Junior Ryan Preisch posted his first pin of the season at 184, while freshman heavyweight Jordan Wood closed the dual with a major decision win as Lehigh improves to 11-3 on the dual season. Oklahoma was wrestling its final dual of the season and sets its sights on the Big 12 Tournament after an 8-11 dual season.
"In the first five we won the point battle but didn't win the fight battle," Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro said. "That's probably a little more important at this time of year, winning the fight battle. The second half guys wrestled really well, but overall, we'll need to be better on Sunday.
Decisions from returning All-Americans Darian Cruz (125) and Scott Parker (133) staked the Mountain Hawks to an early 6-0 lead. Cruz struck late in the first period for a takedown and added four near fall points on a cradle to lead 6-0 against Christian Moody. A stalling point gave Cruz a 7-0 lead after two, but Moody opened the third with a surprising four point near fall off a tilt and eventually rode out the period while earning a stalling point of his own as Cruz settled for a 7-5 decision.
The only points of Parker's 3-0 decision over Jacob Rubio came on a second period reversal and subsequent 1:37 ride out.
Oklahoma's lone win came at 141 as Mike Longo upset 11th-ranked freshman Luke Karam with an 8-0 major decision. Longo escaped early in the second and then was awarded a takedown late in the second period off a scramble after implementation of the new "danger" rules. Longo was also able to ride out the third period, adding a four point near fall and riding time to complete the major.
Junior Cortlandt Schuyler got Lehigh back on track and started a string of seven straight wins to close out the dual with an 8-7 decision over Davion Jeffries at 149. Jeffries scored the first takedown, but Schuyler responded with the next three, including a key score that beat the first period buzzer. Leading 8-4 in the third, Schuyler gave up a stalling point and a late takedown but held on for the one point victory.
A 7-2 decision by junior Ian Brown over Justin Thomas at 157 put Lehigh up 12-4 at intermission. Brown scored takedowns in the first and second periods and held riding time advantage but gave up a third period takedown while bidding for a major decision.
Junior Gordon Wolf opened the second half of the dual with a solid 5-1 decision over Dawaylon Barnes at 165. After a scoreless first period, Wolf scored a reversal and then a takedown in the second and added a penalty point for unnecessary roughness.
"He always keeps wrestling," Santoro said of Wolf. "You never worry about him not wrestling hard. He was in control a little bit more. He didn't go near his back. He was pretty upset the last two weekends, but he made the adjustment tonight and that made the difference."
The second of two bouts pitting top 20 wrestlers against one another came at 174 where fourth-ranked sophomore Jordan Kutler blanked No. 10 Yoanse Mejias 6-0. After a scoreless first period, Kutler scored an escape and takedown in the second and added an insurance takedown plus riding time in the third to secure his 19th victory of the season.
"That was a battle," Santoro said. "Those two guys are really good. It was really good to see Jordan go out and get that win because Mejias is really talented. We knew that would be a tight match."
Preisch made the most of his first Grace Hall appearance since November with his first period pin over Matt Waddell clinching the dual for the Brown and White. After a takedown, Preisch used a half nelson for four near fall points, then went back to the half late in the period, getting the fall at 2:54 to put Lehigh up 24-4 with two bouts remaining.
"Any time he's been on the mat it's good for him to get back into it," Santoro said of Preisch. "He hit some new things tonight that he hasn't done in a while and was able to get the pin."
At 197, freshman Chris Weiler edged Andrew Dixon 5-4, with Weiler scoring three escapes and a second period takedown to counter a pair of second period reversals by Dixon.
Wood broke open a 4-2 match with a big third period that featured one escape, two stalling points and three takedowns to complete a 14-4 major decision over Connor Webb.
The Mountain Hawks will close out the dual season on Sunday when they host Pitt on Senior Day with match time set for 2 p.m. from Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. A tickets are still available and can be purchased online at LehighTickets.com.
Results:
125 - Darian Cruz (Lehigh) dec. Christian Moody (OU) 7-5
133 - Scott Parker (Lehigh) dec. Jacob Rubio (OU) 3-0
141 - Mike Longo (OU) major dec. Luke Karam (Lehigh) 8-0
149 - Cortlandt Schuyler (Lehigh) dec. Davion Jeffries (OU) 8-7
157 - Ian Brown (Lehigh) dec. Justin Thomas (OU) 7-2
165 - Gordon Wolf (Lehigh) dec. Dawaylon Barnes (OU) 5-1
174 - Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) dec. Yoanse Mejias (OU) 6-0
184 - Ryan Preisch (Lehigh) Fall Matt Waddell (OU) 2:54
197 - Chris Weiler (Lehigh) dec. Andrew Dixon (OU) 5-4
285 - Jordan Wood (Lehigh) major dec. Connor Webb (OU) 14-4
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