South Mountain Way
Supporting Lehigh Wrestlers
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
Developing Leaders. Building Futures
The Leadership Pact is not just a program—it’s a launchpad.
It’s how we equip our wrestlers to lead in their communities, careers, and lives today and tomorrow.
The Leadership Pact is a cornerstone of our commitment to student-athlete development at Lehigh. Centered on education, leadership, and real-world experience, this initiative empowers wrestlers to grow personally and professionally beyond the mat. Structured around three core pillars: Leadership Training, Leadership Deployment, and Internships & Micro-internships, the Leadership Pact offers a pathway to build critical skills, make a lasting impact, and prepare for life after college.
Leadership Training
Wrestlers participate in a dynamic curriculum focused on self-awareness, team leadership, and effective communication. Through workshops, mentorship, and guided development, they gain the tools and confidence to lead in any environment. This experience culminates in the formation of a developmental leadership cadre, a group of student-athletes committed to growth, service, and excellence.
Leadership Deployment
What’s learned in training is put into action. Wrestlers take on meaningful community engagement projects across the Lehigh Valley and beyond. These include:
Wrestling clinics for youth
School visits and speaking engagements
Volunteer efforts and fundraising for local nonprofits
Special Olympics involvement
Food drives and service events
Social impact campaigns via digital platforms
These hands-on experiences challenge student-athletes to lead with empathy, purpose, and accountability.
Internships & Micro-internships
Through curated internship opportunities and short-term career experiences, wrestlers explore their professional interests, build networks, and develop workplace skills that support long-term success no matter their future path.
Leadership
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Tradition
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Excellence
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Leadership • Tradition • Excellence •
“Lehigh Wrestling has always been about more than what happens on the mat. As a former Lehigh wrestler, I experienced that firsthand. The coaches, teammates, alumni and community challenged me to become a better wrestler, but more importantly, a better leader and person. When you choose Lehigh Wrestling, you are choosing to be part of something that has been built over generations, and there is a responsibility that comes with wearing the Lehigh singlet.
The Leadership Pact gives us an opportunity to build on that tradition and make that part of the Lehigh experience even more intentional. We want our wrestlers to have meaningful opportunities to lead, serve and make an impact while they are here, whether that is in the classroom, in the community or through their future careers. If we can help our athletes develop those skills and understand that their impact extends well beyond the wrestling room, then we are doing more than building a wrestling program. We are helping develop the next generation of Lehigh leaders.”
- Head Coach Brad Dillon
“At Lehigh University our wrestling program has a proud tradition of producing All-Americans and conference champions—athletes who exemplify excellence, discipline, and heart. That legacy is driven by a powerful team culture, and we’re building on it through new initiatives in leadership education, service to their community, and traditional NIL opportunities. These efforts give our student-athletes the tools to lead with integrity, grow their personal brands, and uphold the standards that define Lehigh wrestling, both on the mat and in life.”
— Jeremy Gibson, Director of Athletics
