Three teams within 1.5 points after Semifinals at the EIWA's
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Pat Tocci (NWCA)
03/04/2001
In what is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling team races in years, three teams are with in 1.5 point of one another of after the conclusion of the semifinals. Penn still leads the team race but Lehigh and Harvard are right behind them. The consolation rounds and bonus points will be deciding factor in who walks home from Philly with the hardware. The semifinal round started with a bang when Mario Stuart got Lehigh a stunning fall over Harvard's Kevin El-Hayek and the wrestling remained heated throughout. Two number one seeds were upset and another had to hang on in the rideout. The big upset of the morning was recorded by Leo Urbinelli of Cornell winning in the rideout over Ryan Bernholz of Lehigh. At the next weight Cornell was the recipient of their number one seed falling as Ryan Bonfiglio of Princeton won a last second match over Clint Watenberg. Matt Goldstein from Lehigh escaped in the rideout to prevent Cornell's Tom Waldron from pulling of a major upset. Lehigh and Penn will each send four tonight's finals followed by Harvard and Cornell's three. Another big story evolving is the return of Princeton's wrestling program returning to prominence in the EIWA's. The doormat and almost dropped program have shown they have returned in a big way when they send two guys into tonight's final. They are the first Princeton finalists since 1987. Maurice Worthy in advancing to the finals set an Army record with 29 straight wins.