Wrestling: No. 21 Lehigh to host No. 3 Iowa Friday at Stabler Arena

Feb 12, 2014 by FloWrestling Staff

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – In its final home dual of the season, No. 21 Lehigh hosts No. 3 Iowa Friday night in the Hawkeyes’ first visit to Bethlehem since November of 1990. The Mountain Hawks returned from an off weekend to win eight of ten bouts in a convincing 27-9 victory over Rutgers Saturday night inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Sophomore Laike Gardner sparked the Mountain Hawks with a first period pin in the night’s opening bout at 141, while Lehigh posted decisions in seven of the final eight bouts.

Iowa comes in at 13-2 as the Hawkeyes bounced back from a dual loss at Minnesota to defeat Northwestern and Michigan in their last two duals. Iowa’s lineup features a nationally-ranked wrestler at every weight class and includes one NCAA champion and five All-Americans.

Sophomore Mason Beckman made the most of his deferred eligibility season in 2012-13 posting an impressive 39-4 record competing unattached in open tournaments. Beckman won five open tournament titles last season and placed in three others, including a fourth place finish at the Midlands Championships. Beckman is off to a 18-2 start this season, which includes a fifth place finish at the Midlands. He is the only Mountain Hawk to compete and win in all 13 of Lehigh’s duals so far this season.

One of college wrestling’s most storied programs; Iowa has won 23 national championships and 34 Big Ten titles. The Hawkeyes are enjoying another strong season with a 13-2 record. The third-ranked Hawkeyes two losses are to Penn State and Minnesota, the two teams above them in the polls. Iowa also crowned three individual champions en route to the team title at the Midlands Championships.

Iowa’s projected lineup features a nationally ranked wrestler at all ten weight classes. The Hawkeyes have three wrestlers currently ranked third nationally including returning NCAA Champion Derek St. John (157), returning NCAA finalist Tony Ramos (133) and 2012 All-American Bobby Telford (285). Five other Iowa wrestlers are ranked in the top ten including returning All-Americans Mike Evans (174) and Ethen Lofthouse (184). Iowa finished fourth at last year’s NCAA’s and recently won three straight national team titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Friday’s dual marks Iowa’s first visit to Lehigh since the 1990-91 season. Lehigh has not had a great deal of success against opponents from the state of Iowa either at home or on the road. In home duals against Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Cornell College, Lehigh is just 2-27-1. That includes an 0-10 mark versus Iowa in Bethlehem. Lehigh’s two victories were against Iowa State (December 1960 and January 1967). Lehigh also tied the Cyclones in 1975.

Lehigh and Iowa meet for the 25th time Friday and the first time in Bethlehem, since November 1990. The Mountain Hawks have never defeated the Hawkeyes, dropping the previous 24 duals, including all ten matches contested in Bethlehem. Lehigh and Iowa met once in 21 consecutive seasons from 1972 to 1992. Iowa is one of seven schools that Lehigh owns zero all-time wins against, but it is the only school in the group Lehigh has wrestled more than two times.

Friday’s match gets underway at 7 p.m. from Stabler Arena. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME, by logging on to LehighTickets.com, or by visiting the Stabler Arena box office on match day.

Lehigh will head to New England for its final two duals of the season next weekend. The Mountain Hawks will wrestle at Brown Saturday at 2 p.m. before making the short trip to Harvard to face the Crimson Sunday at noon in a match that will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

Date:	February 14, 2014
Opponent:	No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes
First match:	7:05 p.m.
Arena:	Stabler Arena
Location:	Bethlehem, Pa.
Lehigh’s Record:	8-5 overall, 4-2 EIWA
Iowa’s Record:	13-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten
Series:	Iowa leads 24-0
Streak:	Iowa has won all 24 previous meetings
Television:	Service Electric 2 Sports Friday night (Live or tape delay still TBD pending winter storm expected Thursday)
Radio:	ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 beginning at 6:45 p.m. with Steve Lomangino and Gary Brownell
Internet broadcast:	Video via the Patriot League Network (LIVE) Audio at ESPNLV.com
Behind enemy lines:	http://www.hawkeyesports.com/