DON McCORKEL, Lehigh ’77, is considered one of Lehigh’s strongest wrestlers ever. A three-time EIWA champion, as a sophomore at 190 he beat Navy’s 5^th-ranked Jeff Simon in the finals. Don moved up to heavyweight in 1976 and earned an NCAA #3 seed following a 23-1 season with 13 falls, but didn’t place. During the season he lost a close East-West Classic showdown at heavyweight vs. Oregon State’s Larry Bielenberg (NCAA 5,1,3,2).  Dominant as a senior returnee to 190, McCorkel went 20-1 to earn the #2 seed at Nationals and won five bouts by three falls and shutouts of 12-0 and 6-0. The sole defeat was 7-5 to NCAA 2,1,2 Frank Santana of Iowa State – whom Donnie beat, 8-4, before a thunderous crowd that season in Grace Hall.

      Don’s win/loss mark for his final two years was 49-4 with 22 falls. His career record at heavyweight was 37-5 (.881), the third-best among all Lehigh wrestlers at the weight.