Thursday, October 28
Bethlehem, Pa.
7:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Brown and White Wrestle-Offs
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Youth And Depth On Display As Lehigh Welcomes Back Fans For Brown and White Wrestle-offs
10/28/2021 10:50:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The fans returned to Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall for the first time since February 2020 and the 1,131 in attendance were treated to 14 bouts as Lehigh held its Brown and White Wrestle-offs Thursday evening.
Early on, youth appeared to be served as wrestlers in the younger class won five of the first six bouts. Younger wrestlers won eight of 13 bouts overall where wrestlers weren't part of the same class. Sixteen first or second year Mountain Hawks competed Thursday night. For many of the newcomers it was the first time competing in Grace Hall, or at least competing in Grace Hall with fans in attendance.
"It was fun to have people here watching wrestle-offs in person," Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro said. "Obviously way different than last year. The matches were really competitive. Like with most wrestle offs you wish there was a little more action, but the guys know each other so well."
The action began with two of Lehigh's returning EIWA champions in action. At 125, junior Jaret Lane dropped a 4-2 decision to freshman Sheldon Seymour, with Seymour opening the third period with a reversal and later adding a takedown.
Freshman Malyke Hines followed with the first of three major decisions on the evening as he posted a 10-0 major decision over junior Satoshi Abe at 133.
Two bouts at 149 followed, with the younger wrestler capturing both. The first matchup was highlighted by a big six-point move in the third period as freshman Manzona Bryant IV took junior Jimmy Hoffman to his back. The six points helped Bryant to a 10-3 decision. True freshman Max Brignola then followed with three takedowns in an 8-4 decision over third-year Paul Watkins.
Second year freshman Tyler Sung was the first of the older wrestlers to win his bout on the night as he defeated true freshman Patrick Edmondson 9-4 in the first of two bouts at 157. Sung had two takedowns and a reversal, plus a penalty point, escape and riding time in his victory. In the second bout at 157, true freshman Zac Martin used takedowns in the first and third periods plus a second period rideout to defeat junior JT Cooley 5-1.
A tight matchup at 165 saw sophomore Brian Meyer defeat second year freshman Thayne Lawrence 5-3 on the strength of takedowns in the second and third periods.
At 174, third-year freshman Jake Logan took a majority of the shots, but it was second-year Connor Herceg converting on the only takedown of the bout. The score came in the second period and was the difference in a 3-2 decision in Herceg's favor.
Sophomore AJ Burkhart bumped up three weight classes from 157 to 184 and scored a late takedown to claim a 3-2 decision over freshman Jack Wilt.
In a matchup at 184/197 freshman JT Davis scored takedowns in the first and third periods to defeat junior Eli Grape 6-1.
There were two bouts at heavyweight. The first saw junior Victor Lacombe post a 6-3 decision over freshman TJ Moore. True freshman Nathan Taylor then followed with a 12-1 major decision over second-year Karam Chakif. Taylor dumped Chakif to his back for a takedown and two point near fall early on and never looked back.Gallery: (10-28-2021) Brown and White Wrestle-offs, 10/28/21
The third major decision of the night came at 141 where junior Dan Moran defeated freshman Matt Rodriquez 9-1.
The final bout of the evening was a hybrid 141/149 match up with Steven Storm claiming a battle of second year freshmen over Drew Munch 8-5.
Prior to Thursday night's Brown and White Wrestle-offs, Lehigh celebrated the life of former coach and administrator Greg Strobel, who passed away in October 2020. The celebration, hosted by Mike Caruso, featured remarks from Lehigh Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett, head coach Pat Santoro, former wrestler Travis Doto and Strobel's daughters Jennifer and Christine.
"Losing Greg last year was really hard," Santoro said. "Everyone that was here today – he brought those people here. He connected all those pieces. He was special to this program and special to me."
The Mountain Hawks will open the dual meet season with two duals in Corvallis, Ore. Nov. 6. Lehigh will face Campbell at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and then will face host Oregon State at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.
The 2021-22 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
125 – Sheldon Seymour (Brown) dec. Jaret Lane (White) 4-2
133 – Malyke Hines (White) major dec. Satoshi Abe (Brown) 10-0
149 – Manzona Bryant IV (White) dec. Jimmy Hoffman (Brown) 10-3
149 – Max Brignola (White) dec. Paul Watkins (Brown) 8-4
157 – Tyler Sung (Brown) dec. Patrick Edmondson (White) 9-4
157 – Zac Martin (White) dec. JT Cooley (Brown) 5-1
165 – Brian Meyer (Brown) dec. Thayne Lawrence (White) 5-3
174 – Connor Herceg (White) dec. Jake Logan (Brown) 3-2
184 – AJ Burkhart (Brown) dec. Jack Wilt (White) 3-2
184/197 – JT Davis (White) dec. Eli Grape (Brown) 6-1
285 – Victor Lacombe (Brown) dec. TJ Moore (White) 6-3
285 – Nathan Taylor (Brown) major dec. Karam Chakif (White) 12-1
141 – Dan Moran (Brown) major dec. Matt Rodriquez (White) 9-1
141/149 – Steven Storm (White) dec. Drew Munch (Brown) 8-5
Attendance – 1,131
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Early on, youth appeared to be served as wrestlers in the younger class won five of the first six bouts. Younger wrestlers won eight of 13 bouts overall where wrestlers weren't part of the same class. Sixteen first or second year Mountain Hawks competed Thursday night. For many of the newcomers it was the first time competing in Grace Hall, or at least competing in Grace Hall with fans in attendance.
