Lehigh jumped to a 10-point lead on the first three matches of the evening. Lehigh's Matt Fisk used a second-period escape to earn a 1-0 decision over Steve Mytych (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) in a match-up of freshman 125-pounders. Lehigh's Jon Stout and Cory Cooperman followed with a pair of decision victories, the latter a major decision. Facing a 10-point deficit, the Dragons looked to junior Chris Renninger (Cresonia, Pa./Blue Mountain) to get them back in the match. Renninger responded with his 10th pin of the season at 3:33 of the match. In the next match, 19th-ranked Ryan Hluschak (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) recorded a win by fall of his own when he matted Trevor Chinn at 4:18. Hluschak has now won 16 of his last 17 matches. The two wins by fall put Drexel on top, 12-10.
Lehigh countered with former NCAA national champion Troy Letters at 165 pounds. The senior defeated Drexel's Scott Hunter (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus), 17-3, to give the Mountain Hawks a 14-12 match lead. Lehigh also won at 174 and 184 pounds, the latter by major decision to extend its lead to 21-12. At 197 pounds, Drexel's Jon Oplinger (Bath, Pa./Northampton) stunned 16th-ranked Matt Cassidy when he earned a 16-6 major decision to pull Drexel within five points with just one match remaining. Defending CAA heavyweight champion Chris Cowen (Mexico, N.Y./Mexico) faced Lehigh's heavyweight offering, Kevin McFarland, who usually wrestles at 197 pounds. Cowen earned a pair of takedowns and was awarded a point when McFarland was cited for stalling but was unable to record a pin. Cowen did win a 7-0 decision, though the Mountain Hawks escaped with a 21-19 match win.
Drexel will host the 2006 CAA Championships on March 3 and 4. The first match is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 3.
February 19, 2006 (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Lehigh 21, Drexel 19
125 - Matt Fisk (L) d. Steve Mytych, 1-0
133 - John Stout (L) d. Zach Makovsky, 7-3
141 - Cory Cooperman (L) m.d. Billy Martin, 24-11
149 - Chris Renninger (D) wbf. Matt Ennis, 3:33
157 - Ryan Hluschak (D) wbf. Trevor Chinn, 4:18
165 - Troy Letters (L) m.d. Scott Hunter, 17-3
174 - Travis Frick (L) d. Nick Kozar, 3-2
184 - David Helfrich (L) m.d. Brian Stouffer, 12-3
197 - Jon Oplinger (D) d. Matt Cassidy, 16-6
HWT - Chris Cowen (D) d. Kevin McFarland, 7-0
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