Posted: 01/25/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two tough road tests await No. 15 Lehigh as the Mountain Hawks head to the Midwest for a pair of duals this weekend. Lehigh first heads to Central Michigan Friday night to face the 21st-ranked Chippewas before heading down to Oklahoma to face No. 10 Oklahoma Sunday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks have won their last three duals, including wins over Rutgers and Bucknell last weekend, to move to 8-4 on the dual season.
With top-five grapplers Zach Rey and Robert Hamlin leading the charge, Lehigh will open up the weekend against the ten-time defending MAC champions from Central Michigan, before tangling with an Oklahoma squad that boasts eight nationally ranked wrestlers.
Four Mountain Hawks are ranked in the latest polls conducted by Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. Magazine, while five Lehigh grapplers are ranked by InterMat. Last week the NCAA unveiled the first of three coaches’ panel rankings, with eight Mountain Hawks recognized in the top 33 at their weight class.
True freshman Mason Beckman has impressed in his move up to 133. Beckman went 3-2 at the Midlands in his first event up at the new weight class, including two wins over Central Michigan Chippewas. He upset nationally ranked Aaron Kalil of Navy two weekends ago, which started an active streak of eight straight victories. Beckman picked up major decision wins against Rutgers and Bucknell to move to 19-6 on the season. He is one of four true freshmen who have competed in duals for Lehigh this season.
Central Michigan owns a 12-3 dual meet record. The ten-time defending Mid-American Conference champions, the Chippewas had won seven straight duals before losing to Michigan 23-14 on Sunday. Head coach Tom Borrelli is in his 21st season in Mount Pleasant. His probable starting lineup features three nationally ranked grapplers, led by Ben Bennett at 184. Heavyweight Peter Sturgeon, a transfer from UNC-Greensboro is also in the top 20 at his weight as is 125-pounder Joe Roth. The Chippewa probable starters also feature two true freshmen from the Lehigh Valley in Zach Horan (Nazareth) and Mike Ottinger (Parkland).
Winners of its last seven duals, Oklahoma owns a 9-2 overall dual record. The Sooners, whose only losses came to rival Oklahoma State and Wyoming, will host Virginia Tech on Friday night before welcoming the Mountain Hawks on Sunday. Mark Cody came to Oklahoma last spring after a successful stint at American University. His Sooner team won the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold tournament and finished third at the Midlands. Eight Oklahoma wrestlers are nationally ranked by Amateur Wrestling News, led by Midlands Champ Kendric Maple, ranked third at 141 and junior Jarrod Patterson, who is ranked seventh at 125.
Lehigh will open its road trip with its first-ever visit to Mount Pleasant, Mich. The Mountain Hawks and Chippewas have split four previous meetings, with the first three coming at neutral sites. Oklahoma has won 12 of the previous 16 duals with Lehigh but the Mountain Hawks are unbeaten in the last three duals versus the Sooners (two wins and a tie).
The Lehigh-Central Michigan dual is set for a 7 p.m. start from McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich. The match will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as Lehighsports.com. Sunday’s Lehigh-Oklahoma dual will get underway at 1 p.m. (ET) from McCasland Fieldhouse. That dual will feature live video through Oklahoma and streaming audio exclusively on Lehighsports.com.
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Date:
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January 27, 2012
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Opponent:
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No. 21 Central Michigan Chippewas
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First match:
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7:30 p.m.
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Arena:
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McGuirk Arena (5,300)
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Location:
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Mount Pleasant, Mich.
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Lehigh’s record:
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8-4 overall, 4-1 EIWA
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Central Michigan’s record:
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12-3 overall, 4-0 MAC
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Series:
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Tied 2-2
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Streak:
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Lehigh won last year’s meeting 23-9
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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 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 29, 2012
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Opponent:
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No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners
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First match:
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1:00 p.m. (ET)
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Arena:
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McCasland Fieldhouse (2,000)
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Location:
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Norman, Okla.
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Lehigh’s record:
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8-4 overall, 4-1 EIWA
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Oklahoma’s record
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9-2 overall, 3-1 Big XII
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Series:
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Oklahoma leads 12-3-1
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Streak:
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Lehigh is unbeaten in the last three meetings (two wins and a tie)
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Television:
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None
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Radio:
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None
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Internet broadcast:
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Live audio at Lehighsports.com
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Behind enemy lines:
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