Posted: November 13, 2005
STATE COLLEGE,
Pa. – It always seems to come town to the final bout whenever Lehigh and
Penn State get together and Sunday afternoon was no different. Joel Edwards of Penn State took down Lehigh’s Tom Curl with under 30 seconds remaining in their heavyweight bout to notch an 8-7 decision, as the 12th ranked Nittany Lions erased an eight point deficit with two bouts remaining to defeat No. 8 Lehigh 18-17 in the finals of the Pennsylvania State Dual Championships at Rec Hall. Each team won five bouts, but
Penn State scored a win by fall at 197 and then the win at heavyweight to take the match and improve to 3-0 on the season. Lehigh falls to 3-1 with the loss.
The dual opened with an exciting high scoring affair at 125. True freshman Matt Fisk battled a broken nose and a tough opponent in Nittany Lions freshman Brad Pataky, but Fisk scored five takedowns and a pair of escapes in a 13-9 win. The 133 pound bout featured plenty of offense as well, as Jake Strayer pulled Penn State even at 3-3 in the dual with a 15-12 win over Lehigh’s John Stout.
Cory Cooperman delivered Lehigh a bonus win at 141, scoring a takedown as time expired in a 9-1 win over DeWitt Driscoll. Penn State then climbed back within a point as James Woodall bested Matt Ciasulli 10-4.
Lehigh’s Derek Zinck and Penn State’s Nathan Galloway took part in a classic defensive struggle at 157. Each grappler scored an escape in regulation the bout went to sudden victory. The sudden victory period went without a score, then Zinck rode Galloway out in the first overtime period, before escaping in the second to pick up the victory and put the Mountain Hawks up 10-6 at the halfway point.
Troy Letters provided another bonus point for the Brown and White at 165, amassing over 4:30 of riding time in a 10-1 major decision over Brian Cantalupi.
Overtime was necessary once again at 174 as Penn State’s James Yonushonis scored a late third period takedown, then scored again in sudden victory to defeat Travis Frick 6-4. The Mountain Hawks then got three key points back as Dave Helfrich held off Neil Bretz 8-7.
Lehigh led by eight entering the bout at 197, but junior Paul Weibel missed on a foot sweep and was put on his back by Phil Davis, who secured a pin and got the Lions within two before the heavyweight bout. Curl raced to a five point lead in the finale, but after yielding the late two-point score, was unable to muster the escape needed to force overtime.
Earlier Sunday, Lehigh got to the finals with a dominating 50-6 win over NJCAA member Williamson and a 32-3 victory over Lock Haven.
The Mountain Hawks will return to the mat on Thursday night when they welcome No. 9 Arizona State to Stabler Arena at 7:00. For tickets, call (610) 7LU-GAME or visit the Lehigh ticket office located in Grace Hall.
Finals: Penn State 18 Lehigh 17
Weight | Match-up | Result |
| Score |
125 | Matt Fisk (LU) | Dec. | Brad Pataky (PSU) | 13-9 |
133 | Jake Strayer (PSU) | Dec. | John Stout (LU) | 15-12 |
141 | Cory Cooperman (LU) | Maj. dec. | DeWitt Driscoll (PSU) | 9-1 |
149 | James Woodall (PSU) | Dec. | Matt Ciasulli (LU) | 10-4 |
157 | Derek Zinck (LU) | Dec. | Nathan Galloway (PSU) | 2-1, o.t. |
165 | Troy Letters (LU) | Maj. dec. | Brian Cantalupi (PSU) | 10-1 |
174 | James Yonushonis (PSU) | Dec. | Travis Frick (LU) | 6-4 s.v. |
184 | David Helfrich (LU) | Dec. | Neil Bretz (PSU) | 8-7 |
197 | Phil Davis (PSU) | WBF | Paul Weibel (LU) | 5:20 |
285 | Joel Edwards (PSU) | Dec. | Tom Curl | 8-7 |
Semifinals: Lehigh 32 Lock Haven 3
Weight | Match-up | Result | | Score |
125 | Obenson Blanc (LH) | Dec. | Patrick Berger (LU) | 6-3 |
133 | John Stout (LU) | Dec. | Casey Moore (LH) | 10-4 |
141 | Cory Cooperman (LU) | Dec. | Clinton Shirk (LH) | 7-4 |
149 | Matt Ciasulli (LU) | Dec. | Joshua Medina (LH) | 5-2 |
157 | Derek Zinck (LU) | Dec. | Seth Martin (LH) | 5-3 |
165 | Troy Letters (LU) | WBF | Brock Jardine (LH) | 2:13 |
174 | Travis Frick (LU) | maj. dec. | Derrick Morgan (LH) | 14-5 |
184 | David Helfrich (LU) | maj. dec. | Josh Fisk (LH) | 12-2 |
197 | Paul Weibel (LU) | Dec. | Troy Charles (LH) | 10-3 |
285 | Dan Murrer (LU) | Dec. | Tim Meyers (LH) | 10-6 |
Quarterfinals: Lehigh 50 Williamson 6
Weight | Match-up | Result |
| Score |
125 | Matt Fisk (LU) | WBF | J.C. Crooks (W) | 1:40 |
133 | John Stout (LU) | Dec. | Michael Crain (W) | 10-4 |
141 | Cory Cooperman (LU) | WTF | Scott George (W) | 16-1, 3:32 |
149 | Matt Ciasulli (LU) | WBF | Robert Hinderer (W) | 1:32 |
157 | Derek Zinck (LU) | WBF | Brandon Connell (W) | 4:17 |
165 | Bradford Hurrell (W) | W | Forfeit | |
174 | Brian LaMay (LU) | WBF | Julius Fletcher (W) | 5:52 |
184 | David Helfrich (LU) | W | Forfeit | |
197 | Matt Cassidy (LU) | WBF | Jesse Strouse (W) | 0:51 |
285 | Tom Curl (LU) | W | Forfeit | |
Photo © 2005, Lehigh Athletics, Jeff Nolan