Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Lehigh
Dragons Unable to Upend No. 8 Lehigh
1/23/2009 9:49:07 PM | Wrestling
Bethlehem, Pa. - Drexel wrestling took three matches from the eighth-ranked team in the nation, Lehigh, but the Mountain Hawks prevailed, 27-13. Jon Oplinger upped his record to 23-2 on the season with a win by major decision at 197 pounds and Michael Gomez won at 125 pounds but the story was Drexel's 174-pounder. Dave Woodall took the 15th-ranked Alex Caruso to overtime before Woodall pulled off a 10-8 win in sudden victory overtime.
Lehigh, who have now won 17 of its 18 matches this season, got off to a tough start after Gomez recorded six team points for the visitors when the Mountain Hawks' Mitch Berger defaulted due to injury. Lehigh bounced back to take the next five matches to pull out to a 21-6 lead to seemingly put the match out of reach. Woodall's monumental effort in overtime against Caruso pulled the Dragons to within 21-9 with three matches remaining. At 184 pounds, Justin Wieller was hoping to replicate Woodall's feat as Wieller was set to wrestle the 15th-ranked David Craig. Unfortunately for the Dragons, Craig prevailed with a 6-0 decision to clinch the match for Lehigh. Oplinger followed by convincingly defeating Joe Kennedy, 19-7. Lehigh wrapped up the match with a win at 285 pounds.
The Dragons return to action tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. as Drexel hosts Boston. The first 100 fans will receive a t-shirt commemorating Head Coach Jack Childs' 400th career Drexel victory.
125
Michael Gomez (Drexel)
default
Mitch Berger (Lehigh)
0:58
133
Matt Fisk (Lehigh)
dec.
Frank Cimato (Drexel)
7-0
141
Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh)
fall
Matt Dugan (Drexel)
1:34
149
Trevor Chinn (Lehigh)
fall
Robert Robinson (Drexel)
4:05
157
Sean Bilodeau (Lehigh)
dec.
Billy Haydt (Drexel)
2-0
165
Mike Galante (Lehigh)
dec.
Scott Hunter (Drexel)
9-4
174
Dave Woodall (Drexel)
dec.
Alex Caruso (Lehigh)
10-8 s.v.
184
David Craig (Lehigh)
dec.
Justin Wieller (Drexel)
6-0
197
Jon Oplinger (Drexel)
maj. dec.
Joe Kennedy (Lehigh)
19-7
285
Zach Rey (Lehigh)
dec.,
Kyle Frey (Drexel)
9-5