"It was fun to have people here watching wrestle-offs in person," Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro said. "Obviously way different than last year. The matches were really competitive. Like with most wrestle offs you wish there was a little more action, but the guys know each other so well."
The action began with two of Lehigh's returning EIWA champions in action. At 125, junior Jaret Lane dropped a 4-2 decision to freshman Sheldon Seymour, with Seymour opening the third period with a reversal and later adding a takedown.
Freshman Malyke Hines followed with the first of three major decisions on the evening as he posted a 10-0 major decision over junior Satoshi Abe at 133.
Two bouts at 149 followed, with the younger wrestler capturing both. The first matchup was highlighted by a big six-point move in the third period as freshman Manzona Bryant IV took junior Jimmy Hoffman to his back. The six points helped Bryant to a 10-3 decision. True freshman Max Brignola then followed with three takedowns in an 8-4 decision over third-year Paul Watkins.
Second year freshman Tyler Sung was the first of the older wrestlers to win his bout on the night as he defeated true freshman Patrick Edmondson 9-4 in the first of two bouts at 157. Sung had two takedowns and a reversal, plus a penalty point, escape and riding time in his victory. In the second bout at 157, true freshman Zac Martin used takedowns in the first and third periods plus a second period rideout to defeat junior JT Cooley 5-1.
A tight matchup at 165 saw sophomore Brian Meyer defeat second year freshman Thayne Lawrence 5-3 on the strength of takedowns in the second and third periods.
At 174, third-year freshman Jake Logan took a majority of the shots, but it was second-year Connor Herceg converting on the only takedown of the bout. The score came in the second period and was the difference in a 3-2 decision in Herceg's favor.
Sophomore AJ Burkhart bumped up three weight classes from 157 to 184 and scored a late takedown to claim a 3-2 decision over freshman Jack Wilt.
In a matchup at 184/197 freshman JT Davis scored takedowns in the first and third periods to defeat junior Eli Grape 6-1.
There were two bouts at heavyweight. The first saw junior Victor Lacombe post a 6-3 decision over freshman TJ Moore. True freshman Nathan Taylor then followed with a 12-1 major decision over second-year Karam Chakif. Taylor dumped Chakif to his back for a takedown and two point near fall early on and never looked back.
The third major decision of the night came at 141 where junior Dan Moran defeated freshman Matt Rodriquez 9-1.
The final bout of the evening was a hybrid 141/149 match up with Steven Storm claiming a battle of second year freshmen over Drew Munch 8-5.
Prior to Thursday night's Brown and White Wrestle-offs, Lehigh celebrated the life of former coach and administrator Greg Strobel, who passed away in October 2020. The celebration, hosted by Mike Caruso, featured remarks from Lehigh Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett, head coach Pat Santoro, former wrestler Travis Doto and Strobel's daughters Jennifer and Christine.
"Losing Greg last year was really hard," Santoro said. "Everyone that was here today – he brought those people here. He connected all those pieces. He was special to this program and special to me."
The Mountain Hawks will open the dual meet season with two duals in Corvallis, Ore. Nov. 6. Lehigh will face Campbell at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and then will face host Oregon State at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.
The 2021-22 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
125 – Sheldon Seymour (Brown) dec. Jaret Lane (White) 4-2
133 – Malyke Hines (White) major dec. Satoshi Abe (Brown) 10-0
149 – Manzona Bryant IV (White) dec. Jimmy Hoffman (Brown) 10-3
149 – Max Brignola (White) dec. Paul Watkins (Brown) 8-4
157 – Tyler Sung (Brown) dec. Patrick Edmondson (White) 9-4
157 – Zac Martin (White) dec. JT Cooley (Brown) 5-1
165 – Brian Meyer (Brown) dec. Thayne Lawrence (White) 5-3
174 – Connor Herceg (White) dec. Jake Logan (Brown) 3-2
184 – AJ Burkhart (Brown) dec. Jack Wilt (White) 3-2
184/197 – JT Davis (White) dec. Eli Grape (Brown) 6-1
285 – Victor Lacombe (Brown) dec. TJ Moore (White) 6-3
285 – Nathan Taylor (Brown) major dec. Karam Chakif (White) 12-1
141 – Dan Moran (Brown) major dec. Matt Rodriquez (White) 9-1
141/149 – Steven Storm (White) dec. Drew Munch (Brown) 8-5
Attendance – 1,131
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
133
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
184
/ Men's Wrestling
285
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
197
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
184
/ Men's Wrestling
165
/ Men's Wrestling
133
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
285
/ Men's Wrestling
125
/ Men's Wrestling
165
/ Men's Wrestling
174
/ Men's Wrestling
149/157
/ Men's Wrestling
165
/ Men's Wrestling
285
/ Men's Wrestling
141
/ Men's Wrestling
141
/ Men's Wrestling
133/141
/ Men's Wrestling
125
/ Men's Wrestling
141
/ Men's Wrestling
157
/ Men's Wrestling
285
/ Men's Wrestling
149
/ Men's Wrestling
184
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Wednesday, October 30
