Wrestling Opens Dual Meet Season Wednesday at No. 2 Lehigh

11/17/2003

The Panthers' first EWL match will be Thursday night at Bloomsburg.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh wrestling team will open its dual meet season on Wednesday at Grace Hall in Bethlehem, Pa., against the No. 2-ranked Mountain Hawks of Lehigh.

The difficult beginning is something Head Coach Rande Stottlemyer is looking forward to, despite the youth of his team.

"A young team like we have wants to wrestle against the top competition," Stottlemyer said. "Lehigh is a strong program with nationally ranked wrestlers from top to bottom."

Indeed, eight of the Mountain Hawks' 10 weight classes will be manned by wrestlers ranked among the top 20. Lehigh has five of its wrestlers ranked in the top 10, including 165-pounder Troy Letters of nearby Shaler, Pa., who is ranked first in his weight class.

The following night, Pittsburgh will look to gain some revenge on Eastern Wrestling League rival Bloomsburg, who defeated the Panthers early last season by a final score of 20-13.

Wednesday's probable matchups:

125 - Drew Headlee (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 18 Mario Stuart (Lehigh)

133 - Adam Curry (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 16 Matt Ciasulli (Lehigh)

141 - Ronald Tarquinio (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 9 Cory Cooperman (Lehigh)

149 - Matt Kocher (Pittsburgh) vs. Tommy Rohn (Lehigh)

157 - Justin Nestor (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 3 Derek Zinck (Lehigh)

165 - Keith Gavin (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 1 Troy Letters (Lehigh)

174 - Francis Iorfido (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 3 Brad Dillon (Lehigh)

184 - Mike Croyle (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 6 Travis Frick (Lehigh)

197 - Josh Birt (Pittsburgh) vs. Matt Cassidy (Lehigh)

HWT - Travis Shirley (Pittsburgh) vs. No. 12 Joe Sahl (Lehigh)