Posted: 01/19/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 15 Lehigh closes out its three match home stand with dual meets against a pair of EIWA foes in No. 24 Rutgers Friday at Stabler Arena in the annual Billy Sheridan Memorial Dual and the Bison of Bucknell Saturday at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Lehigh enjoyed a successful return home last weekend, downing Navy 28-6. The following day, Lehigh crowned six champions and had nine place winners at the Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic at Millersville. Five of Lehigh’s champions from Sunday are listed among Lehigh’s probable starters, including senior Zach Rey, who picked up his 100th career victory on Sunday en route to the heavyweight title.
Rey became the 12th wrestler to win 100 career bouts as part of a 5-0 run on the mats last weekend. Rey won a 3-1 decision over Navy’s Dan Miller on Saturday, then went 4-0 to capure the heavyweight title at the Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic at Millersville on Sunday. His first-round, first-period pin of Virginia Tech’s Dan Garwood was win No. 100. Rey captured Lehigh’s 27th individual national championship last March, capping a spectacular 34-1 junior season. He now owns a 103-12 career record Rey will bid to become Lehigh’s 15th three-time All-American and its first two-time national champion since Darryl Burley (1979, 1983). The last Lehigh grappler to win NCAA titles in consecutive seasons was Mark Lieberman who did so in 1978 and 1979.
The injury suffered by All-American Brandon Hatchett at the Midlands allowed senior Sean Bilodeau an opportunity to re-enter Lehigh’s lineup at a weight where he is more comfortable. A three-year starter at 157, Bilodeau wrestled at 165 early in the season, winning the weight class at the UB Open. Bilodeau has won in his first two dual meet appearances at 165, including a win by fall against Mike Brant of Navy. On Sunday, Bilodeau went 5-0 with four falls en route to the title at the Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic. Bilodeau is now 11-1 on the season with eight of the 11 wins coming by fall.
Rutgers brings an 11-2 dual mark into Friday’s match. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 3-1 showing en route to fifth place at the Virginia Duals last weekend in Hampton, Va. Rutgers was upset by Old Dominion in the quarterfinals of the Virginia Duals, before rallying to defeat Campbell, Buffalo and North Dakota State on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights are a league-leading 4-0 in EIWA duals with wins over Princeton, Harvard, Brown and Army. Thirteen of head coach Scott Goodale’s 14 listed probable starters are New Jersey natives. Rutgers has three men ranked in the top 20 by Amateur Wrestling News, led by junior Mario Mason, who comes in at No. 6 at 149.
Bucknell comes into Saturday’s dual with a 2-10 dual meet mark. The Bison were also at the Virginia Duals last weekend, dropping three tightly contested duals Buffalo, the Citadel and Drexel. Bucknell reinstated its wrestling program in 2006 with head coach Dan Wirnsberger molding the Bison into a program that is capable of producing EIWA Champions and All-Americans. Both of Bucknell’s victories this season have come against EIWA opponents as the Bison defeated Princeton and Sacred Heart in December. The graduation of EIWA champion Kevin LeValley has left the Bison lineup void of nationally ranked wrestlers but freshman Austin Miller is ranked sixth in the EIWA at 125 and leads the Bison’s probable starters with 14 victories this season.
Lehigh has dominated the all-time series against both Rutgers and Bucknell. The Mountain Hawks have won 40-of-41 duals against the Scarlet Knights including 37 in a row. Rutgers’ lone win was earned in 1950. The Mountain Hawks have won all seven previous duals against Bucknell and are 2-0 against the Bison since Bucknell brought back its program in 2006.
Action begins Friday night when Lehigh hosts Rutgers at 7 p.m. at Stabler Arena. Saturday’s dual between the Mountain Hawks and Bison gets underway at 2 p.m. Tickets to either dual can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME, by logging on to Lehighsports.com, or by visiting the Arena box office prior to the match.
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Date:
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January 20, 2012
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Opponent:
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No. 24 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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First match:
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7:05 p.m.
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Arena:
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Stabler Arena (5,600)
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Lehigh’s record:
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6-4 overall, 2-1 EIWA
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Rutgers’ record:
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11-2 overall, 4-0 EIWA
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Series:
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Lehigh leads 40-1
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Streak:
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Lehigh has won the last 37 meetings
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Television:
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None
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Radio:
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ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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Internet broadcast:
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Lehighsports.com
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Behind enemy lines:
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Date:
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January 21, 2012
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Opponent:
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Bucknell Bison
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First match:
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2:05 p.m.
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Arena:
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Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall (2,130)
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Lehigh’s record:
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6-4 overall, 2-1 EIWA
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Bucknell’s record
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2-10 overall, 2-0 EIWA
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Series:
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Lehigh leads 7-0
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Streak:
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Lehigh has won all seven meetings
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Television:
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None
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Radio:
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ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell beginning at 6:45 p.m.
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Internet broadcast:
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Lehighsports.com
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Behind enemy lines:
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