Friday, March 22
Kansas City, Mo.
8:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Matt Hawley
Crookham Falls Short In Semis, Lehigh Crowns Three All-Americans In Kansas City
3/22/2024 11:38:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
KANSAS CITY – First-year Ryan Crookham fell short in his bid to win an NCAA Championship Friday night at T-Mobile Arena. Crookham was bested in his semifinal match by Cornell's Vito Arujau, who defeated Crookham for the first time in three tries this season.
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Lehigh went 2-1 in Friday night's blood round, crowning two additional All-Americans who will join Crookham in Saturday morning's medal round. First-year Luke Stanich went 4-0 Friday to solidify a top six place at 125, while junior Michael Beard won his round of 12 match to secure his second career All-America medal.
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The Mountain Hawks finished session four with 31 points, good for 15th place.
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Lehigh's three All-Americans are its most at a NCAA Tournament since 2019 when the Mountain Hawks also crowned three. Crookham and Stanich are the 10th and 11th first-year All-Americans in program history with Stanich the first true first-year All-American for Lehigh since Darian Cruz in 2014.
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In Crookham's semifinal match, Arujau scored a pair of first period takedowns and never looked back in a 13-3 major decision. Arujau added single takedowns in the second and third periods while Crookham was unable to get going offensively. Crookham will wrestle Evan Frost of Iowa State in the consolation semifinals
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After two wins Friday morning, Stanich met returning NCAA finalist Matt Ramos of Purdue in the blood round at 125. After a scoreless first period, Stanich escaped in the second and then used a strong ride in the third to close out the victory. Stanich picked up a pair of late near fall points and added riding time advantage to close out a 4-0 decision.
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In the consolation quarterfinals, Stanich won a 9-0 major decision over Jore Volk of Wyoming, scoring takedowns in the second and third periods while again showing dominance from the top position. Stanich will face Wisconsin's Eric Barnett in the consolation semifinals.
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Beard secured his spot on the podium at 197 with an 8-0 major decision over Andy Smith of Virginia Tech. Beard scored takedowns in each of the first two periods plus an escape and riding time to earn his second career All-America medal. He finished seventh in 2021 for Penn State. Beard lost his next match to Stephen Buchanan of Oklahoma and will face Stephen Little of Little Rock on Saturday in the seventh place match.
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The major decision win for Beard in the blood round was his 27th bonus point win of the season, tying him with Pete Yozzo (1986) and Troy Letters (2007) for Lehigh's single season bonus win record.
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Nathan Taylor suffered a heartbreaking end to his sophomore season, dropping an overtime decision for the second time on Friday. Taylor led Campbell's Taye Ghadiali 4-1 and was riding in the third when the Camel corner threw a challenge brick to gain a fresh restart. Off the restart, Ghadiali escaped and was able to take Taylor down in the final seconds, with Taylor's riding time advantage sending the match to sudden victory tied 5-5. Ghadiali was able to score early in sudden victory to claim the 8-5 decision. Taylor's sophomore season ends at 25-5.
ÂGallery: (3-22-2024) 2024 NCAA Wrestling Session 4
Penn State has a commanding lead in the team race with 148 points. Michigan is second with 64.5 followed by Iowa with 60.
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Lehigh's three All-Americans will wrestle in the medal round Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT. The medal round will be televised on ESPNU with streaming coverage of every mat on ESPN+.
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The 2023-24 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
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125 – No. 2 Luke Stanich
Rd. of 32: major dec. No. 31 Tyler Klinsky (Rider) 11-2
Rd. of 16: L by dec. No. 15 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 4-1, sv
Second round consolation: dec. No. 16 Dean Peterson (Rutgers) 8-1
Third round consolation: dec. No. 7 Jakob Camacho (NC State) 4-1
Fourth round consolation: dec. No. 4 Matt Ramos (Purdue) 4-0
Consolation quarterfinal: major dec. No. 5 Jore Volk (Wyoming) 9-0
Consolation semifinal: No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin)
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133 – No. 2 Ryan Crookham
Rd. of 32: dec. No. 31 Maximillian Leete (American) 4-3
Rd. of 16: dec. No. 15 Brody Teske (Iowa) 8-3
Quarterfinal: dec. No. 7 Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) 4-2
Semifinal: L by major dec. No. 6 Vito Arujau (Cornell) 13-3
Consolation semifinal: No. 8 Evan Frost (Iowa State)
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197 – No. 4 Michael Beard
Rd. of 32: tech fall No. 29 Justin Rademacher (Oregon State) 26-10, 4:02
Rd. of 16: major dec. No. 20 Evan Bockman (Utah Valley) 12-3
Quarterfinal: L by dec. No. 12 Rocky Elam (Missouri) 8-2
Fourth round consolation: major dec. No. 26 Andy Smith (Virginia Tech) 8-0
Consolation quarterfinal: L by major dec. No. 8 Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma) 12-1
Seventh place match: No. 9 Stephen Little (Little Rock)
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285 – No. 5 Nathan Taylor
Rd. of 32: dec. No. 28 Trevor Tinker (Cal Poly) 11-4
Rd. of 16: dec. No. 12 Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State) 6-1
Quarterfinal: L by dec. No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) 4-1, sv
Fourth round consolation: L by dec. No. 7 Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) 8-5, sv
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Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on X/Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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Lehigh went 2-1 in Friday night's blood round, crowning two additional All-Americans who will join Crookham in Saturday morning's medal round. First-year Luke Stanich went 4-0 Friday to solidify a top six place at 125, while junior Michael Beard won his round of 12 match to secure his second career All-America medal.
