Lehigh’s Logan Rozynski is one of those college wrestlers who has learned it is just as important to do things the right way off the mat as it is on it. 

“I was homeschooled in middle school, so I was around my dad a lot,” Rozynski said. “He preached certain things. Live the right way and the right results will come. If you're not doing those right things, then you can't expect the results that you're going to be happy with.

“I've just been trying to do that throughout high school and college.”

From Sparta, N.J., Rozynski originally committed to Navy, but after a recruiting trip to Lehigh, he realized it was where he was meant to be.

“It just felt like a brotherhood and family right when I got here,” Rozynski said. “It felt like I was already a part of the team before I was even on the team. It just felt like the right fit.”

Inserted into the lineup as a freshman last year, Rozynski won the EIWA Championship at 157 pounds and was an NCAA qualifier. He was also named the EIWA Freshman of the Year.

“I was just excited to get back out on the mat and do my thing,” Rozynski said. “Last year it showed me what I need to work on, and it exposed some things that I need to fix leading back up to this March.

“That is again the end goal — to be my best in March.”

Coming out of the NCAA Championships last year, Rozynski was eager to get back into the room and make a big jump from his freshman success into his second year in the lineup.

There was an extra emphasis on training and pinpointing certain corrections that needed to be made, which included a trip overseas to go to Japan for training as well.

“This past offseason was good,” he said. “We did a lot of hard training, and I went over to Japan to get some exposure with those guys and that are good. That opened my mind to some different offensive attacks and how they wrestle. It was a good experience overall. 

“We focused on a lot of different shots. Upgrading my offense and getting more shots. I want to do the best job that I can to go out and put points on the board.”

Lehigh coach Pat Santoro was eager to sit down with Rozynski and map ways for him to improve and become an important starter in the middle of his lineup. Somebody who the Mountain Hawks will be relying on to score team points each time out.

“Last year, I think he was just trying to wrestle hard,” Santoro said. “But now he's figuring out the hand fight part. He's learning how to relax a little bit in matches and wrestle through positions well. There is more purpose to his wrestling.”

This year, Rozynski’s 157-pound weight class is one of the deepest nationally, and one of the youngest. This week, Rozynski checks in at 12th in the rankings, as the top three and four of the top five are either freshmen or sophomores.

“His weight class is loaded,” Santoro said. “There are a ton of talented, younger guys. But he can beat anybody, and he has proven that.”

Although he only has six matches under his belt this season, one of those wins has given him some early-season confidence.

At the National Duals Invitational in mid-November, he was matched up against the returning national champion, Antrell Taylor of Nebraska, in his first match. Rozynski put the then-#1 Cornhusker on his back in the first period and went on to score a 9-1 major decision.

“It was a good result early, but doesn't mean anything,” Rozynski said. “For me and my coaches, we always knew that I was there. We always believed that I could take out those top guys and I belonged with the top dogs. I think now it shows everyone that didn't think that, that I am there.

“You can't sit and think about that win too much because there's other guys gunning for you. I’ve got to go out, do my job, and take care of business.”

Lehigh’s lineup has been missing a lot of firepower this year. Heavyweight Nathan Taylor returned to the lineup this month, but Ryan Crookham (133 pounds) and Luke Stanich (141) have yet to make their season debuts.

Santoro has challenged Rozynski to step up and take on more of a leadership role on this year’s team.

“I think lead more by example both in the room and out,” the sophomore said. “I think building a team culture that we all want to win and doing the right things.

“When a younger kid steps up and does that it spreads throughout the team and a lot of guys get on board with it and then that only builds up. That leads to great team culture like we are building here.”

Rozynski had to injury default out of his last match, back on Dec. 7. He also was out of action this past weekend at the Collegiate Duals, but according to the Lehigh staff, he will not be out long-term.

“He still needs some work to be ready for March, which is the ultimate goal, but he knows that,” Santoro said. “He's not afraid to put the work in. He's a hard worker. He's always excited. He wants to compete every time out there. So anytime you get an athlete that loves to compete, they're easy to work with. 

“We have really high hopes for him, because I know the work he puts in.”