...after letting all the hype settle I have concluded that the match unfolded about as might have been expected, but only after taking into account the backups that came into play...
126 - Cruz heavily favored and delivered 6 team points for Lehigh...
133 - 3rd ranked Parker would have been the favorite vs Keener but became a heavy favorite vs Giannangeli, making his initial varsity dual meet apprearance. Dominic was wrestling well until he got taken to his back from neutral and pinned. Lehigh another 6 points...
141- a toss up match decided by Cortez's inability to escape Karam's known ability to ride with legs and Cortez's inability to secure a TD...
...after those first 3 bouts Penn State was down 15-0, reminiscent of the Okie State match last year...
...similarly at 149 and 157 Zain and Jason came through with a fall and TF and PS was climbing out of the hole of a now 15-11 deficit , knowing they needed to win 4 of the last 5 bouts to win the meet...
...at 165 a very game 149 #er Bo Pipher subbed for NCAA champion Joseph ... knowing that every team point would be crucial he kept his focus and surrendered only a 4 point major...
...Lehigh's two best upperweights -Kutler and Preisch - were next up at 174 and 184 ... Lehigh felt possibly one of them would win... Preisch was leading Hall last year 3-1 late in their open match until Hall converted a cement-mixer and got the fall... Kutler is a similar tree- trunk tough style of wrestler but this year it appeared they were going to play the waiting game ... keep the matches close and hope to get a late score to win ... the strategy did not work and they both lost 2-3 decisions... team score now 17-19 with 2 bouts left...
197- a second toss up ... Lehigh's RS freshman vs untested Cassar ... a mat wrestler vs a free style wrestler... when Lehigh chose down in the 3rd period he had to escape and get TDs to win... instead he got taken down twice and lost 8-3...
285- Nevills stepped up and won a very workmanlike 2-0 decision, highlighted by a smothering 3rd period rideout...
... a hard fought 23-19 win under some very trying and unexpected circumstances... well done!!!!...
..."All's well that ends well!...
126 - Cruz heavily favored and delivered 6 team points for Lehigh...
133 - 3rd ranked Parker would have been the favorite vs Keener but became a heavy favorite vs Giannangeli, making his initial varsity dual meet apprearance. Dominic was wrestling well until he got taken to his back from neutral and pinned. Lehigh another 6 points...
141- a toss up match decided by Cortez's inability to escape Karam's known ability to ride with legs and Cortez's inability to secure a TD...
...after those first 3 bouts Penn State was down 15-0, reminiscent of the Okie State match last year...
...similarly at 149 and 157 Zain and Jason came through with a fall and TF and PS was climbing out of the hole of a now 15-11 deficit , knowing they needed to win 4 of the last 5 bouts to win the meet...
...at 165 a very game 149 #er Bo Pipher subbed for NCAA champion Joseph ... knowing that every team point would be crucial he kept his focus and surrendered only a 4 point major...
...Lehigh's two best upperweights -Kutler and Preisch - were next up at 174 and 184 ... Lehigh felt possibly one of them would win... Preisch was leading Hall last year 3-1 late in their open match until Hall converted a cement-mixer and got the fall... Kutler is a similar tree- trunk tough style of wrestler but this year it appeared they were going to play the waiting game ... keep the matches close and hope to get a late score to win ... the strategy did not work and they both lost 2-3 decisions... team score now 17-19 with 2 bouts left...
197- a second toss up ... Lehigh's RS freshman vs untested Cassar ... a mat wrestler vs a free style wrestler... when Lehigh chose down in the 3rd period he had to escape and get TDs to win... instead he got taken down twice and lost 8-3...
285- Nevills stepped up and won a very workmanlike 2-0 decision, highlighted by a smothering 3rd period rideout...
... a hard fought 23-19 win under some very trying and unexpected circumstances... well done!!!!...
..."All's well that ends well!...
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