Lehigh's Owen Trephan (285) has been named the 2025 EIWA Wrestler of the Year as voted by the EIWA coaches.
Ownen Trephan's decision to transfer from NC State to Lehigh for his final semester of eligibility paid off with an EIWA Championship, an All-American performance at the NCAA Championships and EIWA Wrestler of the Year accolades!
Trehphan posted a 2024-25 record of 25-2 (15-2 for Lehigh) making him most deserving of Wrestler of the Year honors. His only losses of the year came at the NCAA Championships, where he posted a 5th place finish, the highest for an EIWA wrestler this season.
The two-time ACC Champion from NC State faced the reality of yielding his starting spot in his final year of eligibility at NC State (to All-American Issac Trumble). Facing that possibility, Trephan made the prudent decision to transfer to Lehigh, a school with a tradition of standout heavyweight wrestlers, including current upper weight coach and former NCAA Champion for Lehigh, Zach Rey.
In late December during early season competition (wrestling unattached), Trephan won Lehigh's Sheridan Tournament. He was also champion at the Battle at the Citadel and in his pool at Journeymen Collegiate Classic. He went a perfect 7-0 against NCAA qualifiers prior to the NCAA Tournament.
At the EIWA Championships, Trephan won matches over Logan Shephard (Bucknell) and Xavier Doolin (Morgan St.), before defeating Cory Day (Binghamton) in the finals by dec. 7-1.
In Philadelphia, at the NCAA Championship, Trephan went 4-2. His match results were:
First rnd. won by tech fall No. 29 Ashton Davis (Cornell) 17-2, 5:39
Rd. of 16: dec. No. 13 Seth Nevills (Maryland) 8-3
Quarterfinals: dec. No. 5 Ben Kueter (Iowa) 4-2
Semifinal: loss by mdec. No. 1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota) 13-5
Consolation semifinal: loss by dec. No. 7 Isaac Trumble (NC State) 4-3
Fifth place match: won by medical forfeit Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State)
In high school Trephan won two National Prep championships, a South Carolina state championship, a Beast of the East title and was a Walsh Ironman tournament runner-up. He also competed and won as part of the USA All-Star team at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic.