The Lehigh wrestling team is back on the mats in preparation for the 2008-09 season. This season marks the 100th season of wrestling at Lehigh, and the centennial campaign is officially underway as the team, under first year head coach Pat Santoro, began preseason practice on Tuesday with a workout in the Sheridan Wrestling Room, located in the Gerry Leeman Wrestling Complex, inside Taylor Gym.

Lehigh season ticket holders and fans who plan on attending the 2009 NCAA Wrestling Championships, March 19-21 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, and wish to purchase tickets through Lehigh are advised to respond to the Lehigh Ticket Office with payment information (MasterCard or Visa preferred, check or cash also accepted) before Thursday September 18. Lehigh recognizes that this is a very short sales period, but the NCAA has accelerated its timeline, and Lehigh Athletics just recently learned of the institutional ticket deadline and prices. The quantity of tickets that Lehigh requests will be directly based on the number of orders we receive by the September 18 deadline. 

The newest season of Lehigh Sports Magazine kicks off Monday night, September 1 on WFMZ-TV, channel 69.  For nearly 15 years, this half-hour show has been delivering Lehigh fans interviews with every head coach, special player appearances, highlights, and much more.  The Lehigh Sports Magazine can be seen every Monday night in the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, and western New Jersey at 8:30 p.m. on WFMZ-TV.  WFMZ is located on Service Electric Cable TV dial position 8.

Lehigh will celebrate its 100th season of wrestling in 2008-09 and head coach Pat Santoro has announced the Mountain Hawks’ schedule for the centennial campaign. The Brown and White will face a challenging slate that features ten home duals and five matches against teams that finished in the top 20 at last year’s NCAA Championships. Lehigh will also make return trips to the Journeymen/Brute Northeast Duals and the Virginia Duals; and will make its first trip to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational since 2001.

Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro has announced the addition of John Hughes to the Mountain Hawks’ coaching staff for the 2008-09 season. Hughes, a three-time All-American and former NCAA Champion at Penn State, comes to Lehigh after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater. He will work alongside Santoro and former Lehigh All-American Brad Dillon, who joined the staff last month.