One of the best college wrestling rivalries is renewed this Saturday when the Cornell Big Red travel to Bethlehem, PA to take on the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.

For many years, these two Eastern powers battled it out for the supremacy of the EIWA. Cornell and Lehigh won every conference tournament title from 2002 to 2024. Cornell won 14 team titles during that time period while Lehigh hoisted nine championship trophies.  

In 2025, the Ivy League began sponsoring the sport of wrestling for the first time, and Cornell and the five other Ivies that have wrestling programs left the EIWA. Cornell won the inaugural Ivy League Tournament in 2025.

Two of the strongest private school powers in the East have thankfully kept this rivalry on their dual meet schedules despite no longer being in the same postseason NCAA qualifier. And because of that, we can safely say that no matter the outcome on the mat, the real winners on Saturday afternoon will be none other than the wise and learned college wrestling fan. 

Probable Linups

125: #26 Greg Diakomihalis or Joe Sciarrone, Cornell vs #4 Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh

133: #21 Tyler Ferrara or Brett Ungar, Cornell vs Ryan Crookham, Lehigh

141: #5 Vince Cornella, Cornell vs Luke Stanich, Lehigh

149: #2 Jaxon Joy or Ethan Fernandez, Cornell vs Owen Reinsel, Lehigh

157: #6 Meyer Shapiro or Benny Rogers, Cornell vs #12 Logan Rozynski or Griffin Gonzalez, Lehigh

165: Louie Cerchio or Kaleb Williams, Cornell vs #10 Max Brignola, Lehigh

174: #2 Simon Ruiz, Cornell vs Dom Federici or Richie Grungo or Bekhruz Sadriddinov, Lehigh

184: #21 Christian Hanson or Carson Crace, Cornell vs #19 Rylan Rogers, Lehigh

197: Aiden Hanning, Cornell vs JT Davis, Lehigh

285: #31 Ashton Davis or Cy Kruse or Cash Henderson, Cornell vs #7 Nathan Taylor, Lehigh

Both lineups were provided by the two programs, and while there are no guarantees all the most anticipated wrestlers run out at every weight, it does appear that both Lehigh and Cornell's best wrestlers will all be available for Saturday afternoon. 

Reasons to Watch

1) The Return of Ryan Crookham and Luke Stanich

It's been a minute since we've seen either of these wrestlers. Crookham took third in the NCAAs in 2024, dropping just one match all season to (to Vito Arujau in the NCAA semifinals, who Crookham beat at EIWAs and at a Journeymen event that season). Crookham only wrestled five matches, all in 2024, during the 2024-25 season, before shutting down due to injuries. If he goes, this would be Crookham first action since December 20, 2024.

Stanich wrestled more recently. The New Jersey native bumped up from 125 (where he placed fifth at the 2024 NCAAs) to 141 for the 2024-25 season. Luke went 12-1 while redshirting, dropping just one bout to Jesse Mendez. Stanich was also busy during freestyle season, winning the U20 US Open and then making the U20 World Team. The success continued overseas where he won a U20 world gold medal in Bulgaria. 

Unfortunately, Stanich also hurt his knee at U20 Worlds, and has been off the mat ever since. Now with Crookham and Stanich both hopefully healthy enough to compete, the Mountain Hawk lineup becomes much more dangerous. 

Watch every match Stanich wrestled at the 2025 U20 Worlds: 

2) The Return of Meyer Shapiro et al

Cornell is in a similar situation to Lehigh, in that they have been less than full strength throughout the first semester of the season. Meyer Shapiro has only wrestled two matches this season, at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals. That event was also the first time we saw Vince Cornella. 

Then when the Southern Scuffle rolled around, we got to see Greg Diakomihalis for the first time in his senior season. We have not, however, seen Simon Ruiz since the National Duals Invitational. 

It's a very long season, and coaches are correctly prioritizing results in March over November and December, however, that does mean we often miss out on early season matchups. 

As with the Lehigh lineup, we won't know exactly who goes until the matches begin, but with all the aforementioned Big Red grapplers expected to make the trip to Pennsylvania, I think it's a good bet we see them compete on Saturday.  

Watch Shapiro tech Javion Jones at the National Duals Invitational:

3) Second Semester Rebound

Because both squads were missing key pieces of their roster for various competitions in the first semester, neither program is coming into this dual with a winning record. Cornell is 1-3, while Lehigh is sporting a 3-6 record. 

It should be mentioned, however, that both schools also loaded up their schedule with a hellacious slate of competitions in the first semester. Both teams participated in both the National Duals Invitational and the Journeymen Collegiate Duals. 

