The Lehigh Valley Athletic Club made a successful return to Cleveland with our first-ever pair of finalists at the prestigious championship event and the first finalists since former LVAC head coach Kerry McCoy swept five straight from 2000-04. Last year, seven of eight LVAC entries placed 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 7th, led by a third place for Pat Cummins (211), who’s now trying his hand at Mixed Martial Arts competition. This year, Keith Gavin (185) and Steve Mocco (264) led the Club charge with silver medals. McCoy is now head coach at Maryland which has earned eight NCAA All-American medals since 2008, after a five-year rebuilding program led by LVAC overseer, Pat Santoro. (more…)

APRIL 10, 2011:   FIRST LVAC WINE-TASTING DINNER and FUND-RAISER

Capitalizing on a new fund-raising idea proposed by Ned Huber, LU ’65, the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club raised about $12,500 at an elegant five-course dinner and wine tasting party at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem in downtown Bethlehem.  Dinner fees netted about $5,500, with another $6,900 generated from the popular silent auctions touting fine dining and rare wines.

Among auction donors were Huber; NCAA champ Billy Stuart ‘66 and mate, Colleen; Carol and Joe Snyder ’65; Bobbi and Dave DeAngelo ’66 and Sandie and Garry Paul ’67. (more…)

LVAC athlete Keith Gavin placed third at the annual Cerro Pelado International held in Havana, Cuba on February 19-20. Keith opened with a loss to eventual runner-up Humberto Rodriguez Arencibia (Cuba) by the score of 2-4, 2-4. After defeating Jose Diaz of Venezuala via injury default, Keith toppled fellow American Bryce Hasseman (USA, NYAC) 4-0, 1-0 to take the Bronze medal. This tournament attracts some of the finest wrestlers world wide and will continue to do so due to it’s location. Having the opportunity to travel and compete in Cuba is a great experience both on and off the mat. Keith will remain in Cuba for a training cycle through Sunday of this week. Keith had the following to say regarding his overall experience. (more…)

Lehigh Valley Athletic Club wrestler and Lehigh Assistant Coach, Steve Mocco, made a big splash in his first return to the freestyle pool in over 18 months. Mocco won a strong heavyweight class at the Dave Schultz Memorial International, earning a gritty 1-0, 0-1, 1-0 semifinal win over veteran Aleksei Shemarov of Belarus, who placed 10th in the World in 2009. Shemarov outscored his other opponents, 26-0, to finish third. Mocco was the sole American to claim a Schultz title, although the LVAC’s Keith Gavin wrestled smart and tough to wind up in 2nd place, one place higher than last year. (more…)

MORE DAVE SCHULTZ COLOR FROM MASTER BLOGGER, LVAC Head Coach, Jason Kutz:

In a message on 2/4/2011 at 4:27 PM EST, [email protected] writes:

“The LVAC has 3 wrestlers competing this weekend in the Dave Schultz
International held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Matt Valenti, Keith Gavin,and Steve Mocco have all reached the semi finals that will go on at 4pm MST (6pm EST).”

(more…)

Sunday, October 24, 2010, Tempe, AZ

Matt Valenti, LVAC, won the prestigious Sunkist Open at 132 lbs to claim his first major freestyle title and did it by avenging last year’s loss for 3rd place to 2007 NCAA Outstanding Wrestler at 141, Derek Moore of the U.S. Army. (more…)

On the extended weekend of Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Mike Poeta and Matt Valenti were special Club visitors training extensively at one of numerous LVAC senior level workout sessions held during the year at Lehigh University in Bethlehem. (more…)