South Mountaineer Volume 31, Issue 20

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Volume 31, Number 20
March 9,1989
Bethlehem, Pa.
Photography by Ron Stumpf
Repeat C/iamp-This weekend John Epperly proved he was the top wrestler in the
EIWA at 126 after a 3-2 decision over Navy's John Kainer.
Six qualify for Nationals
By Megan Culhane
South Mountaineer Editor -i
Head coach Tom Hutchinson had run the gamut of emotions after the close of last weekend's
Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships. He had successfully qualified six
men for Nationals, had a repeat champ in 126-pounder John Epperly and a second place finish
with 102.25 behind Syracuse who boasted 116.50.
Leave it to Lehigh to come up with ^convincing tournament showing after a blase, 4-12,
dual meet season.
The 19th-ranked Orangemen copped the team trophy and had two champions in Mark Kerr
(190) and Tom Ryan (150), taking the hardware away from 1988 defending champ Lehigh who
turned in one champ. Both teams sport six qualifiers for Nationals in Oklahoma City with
Lehigh representatives in Rick Hartman (118), Epperly (126), Joe Herrmann (142), Solomon
Fleckman (167), Matt Ruppel (190) and John Morris (HWT).
"All season long we've stressed the individual." Hutchinson said. "Although Matt, John
and Joe lost in the finals. I'm not at ail unhappy with the way they wrestled."
Epperly. Lehigh's only All-American, downed Navy's John Kainer 3-2 with a last second
takedown en route to his second championship showing at 126. He was Lehigh's only champ.
"It was tough wrestling (Kainer) because he was a high school teammate of mine." Epperly
said after the win. "We wrestle all the time so we know each other's styles. He just really had
See QUALIFY page 3
End of season
Cagers fall to Towson
in first round of ECCs
The season is over, but the future is intact.
Lehigh lost to Towson State on Saturday, 90-74. in the
first round of the ECC Tournament at Towson Center. Lehigh
finished the season with a record of 10-18 and in the final
game, it was two freshman who helped keep the Engineers in
the contest most of the day.
Bob Krizansky scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Dozie Mbonu tallied 15 points and grabbed ten
boards for the Brown and White. Both freshmen were first and
second respectively in those categories on Saturday.
Lehigh, the seventh seed in the tournament, gave the
second-seeded Tigers a tough battle throughout the first half.
Though the Engineers trailed by nine at the half, 43-34, the
first half was a lot closer than the score indicated.
Krizansky, making
his first varsity start this
season, sank six of his
first six field goals
attempts, scored
thirteen points in the
first half and hit a tough
jumper in traffic with
7:53 left in the first half
to tie the score at 25.
Towson, behind a
partisan home crowd,
streaked ahead scoring
the next eight consecutive points to take a 33-
25 lead with 4:18
remaining ing the first half. During that run, Towson's Kurk
Lee scored five of his game high 29 points.
Leading by nine at the half, Towson maintained that
margin, ahead 58-49 with 11:07 remaining in the contest.
Lehigh would get no closer as Towson ran off seven straight
points to take a commanding 65-49 lead. The lead was
extended to 21 points with 4:38 left, and Towson coasted to
See FINAL page 2
Photography by Bill Greenfield
Neal Fenton at Towson State
SPORTS INSIDE
126-pounder, John Epperly said
a win was difficult against former
teammate and friend see page 3
Lafayette's first half knockout
blow ends Lady Cagers' season
see page 3
Dozie Mbonu: fourth Lehigh
eager to be named to the ECC
All-Rookie team see page 4