Lehigh also had in-state rivals, Pittsburgh and Penn Stat,e on the schedule in December (which both produced losses for the Mountain Hawks), while Cornell competed in the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. That was an individual tournament which added neither wins nor losses to Cornell's dual record, however, it did put miles on the treads of all the wrestlers that enetered the brackets. 

As such, both programs will be looking to bounce back and kick off the second semester with a win, to put some wind in their sails and carry the momentum forward to the postseason. 

4) Vince Cornella vs Luke Stanich

Only one of these wrestlers is ranked, but that's only because Stanich has been off the mats this season. And I have it on good authority (I just asked our NCAA ranker who sits next to me in the office), that Stanich would be ranked in the top ten right now if he had been active and had no significant major wins or losses. 

And not that it's relevant for this reason-to-watch, but Crookham would also be top ten if he were to be ranked right now. 

In any event, Cornella vs Stanich is definitley the marquee matchup of the dual. Both are All-Americans, both have made U20 World Teams (Vince placed fifth in 2022), and this would be the first meeting between them. 

It's a long shot that dual will conclude with 141-pounds but it would be pretty cool if it did!

Watch Cornella win a 2026 Southern Scuffle title: 

5) The Scene in the Snakepit

Officially Leeman-Turner Arena in Grace Hall, the affectionately termed 'Snakepit' is one of the best environments for watching college wrestling. 

Wrestling is ingrained in the culture of the Lehigh Valley, and the local community will show out for important wrestling events on campus. 

Additional fun fact: Leeman-Turner Arena is the only D1 wrestling venue named after two wrestling coaches, Gerald Leeman and Thad Turner (Historic Gallagher-Iba is only named after one). 

It'll also be a White Out match, so if you're in the area and haven't gotten tickets yet, grab one before they sell out!

A capacity crowd is expected for Saturday's White Out match against Cornell. Limited tickets remain! Grab yours now and come cheer on your Mountain Hawks in the Snake Pit!

🎟️- https://t.co/9MaSZMqI0o pic.twitter.com/y35jdNt1Fg

— Lehigh Men’s Wrestling (@LehighMWREST) January 8, 2026

6) Cornell's Bonus Imperative

Assuming everyone goes, Cornell will be heavy favorites at 149, 157 and 174. 141, 184 and to a 197 project to be closer to toss-ups. Lehigh is favored at 125, 133, 165 and 285. That will put a lot of pressure on Cornell's middleweights, especially if the toss-ups don't go in favor of the Big Red. 

Luckily for the Cornell faithful, Joy, Shapiro and Ruiz are all capable of running up the score, and they may have to if they're going to have a happy Saturday night. 

7) Lehigh's Heavyweight Clincher?

If everything goes according to script and the dual starts at 125, it could be up to Lehigh's anchor to clinch the dual in the Mountain Hawks' favor. Nathan Taylor, a bloodrounder in 2024 who, like Crookham, missed nearly all of the 2024-25 season due to injury, is a good heavyweight to have when you need a clutch performer. 

Taylor already has three ranked wins on the season and recenly gave current number one ranked Yong Bastida one of his toughest bouts of the season, losing a 4-2 decision at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals. 

Cornell's Ashton Davis is nationally ranked, so this bout is no gimme. One thing is for sure, however, if the dual is still undecided before 285, then expect the Snakepit to reach deafening decibels. 

Watch Taylor's match with Luke Luffman at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals: 

Predictions

I think we'll see a close, back-and-forth battle in Bethlehem this Saturday. Assuming everyone goes, I have it playing out as follows: 

125: #4 Seymour decisions #26 Diakomihalis - LU 3, CU 0

133: Crookham decisions #21 Ferrara - LU 6, CU 0

141: Stanich decisions #5 Cornella - LU 9, CU 0

149: #2 Joy majors Reinsel - LU 9, CU 4

157: #6 Shapiro majors #12 Rozynski - LU 9, CU 8

165: #10 Brignola decisions Cerchio - LU 12, CU 8

174: #2 Ruiz majors Federici - LU 12, CU 12

184: #21 Hanson decisions #19 Rogers - CU 15, LU 12

197: Davis decisions Hanning - CU 15, LU 15

285: #7 Taylor majors #31 Davis - LU 19, CU 15

Final: Lehigh 19, Cornell 15

Of course, the toss-ups at 141, 184 and 197 could go either way and completely change the dual. Additionally, Joy, Shapiro, Ruiz and Taylor are all capable of getting techs or pins, which would naturally make a big difference to the final score. 

We'll see how it all plays out in the Snakepit this Saturday. See you then!