South Mountaineer Volume 36, Issue 15

              LEHIGHLIGHTS
GIVING IT ALL AWAY — The month ol"
February will feature some exciting
giveaways al Stabler Center during Lehigh
basketball contests. On February 2 in a
doubleheader against Lafayette starling at
5:15 p.m.. free ice scrapers will be given
away to the first 750 fans courtesy of
Edwards Business Machines. On February
5th's doubleheader against Navy beginning
al 12:45 p.m. free Ncrf basketballs and hats
will be given away to the first 500 fans
courtesy of NationsCredit. Finally, on
February 26 against Colgate (a 5:15 start to
llic doubleheader). free posters will be given
away to all fans courtesy ol'Chrisimas Cily
Priming.
MISSISSIPPI STARS -- Three Lehigh
University football players have been
selected to play in the Magnolia All-Star
Football Classic which will be played in
Jackson. Mississippi on January 29th.
Lehigh representatives will include AII-
Anicriean wide receiver Dave Cecchini.
Ail ECAC punter Craig Melograno and
linebacker Kevin Jefferson. The game
matches all-stars from NCAA Division 1-A
schools vs. all-stars from NCAA Division
I-AA schools. Among those players selected
to play for the 1-A squad are Fresno State
quarterback-Trent pilfer and Rutgers
quarterback Brian Forlay.
'CAREER'    NIGHT AT STABLER   -
Four different players from Lehigh
basketball teams scored career highs in
points ihis past Saturday night at Stabler
Center. On the men's side, sophomore
Rashawne Glenn poured in 32 points while
senior Allan Campbell broke a Stabler
Center record with six three-pointers en
route lo a career-high 24 points. Also, senior
Mike McKee tallied a career best with 12
points. On the women's side, freshman
Kari Herzog paced the Engineers with 19
points to break her previous mark of 13
points. For more on last weekend's
basketball action, please see pages 2.
INSIDE the Mountaineer
Troyan Incorporated 2
A touch of Spain 3
Singleton's success  3
Cline cashing in 4
Winter sports slate.. 4
PL hoops standings 4
DID YOU KNOW?
Prior to Saturday
night's 105-94 victory over
Army, the last time the
Lehigh men's basketball
team had reached the
100-point plateau at
Stabler Center was on
December 5,1989 in a
103-77 victory over
Muhlenberg College.
Oil
Closson carrying 'heavy' duties
Freshman making great strides in starting role at heavyweight
By ROB SCHMIDT
Sports Information Assistant
When Bill Closson stepped
on the wrestling mat at age
eight, 'future Lehigh wrestler'
wasn't the first thing that came
to the minds of those who
watched.
"When I first started wrestling I was horrible," said
Closson. "I got pinned by
everyone. But I'm the type of
person that sticks at things
and won't give up, and I'm
glad I didn't."
Lehigh wrestling faithful
are also glad he didn't. The
freshman enrolled in the college of Arts & Science has
been the starter at heavyweight all season, and has
compiled nine wins so far in
the young season including a
Sheridan Tournament championship.
For Closson, the decision
to come to Lehigh wasn't a
difficult one.
"I was looking at Brown
and Bucknell as other possible schools, but I felt that
Lehigh had a lot more to offer
in a great education and a
great wrestling program,"
Closson says. "I feel that I
can be a national champion here and
do someting outside of wrestling
when I graduate."
Although he is off to a great start
this season, Closson refuses to just sit
back and count W's and L's.
"I'm not going to measure my suc-
Bill Closson has taken on a major responsibility in his freshman year and
performing admirably.
what he is going to do, and so I can figure
out the best way to open him up and break
his defense."
Closson has had plenty of chances to
learn from the nation's best heavyweight
wrestlers this season.
In the Sheridan Tournament, Closson
cess by wins or losses or number of    faced the first-seeded Angelo Borzio of
-Photo by Joe Ryan
Grace Hall
another of
Penn State
wanted to receive academic honors and win the
state championship in
high school and I did.
Now I'm looking for a collegiate championship."
MAT WRAP: Lehigh
lost 2I-15 decision to
Rider on Saturday at
Grace Hall...Broncs won
first three bouts before
Chris O' By rne posted 4-3
decision over Frances
Dunn al I42... Brian
Cippolonescored6-1 victory over Bob Ciaccia at
158 and Rick Hepp won
12-4 major decision over
Justin Meyer at 177...Despite Rider already having clinched the match.
Closson recorded a technical fall over Mike
Westhead to end match
on a      positive
note...Engineers fell to l-
5 on the season...Lehigh
takes on Navy on Saturday in Annapolis with the
junior varsity match starting al noon and the varsity match set for 2
p.m...Engineers return to
Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. to face
the nation's top 10 teams in
pins," Closson explains. "I measure
success by how much I learn, so I can
prepare to be a national champion."
There certainly is a lot to learn for
a freshman starting at heavyweight at
the Division I level. Although there
isn't the constant pressure of having
to cut weight, there is more preparation for each upcoming opponent.
East Stroudsburg University and defeated
him in impressive fashion, 12-6.
Closson went up against one-time*Pitt
All-American Perry Miller at Midlands,
and later faced third-ranked Justin
Greenlee of Northern Iowa and second-
ranked Steve King of Michigan in dual
meet action.
Having to face the tops in the nation
Closson, a heavyweight wrestler    doesn't intimidate Closson, however.
since his junior year in high school,
feels that proper preparation for a
match is essential.
"There is more strategy involved
for each wrestler you have to go up
"I always go into a match thinking that
I have a shot at winning," says Closson.
"I'm just focussed now on improving as
much as I can."
Focus might be one of Closson's great-
against, " says Closson. "Some are est assets as he aims for a goal that every
quicker, some are more skillful, and collegiate wrestler shoots for- an NCAA
some are much bigger. championship.
"I like to watch an opponent on "I'm the type of person that sets goals
film before I wrestle him so I know    and achieves them," Closson says.    "I
Rider 21, LEHIGH 15
l IK - Dan Finnachio (R) dec. Jason Kutz. 7-6.
126 - Mark Di Slel'ano (R) WBF Marc Lombardy
in 6:03
134 - Jason Nasc (R) dec. Ed Andres. 5-3
142 - Chris O'Byrne (L) dec. Frances Dunn.4-3.
150 - Doug Bonshak (R) dec. Brian Slrunck. 4-2.
158 - Brian Cipollone (L) dee. Bob Ciaccia, 6-1.
167 - Dion Viseonli (R) dec. Cory Brechbill. 9-7.
177 - Rick Hepp (L) MD Justin Meyer, 12-4.
190 - Mike Jenson (R) dee. Mike Hcytllaul', 11 -5.
HWT - Bill Closson (L) WTF Mike Westhead
in 7:00