Lehighsports.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Lehigh senior Cory Cooperman scored the decisive takedown with just two seconds remaining in the sudden victory period to defeat Pittsburgh’s Ronald Tarquinio 3-1 to capture the 141 pound title at the third annual Southern Scuffle, Friday night at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center. Cooperman captured Lehigh’s only championship, while a total of five Mountain Hawks placed in the event. Lehigh finished sixth in the team standings, despite not fielding wrestlers in two weight classes, and suffering injuries in two others.

“Generally I thought the guys wrestled well, although at times we seemed to be off a step or two,” said head coach Greg Strobel. “The injuries to (Troy) Letters and (Jeff) Santo hurt us and we were down two weights to begin with, but Cooperman did a good job and won a great match in the finals. To place sixth in this tournament is very respectable.

Cooperman advanced to the finals with a pair of bonus wins earlier in the day Friday. In the finals, Lehigh’s top seed was matched up with the seventh seeded Tarquinio. Each wrestler mustered an escape in regulation, and then in the sudden victory period Cooperman countered a Tarquinio shot and earned the winning takedown with just two seconds on the clock.

Fellow senior Travis Frick was Lehigh’s next highest finisher placing fourth at 174. Frick wrestled well, but ran into the top ranked wrestler at his weight class in Missouri’s Ben Askren who rolled to a 23-8 technical fall over Frick.

Junior Paul Weibel had two of Friday’s most exciting bouts. In the fifth round consolation he scored a defensive fall over Rider’s T.J. Morrison after being reversed moments before. In his next match, he trailed Edinboro’s Joe Fendone with under 20 seconds left but somehow rallied to score a five point move to win the bout 6-1. Weibel was forced to default with an injury in his next match and had to settle for sixth place.

At 184, David Helfrich battled through the consolation brackets to finish seventh, going 2-1 on Friday, including a 14-5 major decision in the seventh place match. Matt Ciasulli was the fifth Lehigh placewinner, taking eighth at 149 pounds. Of the Mountain Hawks who made it to Friday, only freshman Trevor Chinn and junior Matt Cassidy failed to place.

Complete Lehigh results from Friday can be found below. For complete tournament results, visit the link above.

Minnesota rolled to the team title for the second straight year, amassing 192 points, 43 more than second place Missouri. The Golden Gophers had four individual champions, led by heavyweight Cole Konrad, who was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.

The Mountain Hawks will return to the mat on Friday, January 6 when they resume dual competition by welcoming No. 12 Penn State to Stabler Arena in a match-up of top 15 teams in one of eastern wrestling’s oldest rivalries. For tickets, call (610) 7LU-GAME or visit the Lehigh ticket office located in Grace Hall during normal business hours.

Championship Finals

Quarterfinals

Fourth Round Consolations

Fifth Round Consolations                    

Semifinals

Sixth Round Consolations                  

Seventh Round Consolations

Seventh Place Match              

Third Place Match

Team Standings

Photos © 2005, Lehigh Athletics, Jeff Nolan