Minotti Stays Home

Lehigh Secures Local Product

Willie Saylor, Editor
Reigning Pennsylvania State Champion Mitch Minotti gave the Lehigh wrestling staff its first verbal commitment of the 2012 recruiting class last week.

Minotti has placed at the PIAA State tournament all three years of his high school career, taking 7th as a Fr. 119lber, and 5th as a So. At 130. He won his state title this year at 140lbs.

He’s also had success at NHSCA’s in Virginia Beach, placing 4th both as a freshman and sophomore before winning the Junior title this spring.

A product of Easton Area High School, Minotti will move to Lehigh’s South Mountain Campus, just ten minutes down the road. Other Easton wrestlers that have matriculated to Lehigh include Bobby Weaver and Matt and Seth Ciasulli.

Minotti, who will be recognized as our #1 149lber in our Top Prospects later this month, could factor into the Mountain Hawks’ future line-up at 149 or 157.

We had a chance to catch up with Mitchell to get his decision in his own words:

WS: What made you choose Lehigh?

MM: There were a lot of factors, and I thought about it for a long time. At Lehigh, everyone felt like a close family. Santoro and the rest of the staff are great people. It’s a place I can improve myself. And of course, Lehigh has a great wrestling tradition with big crowds and a great local following.

WS: What other schools were you considering?
MM: Nebraska, Cornell, Penn State, and Northwestern

WS: What is your relationship with the coaches and wrestlers at Lehigh like.
MM: We really bonded. I really trust the coaching staff. The coaches, the wrestlers, they’re all great people; the kind of people I want to be around, and who will help me succeed. What I liked about the program at Lehigh is that they want to not just be good in wrestling, but to get good grades, and to prepare for life after college.

WS: What was your experience like on Lehigh’s campus?
MM: It had a great feel to it. The wrestling room has so much tradition. And at the same time, they’re building new state-of-art facilities, so I will have the opportunity to be a part of the next chapter in their wrestling history. The campus itself is small, and I like that. It’s a place that feels familiar.

WS: What might you major in?
MM: Business or Finance. I’m sure it will be one of the two. And then I might get a law degree after that.

WS: What are your college goals?
MM: The first thing I want to do is keep a high G.P.A. After that I think the everything will fall into place. The coaching staff will definitely help me improve. I want to keep working hard in the room, make the podium at NCAA’s, and move on up to the top of it.