#14 Junior Bechtold Commits to Lehigh

Lehigh’s impressive recruiting Class of 2026 continued to improve Friday as they received a verbal commitment from the #14 overall junior, Dean Bechtold (Owen J. Roberts, PA). Bechtold is currently ranked fourth in the nation at 285 lbs. 

Bechtold is a two-time Pennsylvania state placewinner at the AAA level. He was sixth in the state as a freshman at 189 lbs and made the 285 lbs finals last season. 

Since the 2024 PIAA Tournament, Bechtold has flown up the recruiting rankings based on his accolades at national tournaments. In the spring, Bechtold was a finalist at the UWW U17 Freestyle Trials. A few months later, he placed in the Junior age group in both styles in Fargo. In October, Bechtold captured a championship belt with the 285 lb title at the Super 32. It marked the second time that Bechtold had broken into the top at the tournament. Last year, he was eighth. Also in 2023, Bechtold earned All-American honors in Fargo in both styles at the 16U tournament. 

Bechtold will fit in nicely with a Lehigh team set to welcome Owen Trephan in as the starter during the second semester. He only has a year of eligibility remaining. The previous starter, Nathan Taylor, has been lost for the year because of an injury. Taylor is set to be a senior next year; though he may be eligible for a medical redshirt. If that’s the case, he could finish up while Bechtold redshirts, himself. 

Bechtold decided to commit to Lehigh after visiting NC State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers. His older brother, Dillon, is the freshman starter at 197 lbs for Bucknell. 

Bechtold’s addition now gives Lehigh three of the top wrestlers in the Class of 2026 - joining #17 Keanu Dillard and #24 Cael Wiedemoyer. #93 Jason Singer’s presence gives Lehigh four top-100 recruits from the junior class. 

For all of Lehigh’s commitments from the Class of 2025 and 2026: Click Here