In a highly anticipated wrestling dual meet held at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks faced off against the top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions in front of a sellout crowd of 9,769. This marked the second-largest home audience in Lehigh’s history, but unfortunately, they witnessed a challenging match for the Mountain Hawks. Penn State showcased their dominance, winning decisively with a score of 36-3, marking their 14th consecutive victory over Lehigh in their historic rivalry.
The lone win for Lehigh came from sophomore Braeden Davis, who triumphed in a tightly contested 4-2 decision against his counterpart, showcasing the talent of both wrestlers, who are ranked in the top ten nationally. The match began at 125 pounds, where Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl secured an early advantage with a 4-1 decision, setting the tone for the rest of the dual.
As the competition progressed, Penn State’s wrestlers continued to shine, claiming six bonus-point victories throughout the bouts, including a technical fall and a pin. Noteworthy performances included dominant wins by top-ranked wrestlers such as Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 pounds and Greg Kerkvliet at heavyweight.
Following this demanding dual meet, Lehigh will take a break for final exams before returning to competitive action on December 20, when they host the Sheridan Tournament at Stabler Arena.
Overall, while the outcome was disappointing for Lehigh, the experience of competing against the reigning champions can serve as a learning opportunity for the team moving forward. Fans remain hopeful that the Mountain Hawks will regroup and build on this experience as they continue their season.
Summary: Lehigh faced a tough match against Penn State, losing 36-3 in front of a record crowd. The Mountain Hawks’ only win came from sophomore Braeden Davis. Despite the defeat, they look to learn and improve as they prepare for their upcoming events after a break for exams.