Cooperman avenges an earlier loss
By J.F. PIRRO
The Express-Times
BETHLEHEM — If Lehigh University’s wrestling match with visiting Pennsylvania Sunday afternoon at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall was a tune-up for the EIWA Championships in two weeks, there’s at least one Mountain Hawk who now says he’s plenty ready.
Lehigh’s Cory Cooperman, the junior from Blair Academy who now lists his hometown as Easton, avenged an overtime defeat to Penn’s Doug McGraw in last postseason’s conference championships with a more-than-convincing 14-5 major decision in the final bout of the Hawks’ 37-6 victory over the Quakers in the season’s final dual meet.
“On my right arm is a tattoo that says ‘Vengence,’ ” said Cooperman, the country’s No. 5-ranked 133- pounder after manhandling 16th-ranked McGraw, the only ranked Penn wrestler in action.
“There are only a couple of guys who have ever beaten me that I haven’t had the chance of getting them back. Very few ever escape me again.”
Except for Cooperman, really, the final dual meet of the season was a time to look ahead, not back — even back at last Sunday’s second defeat this season to No. 1-ranked Oklahoma State in front of a record crowd (5,828) at Stabler Arena.
No. 4 ranked Lehigh (21-4, 7-0 in the EIWA), which has now gone undefeated in EIWA duals for the fifth time in the last six seasons, held No. 24 Penn (9-5, 5-2) to two takedowns all afternoon in front of 1,974. Both takedowns came at 184 where Lehigh’s David Helfrich was still a 5-4 winner over Dan Gallagher.
Cooperman (19-2), an All-American, had Sunday’s best opponent but made sure he dominated the bout. He led 4-1 after the first period, then 9-2 after the second.
He took McGraw down at will.
“He needed to get his confidence going, “Lehigh coach Greg Strobel said. “He controlled every position. It’s really one of the better matches I’ve seen him wrestle.”
Nursing a hamstring pull in his right leg, Cooperman sat out the Oklahoma State match once it was out of reach but told Strobel he’d cut off his leg if he wasn’t given the opportunity to meet McGraw.
“I was up by four or five then I lost in overtime, “he said, still reeling at the memory of last year’s setback. “It ruined my summer. I got so sick every time I would see ‘Penn’ or his name anywhere. I said, ‘Coach, you can’t hold me back today. This is too big for me.’
“This (win) could never make up for that other loss, “he said. “I’ll be old and gray and I’m still going to remember it because it cost me the 2004 title.”
For Lehigh’s two-time NCAA runner-up Jon Trenge, his final home bout and his 125th career victory was bittersweet. He received a standing ovation prior to the match as part of a senior-recognition program and then again when he finished off Penn’s Marcus Schontube, 8-5.
“I don’t know what they were cheering today, “Trenge said. “Maybe it was because I’ve had a good career. I appreciate all the support. They’ve been great fans. I wish I could have been a better athlete (this year).”
Trenge, a two-time All-American and EIWA champion, returned to the lineup against Army on Feb. 11 and last weekend for Oklahoma State. The former Parkland star had taken time off before that to nurse some injuries and also was idled by a second disqualification Jan. 23 in the Minnesota match at National Duals.
His bout Sunday was frought with stoppages — two each for blood and injury time for Trenge –as he combated both a cut under his right eye that results from the friction his goggles cause, and also what he called a possible dislocated jaw after he landed awkwardly. Still, his three takedowns stood up.
“He was taking shots but he was head-butting me, “Trenge said. “The shots were not at my legs. He was shooting with his head up.
“I wrestled through the pain but I’m not with it, mentally, “he continued. “All that totally distracted me and it made it tough for me to go down and shoot. It wasn’t worth it to shoot, so it was frustrating.”
“We almost said, ‘John, did you want to forfeit it?’ ” Strobel said. “He couldn’t. He had to win his last one at Grace Hall. He gutted it out and kept his cool and for that I commend him.”
No. 9 ranked Derek Zinck (19-3) and No. 1 Troy Letters (18-0), the defending NCAA champion, slapped back-to-back technical falls together at 157 and 165, respectively, to swell the lead to 13-0. The two combined for 41 points in 12:13.
Nazareth’s No. 6 ranked Travis Frick (17-5), another All-American and defending EIWA champ, might not have been as offensive in following Zinck and Letters in his 7-3 win over Dustin Wiles but a defensive spin move to avoid a takedown with 1:06 left in the second period was athleticism at its best. He twisted and turned until he was out of harm’s way then carried a 5-1 advantage into the final period.
Also in the victorious mix, Easton’s No. 5 Matt Ciasulli recorded his team-best 24th win with an impressive, aggressive fall in 57 seconds over Jeff Eveleth.
NOTES — Penn’s only points Sunday were a handout: Lehigh’s Andrew Rizzi, a senior at 125, didn’t make weight so the Hawks forfeited the class Arguably wrestling the toughest schedule in the nation, Lehigh has now gone 12-4 in 16 duals against 14 different ranked opponents The victory over Penn was the 22nd straight in dual meets against EIWA opponents.
LEHIGH 37, PENN 6
149 — Jr. Matt Anderson (11-4), L, d. Sr. Kyle Bernholz (10-13), 3-0.
157 — Jr. Derek Zinck (19-3), L, tf. So. Brock Wittmeyer (15-15), 20-4, 5:13.
165 — Jr. Troy Letters (18-0), L, tf. Sr. Rich Ferguson (14-11), 21-4, 7:00.
174 — Jr. Travis Frick (17-5), L, d. Jr. Dustin Wiles (21-9), 7-3.
185 — So. Dave Helfrich (14-10), L, d. So. Dan Gallagher (3-17), 5-4.
197 — Sr. Jon Trenge (22-3), L, d. Sr. Marcus Shonetube (20-11), 8-5.
Hwt — So. Paul Weibel (22-8), L, tf. Jr. Matt Smith (6-8), 17-1, 3:49.
125 — Sr. Mason Lenhard (12-10), P, forfeit.
133 — So. Matt Ciasulli (24-4), L, p. Sr. Jeff Eveleth (15-10), :55.
141 — Jr. Cory Cooperman (19-2), L, md. Sr. Doug McGraw (10-2), 14-5.
Records — Lehigh 21-4, 6-0; Pennsylvania 9-4, 4-2.
Wrestling Gear
