No. 10 Lehigh stops No. 4 Oklahoma State by criteria, 21-20 on most points scored
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by Gary R. Blockus, Special to TheMat.com
Graphic courtesy of @LehighWrestling Twitter
Josh Humphreys lost 7-5 in sudden victory to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Sheets last season, and knew he could do better.
On Saturday afternoon, he proved it in front of 2,930 fans at Stabler Arena, running up a 16-2 major decision over Sheets after locking up a pair of four-point tilts in the first period of their 157-pound bout.
“I knew we were going to need points out there today,” the 10th-ranked Humphreys said. “I wanted to get the tech fall but it just didn’t happen. Obviously I’m happy with the win, but I’m just trying to get every point I can.”
Humphreys was one of the key heroes for Lehigh as the No. 10 Mountain Hawks upset No. 4 Oklahoma State in a criteria decision after the teams tied 20-20, split five bouts apiece, and had an equal number of six-point and four-point decisions.
The deciding criteria came down to points scored, and Lehigh led that 58-48 for its second-ever win over the Cowboys, and the first since Lehigh’s 18-13 win in 2008.
With Reece Witcraft failing skin inspection, Oklahoma State coach John Smith had no choice but to forfeit to No. 17 Nick Farrow at 133 in the last bout of the match. Neither Smith nor Cowboys wrestlers were made available for comment following the criteria loss.
“It is what it is,” Lehigh 12th year head coach Pat Santoro said of winning on criteria. “You never want that to happen, that a kid can’t wrestle because of skin check. It’s just not good for wrestling. It’s too bad they couldn’t wrestle. They’re disappointed, I know. We’re disappointed our guy didn’t get to wrestle. We’ll take the win. They’re a great team and I’m glad they came here.”
Humphreys and No. 2 Jordan Kutler (174) tallied impressive major decisions for Lehigh, both one-point short of tech falls, which would have turned the tables in the team score. No. 4 Mick Piccininni (125) and No. 5 Dakota Geer (197) had majors for the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State’s Anthony Montalvo scored a surprise pin over Chris Weiler at 184 in the opening match following the intermission, and Geer followed up with the major over No. 16 Jake Jakobsen. Both Weiler and Jakobsen appeared to run out of energy in the third period of their matches.
“We’ve got to have these big moments now so this doesn’t happen in the post-season,” Santoro said. “You saw it in some of those matches today.”
“You definitely saw some fatigue there,” said Kutler, a Lehigh captain along with heavyweight Jordan Wood. “I think it had more to do with atmosphere than conditioning. I think wrestling in here early, wrestling a really good team like Oklahoma State, is a good way to find things to work on.
The match kicked off with a at 141, with Lehigh senior Ryan Pomrinca hitting a single and a trip in the closing 13 seconds to take a 2-0 lead into the second period on Dusty Hone. Pomrinca escaped to start the second period and gave up an escape and stalling point in the third to hang on for a 3-2 decision over Hone (3-1) to put Lehigh on top 3-0.
Boo Lewallen, ranked No. 5 at 149, got the Cowboys on the scoreboard to tie the match. Lehigh sophomore Jimmy Hoffman earned a scoreless first period before Lewallen escaped at the start of the second. Lewallen (6-0) stuck a takedown and rode out Hoffman for a 3-0 lead with 1:156 of riding time heading into the final period, then rode him out for a 4-0 win to tie the score.
In a battle of redshirt freshmen at 165, No. 20 Travis Wittlake of Oklahoma State and Brian Meyer went scores through the first period before Wittlake escaped to start the second. Wittlake (6-0) converted a single for a takedown late in the period to take a 3-0 lead into the final period. Meyer (2-5) managed an escaped and forced a stalling warning in the third, but couldn’t get in deep on any shots, resulting in a 3-1 win for Wittlake as the Cowboys closed the team score, down 7-6.
With fifth-ranked Joe Smith still out of the lineup, Smith sent out Andrew Shomers against No. 2 Jordan Kutler in a battle of fifth-year seniors. Kutler (4-0) scored four first-period takedowns. Shomers gave up a stalling point in the second period, leading to a Kutler escape and takedown 12-3 lead heading into the final period before ending 20-6, the second Lehigh major decision just one point shy of a technical fall, as Lehigh took an 11-6 lead at intermission.
Chris Weiler opened up after intermission with Lehigh’s 12th takedown of the match, but Oklahoma State’s Montalvo reversed. Weiler then reversed, followed by another reversal by Montalvo to tie the score at 4. Weiler nearly pinned himself trying to get out before getting a reverse with two nearfall at the end of the first for an 8-4 lead. Montalvo picked up a stalling point on Weiler’s second-period ride before escaping. Montalvo took Weiler to his seat and earned a takedown to tie the score at 8 heading into the third.
