North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Wrestling Travels to Seventh-Ranked Lehigh
2/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 6, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State wrestling coach Bob Guzzo likes to challenge his wrestlers each year with a difficult slate of opponents, and 2003-04 has been no different. On Saturday, February 7, Guzzo's Wolfpack will face its third top-10 opponent since January 10 when the Pack takes on No. 7 Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa.
NC State previously faced third-ranked Illinois on January 10, and eighth-ranked Oklahoma on January 31.
"We want to test our kids against tough competition," Guzzo said. "We have high expectations for the postseason, and opponents like Illinois, Oklahoma and Lehigh are what you see in the postseason. If we're going to do anything at nationals, our kids need to face that kind of competition now so they won't be overwhelmed in March."
The Wolfpack will head into the Lehingh match banged up once again. Senior 157-pounder Scott Garren (11-2 and ranked No. 16 nationally) is nursing a sore knee that has bothered him on and off since undergoing reconstructive surgery three years ago. Senior 165-pounder Dustin Kawa (11-3) suffered a mild head injury at Oklahoma. Both are questionable for the Lehigh bout, as is sophomore 184-pounder Daniel Humphries (11-10), who injured an ankle Wednesday night vs. Old Dominion.
Senior 149-pounder Jake Giamoni (12-5), junior 141-pounder Alex Hernandez (13-8) redshirt-freshman Jeremy Hartrum (9-4), redshirt-freshman 125- and 133-pounder Garrett Cummings (8-5) and true freshman Zach Garren (11-9) highlight the rest of the Wolfpack lineup, which will face a formidable task at Lehigh.
The Mountain Hawks have seven starters currently listed in the national rankings, including Troy Letters (23-0 and No. 1 at 165), Brad Dillon (19-0 and No. 5 at 174) and Cory Cooperman (12-2 and No. 6 at 141).
Following the trip to Lehigh, NC State will return to Reynolds Coliseum for its final two home matches of the season. The Wolfpack will take on arch-rival North Carolina on Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m., and Virginia on Saturday, February 14 at 2 p.m.
