A Developing Border Brawl?
Published on February 20, 2010 by viratas · No Comments
Rutgers, Lehigh Set to Tangle at Stabler
Willie Saylor, Editor
By all indications, when Rutgers travels the seventy miles from New Brunswick to Bethlehem on Saturday, it could mark the beginning of a heated, and lasting, rivalry.
Lehigh, located in eastern Pennsylvania, has a rich wrestling tradition and has controlled the long-time series with Rutgers, winning 38 of 39 previous match-ups. But this ain’t your grandpa’s Scarlet Knights.
Under the tenure of third-year skipper, Scott Goodale, the Rutgers wrestling program has been rejuvenated. Earlier this month Rutgers earned its highest ranking (23rd) in school history. It was the first time the Scarlet Knights achieved a National Top 25 ranking since 1992 when they were dubbed #25.
Undefeated since the calendar flipped to 2010, Rutgers has just one conference loss (Bucknell) and is 18-4-1 overall. They’ve moved up one spot to #22. They’re young, continue to recruit well, and have shown the ability to develop those recruits. It doesn’t seem as if they’re going away anytime soon.
But to get to the next level, Rutgers needs to win duals like this. Of course, in Lehigh, we’re talking about the #9 team in the country, and a perennial EIWA contender. They too have a talented and proven coaching staff headed by the charismatic Lehigh Valley native, Pat Santoro.
The Mountain Hawks come in at 14-3-1. In 2010 they have just a loss to #4 Oklahoma St. and a tie with #6 Cornell as blemishes on an otherwise perfect record.
The two teams also know each other relatively well. At least two of today’s anticipated dual bouts feature rematches from earlier in the season. Lehigh’s Zach Rey has a season win over Dom Russo at HWT and Rutgers’ Trevor Melde (141) owns a Midlands upset over Seth Ciasulli.
The familiarity also extends to the coaching staff. Two Rutgers’ assistants, three-time All-American, Cory Cooperman, and EIWA Champ, John Leonardis, were former Lehigh wrestlers.
With several match-ups in this dual expected to be tightly contested, this dual may serve as a prelude for things to come. Lehigh vs. Rutgers could very well turn into a rivalry.
Probable Line-Up w/ TOM Ranking
125: So. Connor McDonald, LU ( 8-11) vs. #17 Fr. Joey Langel (25-5) RU
133: #13 Sr. Matt Fisk (17-5) LU vs. #20 Jr. Billy Ashnault, RU (23-8) RU
141: #14 Sr. Seth Ciasulli (16-10) LU vs. So. Trevor Melde (23-6) RU
149: Fr. Joey Napoli (19-10) LU vs. Jr. David Geenwald (17-9) RU
157: So. Sean Bilodeau (13-8) LU vs. Jr. Daryl Cocozzo (22-7) RU
165: So. Brandon Hatchett (9-7) LU vs. So. Greg Zanetti (19-9) RU
174: #16 Jr. Alex Caruso (15-5) or Fr. Robert Hamlin (14-7) LU vs. Fr. Dan Rinaldi (24-7) RU
184: #15 Sr. David Craig (16-4) LU vs. Fr. Dan Seidenberg (13-13) RU
197: #16 So. Joe Kennedy (14-10) LU vs. Sr. Lamar Brown (20-6) RU
HWT: #8 So. Zach Rey (22-4) LU vs. #9 Jr. Dom Russo (27-4) RU
Lehigh will turn around and wrestle Penn on Sunday. For Rutgers, this closes out their dual schedule.
Both teams will meet back here in Bethlehem for the EIWA Championships March 6th and 7th.