Weiler (5-3) escaped to start the second, but Montalvo (4-0) took him down and let him up, forced a second stall call and took Weiler down two more times before pinning him in 6:26 to give the Cowboys their first lead of the day, 12-11.
John Smith bumped Geer (184), an All-American last year, up to 197 to take on No. 16 Jake Jakobsen. After a scoreless first period, Geer escaped and added a takedown in the second period. He let Jakobsen up at the start of the third in a game of let-him-up, take-him-down for a 15-5 major and a 16-11 Cowboy lead.
Wood, No. 6 in the country at 285, Lehigh’s other returning All-American, stopped the Lehigh losing streak with a 9-4 decision over Austin Harris at 285, cutting Oklahoma State’s lead to 16-14.
Oklahoma State’s Nick Piccininni, a redshirt senior, showed why he’s ranked No. 4 in the country. He fought off a deep shot by No. 17 Brandon Paetzell for the opening takedown at 125. The Cowboy reversed to begin the second period and built riding time. Down 4-1 and with Piccininni holding a gaping riding time advantage, Paetzell chose neutral to start the final period, but Piccininni was too active, adding a spinning takedown. He let Paetzell up and forced a stall call before adding another takedown for an 11-3 major for what should have been an insurmountable 20-14 team lead.
No. 4 Oklahoma State 21, No. 10 Lehigh 20
141 – Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) dec. Dusty Hone 3-2.
149 – No. 5 Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State) dec. Jimmy Hoffman 4-0.
157 – No. 10 Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) maj. dec. Wyatt Sheets 16-2.
165 – No. 19 Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) dec. Brian Meyer 3-1.
174 – No. 2 Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) maj. dec. Andrew Shomers 20-6.
184 – Anthony Montalvo (Oklahoma State) pinned Chris Weiler 6:26
197 – No. 5 Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State) maj. dec. No. 16 Jake Jakobsen 15-5.
285 – No. 6 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) dec. Austin Harris 9-4.
125 – No. 4. Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State) maj. dec. No. 17 Brandon Paetzell 11-3
133 – No. 19 Nick Farro (Lehigh) forfeit.
Attendance: 2,930.
Referees: John Hnath and Scott Bricker.
Josh Humphreys lost 7-5 in sudden victory to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Sheets last season, and knew he could do better.
On Saturday afternoon, he proved it in front of 2,930 fans at Stabler Arena, running up a 16-2 major decision over Sheets after locking up a pair of four-point tilts in the first period of their 157-pound bout.
“I knew we were going to need points out there today,” the 10th-ranked Humphreys said. “I wanted to get the tech fall but it just didn’t happen. Obviously I’m happy with the win, but I’m just trying to get every point I can.”
Humphreys was one of the key heroes for Lehigh as the No. 10 Mountain Hawks upset No. 4 Oklahoma State in a criteria decision after the teams tied 20-20, split five bouts apiece, and had an equal number of six-point and four-point decisions.
The deciding criteria came down to points scored, and Lehigh led that 58-48 for its second-ever win over the Cowboys, and the first since Lehigh’s 18-13 win in 2008.
With Reece Witcraft failing skin inspection, Oklahoma State coach John Smith had no choice but to forfeit to No. 17 Nick Farrow at 133 in the last bout of the match. Neither Smith nor Cowboys wrestlers were made available for comment following the criteria loss.
“It is what it is,” Lehigh 12th year head coach Pat Santoro said of winning on criteria. “You never want that to happen, that a kid can’t wrestle because of skin check. It’s just not good for wrestling. It’s too bad they couldn’t wrestle. They’re disappointed, I know. We’re disappointed our guy didn’t get to wrestle. We’ll take the win. They’re a great team and I’m glad they came here.”
Humphreys and No. 2 Jordan Kutler (174) tallied impressive major decisions for Lehigh, both one-point short of tech falls, which would have turned the tables in the team score. No. 4 Mick Piccininni (125) and No. 5 Dakota Geer (197) had majors for the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State’s Anthony Montalvo scored a surprise pin over Chris Weiler at 184 in the opening match following the intermission, and Geer followed up with the major over No. 16 Jake Jakobsen. Both Weiler and Jakobsen appeared to run out of energy in the third period of their matches.
“We’ve got to have these big moments now so this doesn’t happen in the post-season,” Santoro said. “You saw it in some of those matches today.”
“You definitely saw some fatigue there,” said Kutler, a Lehigh captain along with heavyweight Jordan Wood. “I think it had more to do with atmosphere than conditioning. I think wrestling in here early, wrestling a really good team like Oklahoma State, is a good way to find things to work on.
