Feb. 3, 2004

Lehigh University has long been known for its outstanding academic reputation. The school has attracted students from near and far to take full advantage of the resources available. But, these days, Lehigh Athletics is also attracting student-athletes from all corners of the country. Currently, Lehigh student-athletes represent 37 states and that number seems to increase each and every year.

Greg Strobel, Lehigh's wrestling coach, believes that there are two main reasons why Lehigh can go after student-athletes from across the Unites States. "The success of our alumni speaks for itself. After receiving a top-notch education on the east coast at Lehigh and going on to do some great things, the word has gotten out about our tremendous educational opportunities here."

Strobel continues, "The second reason that we can attract the best is due to our success on the mat. When I started here, we had to sell the past, but now we are able to sell the present and the future," Stobel goes on to say, "We are caught in a niche between the Ivy League schools and the Big Ten schools in that we offer an Ivy education with the wrestling of a Big Ten institution, so we can offer the best of both worlds to our student-athletes."

Coming to Lehigh from Shawnee, Oklahoma, Jana Ransom, a senior on the women's basketball team says that her and a friend stuck by each other in the early going. "My best friend is from California and we made a pact to stay together and to always be there for one another. It was hard at first to be so far from home, but my friend and the members of the team made the transition pretty easy."

Ransom, a marketing major who sports a 3.05 GPA, said that the family atmosphere on the team influenced her decision to attend Lehigh. "I really liked the school when I visited here. The coaches and members of the team were like a big family, always hanging out and that was ideal for me."

Ransom continues, "I wanted to come to a good academic school and have a chance to play right away, which Lehigh offered, so this was the place for me."

Sophomore Mike Fischman, a center on the men's basketball team came to Lehigh from Cooper City, Florida. "Well, I definitely did not choose Lehigh for the weather," Fischman jokes. "But, I really liked the size of the school because I did not want to go somwhere with 40,000 students, so Lehigh was perfect in that sense."

Fischman, a business major, continues, "The educational opportunities at Lehigh were a deciding factor along with the chance to play at a Patriot League school. Finally, the coaches are so young, that they can relate to what we are going through as players; they always make us feel comfortable, no matter the situation."

Head women's soccer coach Manny Oudin fields a team that is made up of players from eleven different states and he says that due to the tremendous academic reputation of Lehigh, students are naturally drawn to the school. "Due to the popularity of women's soccer, there is not one hotbed in a certain part of the country, as there may be with other sports. Women's soccer is extremely popular across the country and that aids us in recruiting."

Oudin continues, "Lehigh has such a wonderful academic reputation and it is documented worldwide, that I don't have to sell that aspect - it sells itself", Oudin concludes, "If there is a kid from the mid-west or west coast that has the academic requirements and is looking for a different experience, Lehigh may be the place for them to get that."

Sophomore Erin Hengemuhle, an outfielder on the softball team with a 3.05 GPA in Arts and Sciences, came to Lehigh from Boulder, Colorado.

"I visited the campus in the fall when all of the leaves had changed and it was just gorgeous. I also like the east coast a lot so that definitely helped swing my decision."

Hengemuhle continues, "The success on the field that the softball team has had and the way that Coach Troyan and members of the team made me feel right at home made it an easy decision to choose Lehigh. Everyone was so nice and courteous towards me, I just couldn't pass it up."

Lehigh will always be known for its academics, but with coaches like Manny Oudin and Greg Strobel attracting student-athletes like Jana Ransom and Mike Fischman, Lehigh Athletics is fast on the path towards establishing a name that will be known across the country as well.