After 100 seasons, Lehigh’s all-time dual meet record stands at 808-380-22, which ranks sixth among all Division I wrestling programs. Lehigh has won at least 12 duals in each of the last ten seasons.
The Lehigh lineup that will take the mat on Sunday is very similar to the one that started and ended last season. Eight of Lehigh’s ten opening day and EIWA tournament starters return with the exceptions being at 149 and 174. There was heavy competition to replace Trevor Chinn at 149 with senior Brian Tanen having earned the first shot at a weight that still has not been decided. Tanen competed at 157 last year, going 12-8 and 2-0 in duals. At 174, deferred freshman Robert Hamlin defeated junior Alex Caruso twice in wrestle-offs to win the opening day nod. Hamlin was Lehigh’s Deferred Wrestler of the Year last year, winning 30 bouts and placing in the top three of five open tournaments.
Sunday’s dual marks the season opener for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh defeated Maryland to win its season opener last season, snapping a two-opener losing streak. The Mountain Hawks have opened their dual season against Rider twice, defeating the Broncs at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall in 2005 and losing in New Jersey in 2006.
Rider is also opening its dual season Sunday afternoon. The Broncs are coming off an 8-7 dual season where they finished third in the CAA and tied for 32nd at the NCAA Championships. Gary Taylor enters his 32nd season as head coach and holds the second most dual meet wins among Division I coaches. Rider graduated All-American Doug Umbehauer, but returns two ranked wrestlers in Michael Kessler (No. 18 at 149) and Ed Bordas (No. 19 at 285).
Lehigh leads the all-time series against Rider, having won 13 of the previous 18 meetings. Rider’s most recent victory came in the 2006-07 season opener. Lehigh owns a 7-3 record versus the Broncs in duals wrestled in Bethlehem, with Rider not having won at Lehigh since 1994.
The Lehigh-Rider match gets underway at 2 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting the Lehigh Ticket Office located in Grace Hall.
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