Penn State wrestling to reignite historic rivalry with Lehigh

As we gradually learn more about the path Penn State wrestling will take to a potential fourth consecutive National Championship in the 2024-25 season, we learned that one of the longest-standing rivalries in NCAA wrestling was being renewed on Monday. This December, Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions will travel to the PPL Center in Allentown to face the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. 

The news comes by way of the Lehigh schedule, which was released to kick off the week. Set for Sunday, December 8, the bout will be the second time Penn State wrestling competes in the PPL Center. 

Lehigh hosted Penn State at the AHL arena in 2017, where a record-breaking 9,896 spectators saw the No. 5 Mountain Hawks race out to a 15-0 lead before the No. 1 Nittany Lions rallied for a 23-19 victory.

Six of Lehigh’s seven largest dual meet crowds, including the top four, have come against the Nittany Lions. The close proximity between the two programs and the large Penn State fanbase always makes this dual one of the best environments of the year.

A historic rivalry for Penn State wrestling

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

This will be the 112th meeting between Penn State and Lehigh, with the first occurring in 1911. The Nittany Lions hold a 74-34-3 record against the Mountain Hawks in the series. Penn State has won the last 13 duals, aligning with the 15-season tenure of Cael Sanderson.

Lehigh is fresh off a 15th-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships. The Mountain Hawks return three All-Americans: Michael Beard, Ryan Crookham, and Luke Stanich.

Penn State returns multiple NCAA Champions to its lineup, including four-time individual National Champion Carter Starocci, and could infuse an influx of talent from the incoming freshmen class.

There is potential for three NCAA Champions and 11 All-Americans to take the mat between the two teams in what should be a clash of ranked opponents. 

General public ticket sales begin on September 23 from the PPL Center via Ticketmaster.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned, community-operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.