Thursday, October 24
Bethlehem, Pa.
7:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Wrestle-offs
Lehigh to host annual Brown and White Wrestle-offs Thursday night
10/23/2019 4:47:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa – Just two weeks into the "official" start of preseason practice the Lehigh wrestling team will make its first public appearance with the annual Brown and White Wrestle-offs, Thursday inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The two-time defending EIWA Champions have been hard at work with head coach Pat Santoro and his staff putting together 12 matches as the Mountain Hawks will continue their preseason preparations by competing in front of the home fans for the first time.
"We're only a few weeks in, but things are going well," Santoro said of his team's preseason preparation. "Wrestle-offs are a week earlier than normal and we've had about two weeks of practice, but we're excited to see our guys go out and compete. I know they're getting tired of the grind of practice, so it will be exciting to see them compete."
Thursday's Wrestle-offs will be part of an ongoing evaluation of what the 2019-20 Mountain Hawks will eventually look like. The relative earliness of the public wrestle-offs, plus additional matches in the room and two early-season tournaments will all factor in what Lehigh's lineup may look like as the season heats up.
While returning All-Americans Jordan Kutler and Jordan Wood are not expected to wrestle Thursday, five members of Lehigh's true freshman class will wrestle for the first time inside Grace Hall.
Junior Brandon Paetzell, a NCAA qualifier at 133 last season, is moving down to 125 where he will face deferred freshman Mitchell Polito or sophomore Luke Resnick.
There will two bouts scheduled at 133 as sophomore Jaret Lane meets junior Joe Lobeck and true freshman Connor McGonagle squares off against Nick Farro.
At 141, senior Ryan Pomrinca will meet true freshman Malyke Hines.
One of the more interesting bouts of the evening may come at 149 where junior Luke Karam returns after missing most of last season due to injury. He moves up a weight class to face sophomore Jimmy Hoffman, who started five duals for the Mountain Hawks last season.
EIWA champion Josh Humphreys returns at 157 and will face deferred freshman A.J. Burkhart.
There will be two matches at 165 Thursday evening. Senior Chase Gallik will tangle with deferred freshman Brian Meyer at 165, followed by true freshman Luca Frinzi wrestling junior Trey Cornish.
Two matches will be contested at a catch weight in the middle to upper weights, with both bouts featuring a member of the true freshman class as Edmond Ruth takes on senior Kent Lane and Jake Logan faces. deferred freshman Andrew Shedleski.
Junior Chris Weiler is expected to wrestle 184 this season after bouncing between 184 and 197 in his first two years. He will take on sophomore Eli Grape.
The final bout of the evening will feature freshman Elijah Jones and junior Andrew McDonald at 197.
"Any time you compete, you're trying to create opportunities for yourself," Santoro said. "This is just one step of that. We want to see the guys go out and wrestle well tomorrow. It's an important part of that process."
The wrestle-offs get underway at 7 p.m. Thursday from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com. Tickets will also be available Thursday evening at Grace Hall.
For fans unable to make Thursday's wrestle-offs, audio of the matches will be streamed online at Lehighsports.com/watch.
Lehigh will send a contingent of wrestlers to the Nov. 3 Princeton Open and will also compete at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic, Nov. 10 in Troy, N.Y. The dual meet season begins when Lehigh hosts Oklahoma State Nov. 16 at Stabler Arena at 1 p.m. Tickets for that match and all Lehigh home duals can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
The 2019-20 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
Thursday's Matchups (subject to change)
Wt. – Brown vs White
125 – Brandon Paetzell vs. Mitchell Polito (or Luke Resnick)
133 – Jaret Lane vs. Joe Lobeck
133 – Connor McGonagle vs. Nick Farro
141 – Ryan Pomrinca vs. Malyke Hines
149 – Jimmy Hoffman vs. Luke Karam
157 – A.J. Burkhart vs. Josh Humphreys
165 – Chase Gallik vs. Brian Meyer
165 – Luca Frinzi vs. Trey Cornish
Edmond Ruth vs. Kent Lane
Jake Logan vs. Andrew Shedleski
184 – Chris Weiler vs. Eli Grape
197 – Elijah Jones vs. Andrew McDonald
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
"We're only a few weeks in, but things are going well," Santoro said of his team's preseason preparation. "Wrestle-offs are a week earlier than normal and we've had about two weeks of practice, but we're excited to see our guys go out and compete. I know they're getting tired of the grind of practice, so it will be exciting to see them compete."
