10/10/2016 5:40:00 PM
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Wrestling
Lehigh holds first official practice of 2016-17 season
Lehigh Wrestling Tickets
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh wrestling team took to the mats of the Caruso Wrestling Complex Monday for the first official practice of the 2016-17 season. The Mountain Hawks open official practice with a 43 man roster and a solid mix of experience and young talent as Lehigh looks to improve upon a 13-3 dual season, second place EIWA finish and 14th place NCAA finish a season ago.
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The official Oct. 10 start date leaves just 17 days before Lehigh's annual Brown and White wrestle-offs and just under a month before the dual season-opener versus Bucknell Nov. 11 inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The 2016-17 campaign will once again culminate in March as the NCAA Championships return to St. Louis.
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"The two best days of the year are the first day of practice and day three of the NCAA Tournament," Lehigh head coach
Pat Santoro said. "We're excited. We have a lot of new faces in the room. We had a good summer and a good fall. We just want to see how good we can be before the year ends."
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The Lehigh roster features three returning All-Americans in seniors
Randy Cruz and
Mitch Minotti and junior
Darian Cruz. Both Cruz brothers have won previous individual EIWA titles, with Darian claiming his last season. The trio of returning All-Americans are three of the eight returning NCAA qualifiers on Lehigh's roster, a list that also includes seniors
Laike Gardner and
Doug Vollaro and sophomores
Scott Parker,
Ryan Preisch and
Gordon Wolf.
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On the other side, more than half of Lehigh's roster is comprised of first or second-year wrestlers, including an 11-wrestler true freshman class.
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The mix of experience and talented youth should create one of the most competitive Lehigh wrestling rooms.
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"We have a great group that's excited about being here and getting better," said Santoro, who begins his ninth season. "We have a lot of work to do, but we're excited about being here and that's the most important part.
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"Half of our team is first and second year guys," Santoro continued. "It's a good balance. It's a really good mix. We have great leadership and some great young attitudes coming into our room so we'll see how that comes together this year."
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One area of intrigue entering this season is the middle weights, where returning qualifiers like Minotti, Preisch and Wolf will be challenged by experienced veterans like junior
Drew Longo and sophomore
Ian Brown, while deferred freshmen
Jordan Kutler and
Cole Walter are among those also contributing to the competition.
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"The question is how big are they willing to believe they can go?" Santoro said of his team. "We have a lot of talent but unless they really believe it and buy into it on a daily basis it won't happen. They're willing to push each other. We have so many talented guys in those middle weights. A lot of good things can happen because the guys who come to the top are going to be well prepared."
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Last year's graduating class featured three All-Americans who were also strong leaders, but Santoro is pleased with the leadership in place for this year's team.
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"Returning guys like Mitch (Minotti), Laike (Gardner) and Darian (Cruz) have all been pretty vocal," Santoro said. "Of the younger guys,
Jordan Kutler has started to come on a little bit. It's exciting to see, but we're not going to put it all on one person.
Ryan Preisch is another guy who's made a big step. This team just needs to keep moving forward together."
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The 2016-17 season begins with annual Brown and White Wrestle-offs, set for Thursday Oct. 27, inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Lehigh will send a contingent to the East Stroudsburg Open on Sunday, Nov. 6 before opening the dual season against Bucknell inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Tickets for all home duals are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
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