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The Mountain Hawks finished session four with 31 points, good for 15th place.
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Lehigh's three All-Americans are its most at a NCAA Tournament since 2019 when the Mountain Hawks also crowned three. Crookham and Stanich are the 10th and 11th first-year All-Americans in program history with Stanich the first true first-year All-American for Lehigh since Darian Cruz in 2014.
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In Crookham's semifinal match, Arujau scored a pair of first period takedowns and never looked back in a 13-3 major decision. Arujau added single takedowns in the second and third periods while Crookham was unable to get going offensively. Crookham will wrestle Evan Frost of Iowa State in the consolation semifinals
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After two wins Friday morning, Stanich met returning NCAA finalist Matt Ramos of Purdue in the blood round at 125. After a scoreless first period, Stanich escaped in the second and then used a strong ride in the third to close out the victory. Stanich picked up a pair of late near fall points and added riding time advantage to close out a 4-0 decision.
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In the consolation quarterfinals, Stanich won a 9-0 major decision over Jore Volk of Wyoming, scoring takedowns in the second and third periods while again showing dominance from the top position. Stanich will face Wisconsin's Eric Barnett in the consolation semifinals.
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Beard secured his spot on the podium at 197 with an 8-0 major decision over Andy Smith of Virginia Tech. Beard scored takedowns in each of the first two periods plus an escape and riding time to earn his second career All-America medal. He finished seventh in 2021 for Penn State. Beard lost his next match to Stephen Buchanan of Oklahoma and will face Stephen Little of Little Rock on Saturday in the seventh place match.
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The major decision win for Beard in the blood round was his 27th bonus point win of the season, tying him with Pete Yozzo (1986) and Troy Letters (2007) for Lehigh's single season bonus win record.
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Nathan Taylor suffered a heartbreaking end to his sophomore season, dropping an overtime decision for the second time on Friday. Taylor led Campbell's Taye Ghadiali 4-1 and was riding in the third when the Camel corner threw a challenge brick to gain a fresh restart. Off the restart, Ghadiali escaped and was able to take Taylor down in the final seconds, with Taylor's riding time advantage sending the match to sudden victory tied 5-5. Ghadiali was able to score early in sudden victory to claim the 8-5 decision. Taylor's sophomore season ends at 25-5.
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Penn State has a commanding lead in the team race with 148 points. Michigan is second with 64.5 followed by Iowa with 60.
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Lehigh's three All-Americans will wrestle in the medal round Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT. The medal round will be televised on ESPNU with streaming coverage of every mat on ESPN+.
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The 2023-24 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
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125 – No. 2 Luke Stanich
Rd. of 32: major dec. No. 31 Tyler Klinsky (Rider) 11-2
Rd. of 16: L by dec. No. 15 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 4-1, sv
Second round consolation: dec. No. 16 Dean Peterson (Rutgers) 8-1
Third round consolation: dec. No. 7 Jakob Camacho (NC State) 4-1
Fourth round consolation: dec. No. 4 Matt Ramos (Purdue) 4-0
Consolation quarterfinal: major dec. No. 5 Jore Volk (Wyoming) 9-0
Consolation semifinal: No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin)
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133 – No. 2 Ryan Crookham
Rd. of 32: dec. No. 31 Maximillian Leete (American) 4-3
Rd. of 16: dec. No. 15 Brody Teske (Iowa) 8-3
Quarterfinal: dec. No. 7 Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) 4-2
Semifinal: L by major dec. No. 6 Vito Arujau (Cornell) 13-3
Consolation semifinal: No. 8 Evan Frost (Iowa State)
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197 – No. 4 Michael Beard
Rd. of 32: tech fall No. 29 Justin Rademacher (Oregon State) 26-10, 4:02
Rd. of 16: major dec. No. 20 Evan Bockman (Utah Valley) 12-3
Quarterfinal: L by dec. No. 12 Rocky Elam (Missouri) 8-2
Fourth round consolation: major dec. No. 26 Andy Smith (Virginia Tech) 8-0
Consolation quarterfinal: L by major dec. No. 8 Stephen Buchanan (Oklahoma) 12-1
Seventh place match: No. 9 Stephen Little (Little Rock)
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285 – No. 5 Nathan Taylor
Rd. of 32: dec. No. 28 Trevor Tinker (Cal Poly) 11-4
Rd. of 16: dec. No. 12 Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State) 6-1
Quarterfinal: L by dec. No. 4 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State) 4-1, sv
Fourth round consolation: L by dec. No. 7 Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) 8-5, sv
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Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on X/Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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Players Mentioned
197
/ Men's Wrestling
133
/ Men's Wrestling
125/133
/ Men's Wrestling
285
/ Men's WrestlingLehigh Sports Central: Wrestling
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