The match kicked off with a at 141, with Lehigh senior Ryan Pomrinca hitting a single and a trip in the closing 13 seconds to take a 2-0 lead into the second period on Dusty Hone. Pomrinca escaped to start the second period and gave up an escape and stalling point in the third to hang on for a 3-2 decision over Hone (3-1) to put Lehigh on top 3-0.
Boo Lewallen, ranked No. 5 at 149, got the Cowboys on the scoreboard to tie the match. Lehigh sophomore Jimmy Hoffman earned a scoreless first period before Lewallen escaped at the start of the second. Lewallen (6-0) stuck a takedown and rode out Hoffman for a 3-0 lead with 1:156 of riding time heading into the final period, then rode him out for a 4-0 win to tie the score.
In a battle of redshirt freshmen at 165, No. 20 Travis Wittlake of Oklahoma State and Brian Meyer went scores through the first period before Wittlake escaped to start the second. Wittlake (6-0) converted a single for a takedown late in the period to take a 3-0 lead into the final period. Meyer (2-5) managed an escaped and forced a stalling warning in the third, but couldn’t get in deep on any shots, resulting in a 3-1 win for Wittlake as the Cowboys closed the team score, down 7-6.
With fifth-ranked Joe Smith still out of the lineup, Smith sent out Andrew Shomers against No. 2 Jordan Kutler in a battle of fifth-year seniors. Kutler (4-0) scored four first-period takedowns. Shomers gave up a stalling point in the second period, leading to a Kutler escape and takedown 12-3 lead heading into the final period before ending 20-6, the second Lehigh major decision just one point shy of a technical fall, as Lehigh took an 11-6 lead at intermission.
Chris Weiler opened up after intermission with Lehigh’s 12th takedown of the match, but Oklahoma State’s Montalvo reversed. Weiler then reversed, followed by another reversal by Montalvo to tie the score at 4. Weiler nearly pinned himself trying to get out before getting a reverse with two nearfall at the end of the first for an 8-4 lead. Montalvo picked up a stalling point on Weiler’s second-period ride before escaping. Montalvo took Weiler to his seat and earned a takedown to tie the score at 8 heading into the third.
Weiler (5-3) escaped to start the second, but Montalvo (4-0) took him down and let him up, forced a second stall call and took Weiler down two more times before pinning him in 6:26 to give the Cowboys their first lead of the day, 12-11.
John Smith bumped Geer (184), an All-American last year, up to 197 to take on No. 16 Jake Jakobsen. After a scoreless first period, Geer escaped and added a takedown in the second period. He let Jakobsen up at the start of the third in a game of let-him-up, take-him-down for a 15-5 major and a 16-11 Cowboy lead.
Wood, No. 6 in the country at 285, Lehigh’s other returning All-American, stopped the Lehigh losing streak with a 9-4 decision over Austin Harris at 285, cutting Oklahoma State’s lead to 16-14.
Oklahoma State’s Nick Piccininni, a redshirt senior, showed why he’s ranked No. 4 in the country. He fought off a deep shot by No. 17 Brandon Paetzell for the opening takedown at 125. The Cowboy reversed to begin the second period and built riding time. Down 4-1 and with Piccininni holding a gaping riding time advantage, Paetzell chose neutral to start the final period, but Piccininni was too active, adding a spinning takedown. He let Paetzell up and forced a stall call before adding another takedown for an 11-3 major for what should have been an insurmountable 20-14 team lead.
No. 4 Oklahoma State 21, No. 10 Lehigh 20
141 – Ryan Pomrinca (Lehigh) dec. Dusty Hone 3-2.
149 – No. 5 Boo Lewallen (Oklahoma State) dec. Jimmy Hoffman 4-0.
157 – No. 10 Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) maj. dec. Wyatt Sheets 16-2.
165 – No. 19 Travis Wittlake (Oklahoma State) dec. Brian Meyer 3-1.
174 – No. 2 Jordan Kutler (Lehigh) maj. dec. Andrew Shomers 20-6.
184 – Anthony Montalvo (Oklahoma State) pinned Chris Weiler 6:26
197 – No. 5 Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State) maj. dec. No. 16 Jake Jakobsen 15-5.
285 – No. 6 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) dec. Austin Harris 9-4.
125 – No. 4. Nick Piccininni (Oklahoma State) maj. dec. No. 17 Brandon Paetzell 11-3
133 – No. 19 Nick Farro (Lehigh) forfeit.
Attendance: 2,930.
Referees: John Hnath and Scott Bricker.
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