BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Three Lehigh wrestlers have taken their talents to the Far East for a unique opportunity. Mason Beckman, Laike Gardner and Mitch Minotti arrived in Japan earlier this week. The three Mountain Hawks will spend two weeks in Japan training with a group of Japanese wrestlers, most of who are in the similar age group of the Lehigh wrestlers, and are currently training for the Japanese equivalent of the NCAA Championships.

 

As part of their trip, Beckman, Gardner and Minotti are blogging about their experiences, cultural differences and of course, wrestling. The trio left John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York early this week and after a stop in Seattle, the group arrived at Tokyo-Haneda Airport early Tuesday morning.

 

So far the group has spent three days training at the Ajinmoto National Training Center in Toyko, with some time for sightseeing sprinkled in as well. Friday, the group traveled to the Nippon Sports Science University.

 

To follow the groupÂ’s travels and for more information on the trip, follow their blog at lehighwrestling-japan.simplesite.com

 

Mason Beckman is entering his third year at Lehigh. A NCAA qualifier at 133 as a true freshman in 2012, he deferred his eligibility last season and will have sophomore eligibility for the 2013-14 season. Beckman was 34-3 competing unattached last season and was LehighÂ’s Deferred Eligibility Wrestler of the Year.

 

Laike Gardner is entering his second year at Lehigh. Gardner saw time at 133 and 141 as a true freshman for the Mountain Hawks. He went 6-6 overall, including a 4-4 mark in dual matches. His last varsity action was a come-from-behind win over NCAA qualifier Trevor Melde of Rutgers at 141 on January 18.

 

Mitch Minotti also is entering his second year at Lehigh. Minotti deferred his eligibility last year and will be a freshman in 2013-14. He went 38-10 competing unattached in open tournaments last season at 149. Minotti placed in six different tournaments and closed out his season with titles at the Edinboro Open and National Collegiate Open.

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Steve Lomangino
Media Relations Director - Lehigh University Athletics
sjl304@lehigh.edu
610-758-3174