Lehigh 39 West Virginia 3

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Returning home for the first time in two months the ninth-ranked Lehigh wrestling team rolled to a 39-3 win over West Virginia Friday night inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The Mountaineers won at 125 but the Mountain Hawks captured the next nine weight classes, as Lehigh benefitted from forfeit wins at 141 and 157 and freshman Joey Napoli and senior David Craig delivered wins by fall for the Brown and White. With the win, Lehigh improves to 10-3 on the dual season, while West Virginia falls to 0-6.
 
“It was a good effort,” said Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro. “We got off to a slow start with a number of our guys giving up the first takedown. That’s not going to bode well for us at the NCAA tournament. The guys came back and fought well and came back to win those matches.”
 
At 125, West Virginia picked up its only win as Shane Young edged sophomore John McDonald 5-4. Young scored a takedown in the second period, and benefitted from two penalty points, one for three cautions and one for stalling, plus an escape to negate a late takedown from McDonald in the third period.
 
The Mountaineers looked to be extending their lead as No. 19 Colin Johnston scored an early takedown on senior Matt Fisk, who returned to the Lehigh lineup. Trailing 2-1 to start the third period, Fisk escaped and then converted a quick high double-leg takedown for the deciding points in a 4-2 win.
 
After a forfeit to Seth Ciasulli at 141, freshman Joey Napoli made his home dual debut against Brandon Loro at 149. Loro scored first, but after an escape Napoli scored a takedown to lead 3-2 after one period. After starting the second neutral, Napoli took Loro down again and turned him with a half nelson to secure the fall with just five seconds remaining in the period. A forfeit to sophomore Sean Bilodeau put Lehigh up 21-3 at intermission.
 
“Joey’s starting to turn the corner,” explained Santoro. “He’s wrestling really solid right now. He gave up the first takedown but stayed composed and got a couple takedowns of his own and was able to turn the kid and get a pin. That kind of sparked our team the rest of the way.”
 
In the first bout following intermission, sophomore Brandon Hatchett made his first dual appearance of the season in front of the home fans. Like Napoli, Hatchett gave up an early takedown to his opponent, Donnie Jones, but rebounded to score two points of his own late in the first period to lead 3-2. Tied 3-3 in the third, Hatchett escaped, then took Jones down, and built up a riding time advantage to earn an impressive 7-3 win.
 
Junior Alex Caruso also saw his first home dual action of the season and had little trouble with Matt Weston in an 8-2 victory. At 184, senior David Craig took down Robert DeSano early and tilted him for three to lead 5-0 after one period. DeSano surprised Craig by taking him down early in the second, a score which woke up the Mountain Hawk. Craig reversed DeSano then stacked him up for his first fall of the season, with referee George Chilmonik slapping the mat a 3:36.
 
In a rematch from last year’s dual, sophomore Joe Kennedy defeated Kyle Rooney 7-2 at 197, while in the final bout of the dual, sophomore Zach Rey notched his 20th win of the season, 8-1 over Brandon Williamson.
 
The Mountain Hawks will return to the mat on Saturday when they open up EIWA competition against Navy. First match is set for just after 3 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Lehigh Ticket Office, located in Grace Hall prior to the dual.

125 Shane Young (WVU) dec. John McDonald (Lehigh) 5-4
133 Matt Fisk (Lehigh) dec. Colin Johnston (WVU) 4-2
141 Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh) W Forfeit
149 Joey Napoli (Lehigh) Fall Brandon Loro (WVU) 4:55
157 Sean Bilodeau (Lehigh) W Forfeit
165 Brandon Hatchett (Lehigh) dec. Donnie Jones (WVU) 7-3
174 Alex Caruso (Lehigh) dec. Matt Weston (WVU) 8-2
184 David Craig (Lehigh) Fall  Robert DeSano (WVU) 3:36
197 Joe Kennedy (Lehigh) dec. Kyle Rooney (WVU) 7-2
285 Zach Rey (Lehigh) dec. Brandon Williamson (WVU) 8-1
Attendance – 1,465
Referee – George Chilmonik