
Photo by: Matt Hawley
Lehigh's Three All-Americans Finish Up Action In Kansas City
3/23/2024 1:52:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
KANSAS CITY – Lehigh's three All-Americans wrapped up action at the NCAA Championships with Saturday's medal round at T-Mobile Center. First-year Ryan Crookham led the way, winning both of his bouts on Saturday to claim third place at 133 pounds. True first-year Luke Stanich went 1-1 to claim fifth place at 125 and junior Michael Beard dropped his lone bout to finish in eighth place at 197.
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The Mountain Hawks scored 36.5 points in the three-day tournament and finished in 15th place in the team standings.
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Crookham began his day with a 4-1 decision over Iowa State's Evan Frost in the consolation semifinals, thanks to a first period takedown. In the third place bout, Crookham had a rematch with Nasir Bailey of Little Rock, who he defeated in Friday's semifinals. A second period escape and subsequent takedown gave Crookham a 4-0 lead after two periods. Bailey scored a takedown in the final seconds, but Crookham held on for a 4-3 decision. Crookham completes his first year of eligibility with a 23-1 record.
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Stanich's day began with a 9-1 loss to Eric Barnett of Wisconsin, but he bounced back with a 5-1 win over Nebraska's Caleb Smith to place fifth. Trailing 1-0 in the second period, Stanich scored a takedown and rode out the remainder of the period. A third period escape and riding time helped Stanich avenge his round of 16 defeat from Thursday night. Stanich concludes his first year with a 25-4 record.
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Beard finished in eighth place to complete his first podium finish for the Mountain Hawks. He dropped a 10-3 decision to Stephen Little of Little Rock in the seventh place match, with Little scoring a pair of takedowns in the second period and one in the third. Beard went 29-4 in his junior season and tied Lehigh's single season record with 27 bonus point victories.
ÂGallery: (3-23-2024) 2024 NCAA Wrestling Session 5
Penn State wrapped up its third consecutive team title during Friday's evening session and secured the tournament scoring record with 172.5 points.Â
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Lehigh is expected to return seven of its eight NCAA qualifiers, only losing Jake Logan to graduation.
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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 – 5th place
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: L by major dec. No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) 9-1
Fifth place match: dec. No. 15 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 5-1
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133 – No. 2 Ryan Crookham – 3rd place
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: dec. No. 8 Evan Frost (Iowa State) 4-1
Third place match: dec. No. 7 Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) 4-3
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197 – No. 4 Michael Beard – 8th place
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: L by dec. No. 9 Stephen Little (Little Rock) 10-3
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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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The Mountain Hawks scored 36.5 points in the three-day tournament and finished in 15th place in the team standings.
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Crookham began his day with a 4-1 decision over Iowa State's Evan Frost in the consolation semifinals, thanks to a first period takedown. In the third place bout, Crookham had a rematch with Nasir Bailey of Little Rock, who he defeated in Friday's semifinals. A second period escape and subsequent takedown gave Crookham a 4-0 lead after two periods. Bailey scored a takedown in the final seconds, but Crookham held on for a 4-3 decision. Crookham completes his first year of eligibility with a 23-1 record.
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Stanich's day began with a 9-1 loss to Eric Barnett of Wisconsin, but he bounced back with a 5-1 win over Nebraska's Caleb Smith to place fifth. Trailing 1-0 in the second period, Stanich scored a takedown and rode out the remainder of the period. A third period escape and riding time helped Stanich avenge his round of 16 defeat from Thursday night. Stanich concludes his first year with a 25-4 record.
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Beard finished in eighth place to complete his first podium finish for the Mountain Hawks. He dropped a 10-3 decision to Stephen Little of Little Rock in the seventh place match, with Little scoring a pair of takedowns in the second period and one in the third. Beard went 29-4 in his junior season and tied Lehigh's single season record with 27 bonus point victories.
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Penn State wrapped up its third consecutive team title during Friday's evening session and secured the tournament scoring record with 172.5 points.Â
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Lehigh is expected to return seven of its eight NCAA qualifiers, only losing Jake Logan to graduation.
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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 – 5th place
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: L by major dec. No. 10 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) 9-1
Fifth place match: dec. No. 15 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) 5-1
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133 – No. 2 Ryan Crookham – 3rd place
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: dec. No. 8 Evan Frost (Iowa State) 4-1
Third place match: dec. No. 7 Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) 4-3
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197 – No. 4 Michael Beard – 8th place
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: L by dec. No. 9 Stephen Little (Little Rock) 10-3
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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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