Lehigh Edges Lock Haven In Thriller
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Denny Diehl (Lehigh Wrestling)
11/17/2000
Bethlehem, PA. In front of the largest home opener in nearly years (2,058), Lehigh's Mountain Hawks clawed their way to a 20-16 dual victory over a feisty traditional Eastern power in Lock Haven. The Bald Eagles served notice that they're tough as nails and bound to be tougher next semester with two nationally ranked transfers hopping aboard. Lehigh's fans didn't have to wait long for Jon Trenge's debut, as 197 went first and scored a methodical 12-4 major decision on a variety of takedowns. First period: single leg then ankle pick; 2nd & 3rd periods, one counterspin each; Jon added a bonus clincher double leg tackle with 0:11 left, plus an escape & 1:50 time advantage. Shawn Laughlin edged backup hwt. Tefft with a 1st pd TD, escape and two double warnings resulting in a pt. for each, plus 1:21 r.t. for Laughlin and a 5-3 win (two escapes for Tefft). 125-- It was 19th-ranked junior Trap McCormack, a 4x PA champion, scoring a 1st pd TD to lead 2-1 after one; then a reversal in the 2nd, plus a TD and 1 pt for Clendenin fleeing the mat. Terrance had 1st & 3rd pd. escapes. 133--An eagerly waited matchup ended early when another #19, senior Scott Bair decked Tristan Boyd with a cradle in 4:46. Bair wrestled like one, with a takedown & 3-pt nearfall in the first period, before Tristan escaped and got taken down late in the second stanza. 141--Senior Matt Goldstein found plenty of competition from 2nd-yr freshman Mike Maney, a former PA state champion, who scored takedowns late in the 2nd & 3rd periods (0:12 and 32 sec. left in each). An Eagle escape to two for Matt made the final, 5-2. This put the Bald Eagles ahead in the team score, 12-7. 149--This left it up to Lehigh's Tri-Captains, wrestling in 3 of the final 5 weights. Dave Esposito was the sharpest Engineer grappler of the night, scoring 3 TDs in each of the 1st and 3rd periods and 7 in all, adding an escape and 3:49 time for a16-5 major. 157--Ryan Bernholz met freshman Jason Gilligan & piled up a 5-1 lead after two periods on two takedowns, building up 2 min. in riding time. In the 3rd, Ryan took top and worked his crab ride and power half series. Despite numerous tips & turns, there were no points scored as he rode out for a total time advantage of 3:11 and a 6-1 win. 165--Vintage Vitale highlighted the 1st pd, as Chris was near a TD at the edge, before Brian Olewek spun & got the two instead; Chris then went 'back door' for a reversal, ending the 1st pd trailing 3-2; Vitale was released for an escape, then picked up two takedowns and led 7-5 going into the third. Conventional wrestling on the feet for CV. Some hair-raising but tough riding on top for Vitale, before Chris worked a leg scissors (upside down) to put the Eagle on his back for a 2-pt nearfall, finishing with 2:21 time for an impressive 10-5 win. 174--Eagle Ed Pawlak wore down fellow 2nd-yr freshman Bill Brine, including 2 injury time-outs for Lehigh, jumping to a 14-6 lead on 7 TDs. Brine fought back with an early 3rd pd takedown of his own, then got 1 pt for double warning (Pawlak warned earlier) and let the Eagle up to trail 15-9 with 30 sec. left. A final TD at 0:08 gave Pawlak a 17-9 major decision -- making the team score a surprising & stunningly close Lehigh 17, Lock Haven 16 184--Rob Rohn brought the crowd to its feet with a takedown after 25 seconds, throwing a "turk" ride (think Van Doren decking Gingeleskie in '98 EIWA finals). Rob came close, but settled for a 3-pt nearfall. Josh Millard settled for more time on the mat, before escaping to trail 5-1 after one. Rohn took bottom, escaped and scored on a very low single leg to lead. A scoreless 3rd pd and just 0:58 time advantage brought the final to 8-2