Thursday's Wrestle-offs will be part of an ongoing evaluation of what the 2019-20 Mountain Hawks will eventually look like. The relative earliness of the public wrestle-offs, plus additional matches in the room and two early-season tournaments will all factor in what Lehigh's lineup may look like as the season heats up.
While returning All-Americans Jordan Kutler and Jordan Wood are not expected to wrestle Thursday, five members of Lehigh's true freshman class will wrestle for the first time inside Grace Hall.
Junior Brandon Paetzell, a NCAA qualifier at 133 last season, is moving down to 125 where he will face deferred freshman Mitchell Polito or sophomore Luke Resnick.
There will two bouts scheduled at 133 as sophomore Jaret Lane meets junior Joe Lobeck and true freshman Connor McGonagle squares off against Nick Farro.
At 141, senior Ryan Pomrinca will meet true freshman Malyke Hines.
One of the more interesting bouts of the evening may come at 149 where junior Luke Karam returns after missing most of last season due to injury. He moves up a weight class to face sophomore Jimmy Hoffman, who started five duals for the Mountain Hawks last season.
EIWA champion Josh Humphreys returns at 157 and will face deferred freshman A.J. Burkhart.
There will be two matches at 165 Thursday evening. Senior Chase Gallik will tangle with deferred freshman Brian Meyer at 165, followed by true freshman Luca Frinzi wrestling junior Trey Cornish.
Two matches will be contested at a catch weight in the middle to upper weights, with both bouts featuring a member of the true freshman class as Edmond Ruth takes on senior Kent Lane and Jake Logan faces. deferred freshman Andrew Shedleski.
Junior Chris Weiler is expected to wrestle 184 this season after bouncing between 184 and 197 in his first two years. He will take on sophomore Eli Grape.
The final bout of the evening will feature freshman Elijah Jones and junior Andrew McDonald at 197.
"Any time you compete, you're trying to create opportunities for yourself," Santoro said. "This is just one step of that. We want to see the guys go out and wrestle well tomorrow. It's an important part of that process."
The wrestle-offs get underway at 7 p.m. Thursday from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com. Tickets will also be available Thursday evening at Grace Hall.
For fans unable to make Thursday's wrestle-offs, audio of the matches will be streamed online at Lehighsports.com/watch.
Lehigh will send a contingent of wrestlers to the Nov. 3 Princeton Open and will also compete at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic, Nov. 10 in Troy, N.Y. The dual meet season begins when Lehigh hosts Oklahoma State Nov. 16 at Stabler Arena at 1 p.m. Tickets for that match and all Lehigh home duals can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
The 2019-20 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
Thursday's Matchups (subject to change)
Wt. – Brown vs White
125 – Brandon Paetzell vs. Mitchell Polito (or Luke Resnick)
133 – Jaret Lane vs. Joe Lobeck
133 – Connor McGonagle vs. Nick Farro
141 – Ryan Pomrinca vs. Malyke Hines
149 – Jimmy Hoffman vs. Luke Karam
157 – A.J. Burkhart vs. Josh Humphreys
165 – Chase Gallik vs. Brian Meyer
165 – Luca Frinzi vs. Trey Cornish
Edmond Ruth vs. Kent Lane
Jake Logan vs. Andrew Shedleski
184 – Chris Weiler vs. Eli Grape
197 – Elijah Jones vs. Andrew McDonald
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
165
/ Men's Wrestling
133
/ Men's Wrestling
165
/ Men's Wrestling
165/174
/ Men's Wrestling
184/197
/ Men's Wrestling
141
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
197
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
174
/ Men's Wrestling
133
/ Men's Wrestling
165
/ Men's Wrestling
133/141
/ Men's Wrestling
174/184
/ Men's Wrestling
197/285
/ Men's Wrestling
133/141
/ Men's Wrestling
157/165
/ Men's Wrestling
125
/ Men's Wrestling
125/133
/ Men's Wrestling
141
/ Men's Wrestling
125/133
/ Men's Wrestling
165/174
/ Men's Wrestling
184/197
/ Men's Wrestling
184
/ Men's Wrestling
285
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