 after Ryan Blees' 8-3 decision over senior Cortlandt Schuyler at 149.
"Our hand-fighting left a lot to be desired," Santoro said. "If you don't hand fight you're not going to set up your shots. I don't think we took a shot in the first period of the first four matches. It's hard to win in wrestling that way. Today was tough but we'll work on things for next week because we need to be ready next weekend."
Freshman Josh Humphreys got Lehigh on the board with a 6-1 win over B.C. LaPrade at 157. Humphreys scored takedowns in each of the first two periods and added a pair of escapes for his second win of the weekend and his fifth straight victory overall.
"Josh is getting better each week," Santoro said. "He's figuring things out. He's has a unique style. Once he gets his hand fighting down and starts finishing some shots he's going to be really hard to beat."
The lone bonus point win of the dual came at 165 as eighth-ranked Mekhi Lewis won a 22-7 technical fall over junior Kent Lane, who subbed for injured senior Gordon Wolf.
In the first of back-to-back matches pitting top eight opponents against one another, junior Jordan Kutler battled to a 4-2 decision over David McFadden at 174. Kutler's status was in doubt after suffering a minor injury Saturday night, but he fought through and broke a 1-1 tie with a third period takedown, keeping McFadden down for most of the remainder of the third period to earn the victory.
"This morning I didn't think he was going to wrestle but he came to us and said 'I'm wrestling,'" Santoro said. "He said he was 100 percent and that he was wrestling, and he went out and did a great job."
Lehigh looked for its second straight win at 184 as seventh-ranked senior Ryan Preisch met No. 8 Zack Zavatsky. Preisch escaped early in the third period to go up 2-1 but Zavatsky came back with a takedown and added two near fall points to earn a 6-2 decision.
At 197, Tom Sleigh scored a pair of first period takedowns on the way to a 7-2 decision over sophomore Chris Weiler.
Sophomore Jordan Wood closed out the dual with a 3-2 decision over Billy Miller in a battle of ranked heavyweights. Wood broke a 1-1 tie with a third period takedown.
The Mountain Hawks will return to the road next weekend for two duals in the state of Oklahoma. Lehigh will face Oklahoma Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) in Norman and will then face No. 3 Oklahoma State Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (CT) in Stillwater. Audio for both duals will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320 and LVFoxSports.com.
The 2018-19 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
No. 12 Virginia Tech 23, No. 24 Lehigh 9
125 – Joey Prata (VT) dec. Luke Resnick (Lehigh) 5-1
133 – Korbin Myers (VT) dec. Brandon Paetzell (Lehigh) 4-1
141 – Mitch Moore (VT) dec. Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) 3-1
149 – Ryan Blees (VT) dec. Cortlandt Schuyler (Lehigh) 8-3
157 – Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) dec. B.C. LaPrade (VT) 6-1
165 – Mekhi Lewis (VT) tech fall Kent Lane (Lehigh) 22-7, 7:00
174 – Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) dec. David McFadden (VT) 4-2
184 – Zack Zavatsky (VT) dec. Ryan Preisch (Lehigh) 6-2
197 – Tom Sleigh (VT) dec. Chris Weiler (Lehigh) 7-2
285 – Jordan Wood (Lehigh) dec. Billy Miller (VT) 3-2
Attendance – 1,769
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
157
/ Men's Wrestling
174
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
133
/ Men's Wrestling
141
/ Men's Wrestling
184
/ Men's Wrestling
125/133
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
184/197
/ Men's Wrestling
157/165
/ Men's Wrestling
285
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