South Mountain Way
Supporting Lehigh Wrestlers
Name. Image. Likeness.
The South Mountain Way
Perched atop South Mountain lies the prestigious campus of Lehigh University, where the proud tradition of Lehigh University wrestling thrives. Renowned for its commitment to excellence, the wrestling program consistently ranks among the nation's elite, boasting a legacy of All-Americans, national champions, and Olympic athletes. Through the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, Lehigh wrestlers have the chance to develop invaluable leadership skills, serve as ambassadors for businesses, support charitable causes, and embody the core values of Lehigh University.
South Mountain Way represents a collective endeavor to enhance opportunities for Lehigh University's wrestlers. Spearheaded by a coalition of Lehigh Alumni, South Mountain Way is dedicated to enabling wrestlers to access NIL opportunities through partnerships with corporate brands, in addition to developing wrestlers through non-NIL initiatives such as the innovative Leadership Pact.
Name. Image. Likeness.
Name Image Likeness (NIL) is a way for college athletes to receive compensation by representing products, services, and organizations. Since a wrestler’s demanding schedule makes it challenging to have a part-time job like other students, recent legislation and rule changes permit individuals, businesses, and other organizations to compensate athletes in exchange for promotional services. Lehigh University competes in EIWA and National Championships. By engaging with our wrestlers, you can provide financial support for individual athletes and/or the entire team as they collectively pursue excellence together.
Leadership Pact
The Leadership Pact offers wrestlers a transformative path to personal and professional growth beyond traditional academic and athletic settings. This comprehensive program is structured around three core pillars: Leadership Training, Leadership Deployment, and Internships/Micro-internships.
Under the umbrella of Leadership Training, wrestlers undergo a process designed to foster self-awareness, cultivate leadership skills, and develop the ability to build and lead effective teams. This culminates in the formation of a developmental cadre, wherein individuals are equipped with the tools and mindset necessary for impactful leadership roles.
In addition to structured training, wrestlers actively engage in community outreach initiatives aimed at making a positive impact within the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. These activities encompass a wide range of endeavors, including wrestling clinics, speaking engagements, volunteer work at local schools, fundraising events, collaboration with local businesses and non-profits, participation in Special Olympics events, food drives, and meaningful interactions through social media platforms.
Through these collective efforts, our wrestlers are empowered to leverage their leadership capabilities and drive meaningful change both locally and on a broader scale.
Leadership
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Tradition
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Excellence
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Leadership • Tradition • Excellence •
“Lehigh has a long tradition of developing leaders on and off the mat. The Leadership Pact gives us an opportunity to lean into our proud tradition and further impact our wrestlers and the community around us.
The Leadership Pact stands as an example of Lehigh Wrestling innovation. A private school that built a wrestling program that could compete with schools 20 times our size and has had a profound impact on the lives of thousands of young men from all over the country.
Our expectation is that with the help of our partners, we can show athletes, parents and the whole wrestling community a more positive way forward and attract the kinds of athletes that will represent the university well and make a difference in our community”
-Coach Pat Santoro