LHU Wrestling Goes 2-1 on Day 1 of Virginia Duals
HAMPTON, Va. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team picked up wins over Kent State University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the Bald Eagles finished Friday’s day one at the 37th annual Virginia Duals at 2-1 overall.
Lock Haven opened the day with a 32-10 win over Kent State and the Bald Eagles capped the day with a win over Chattanooga, edging the Mocs, 19-18. The win over UTC to close day one, helped LHU bounce back from a 35-6 loss to No. 5 Virginia Tech University in The Haven’s second match of the day.
Friday’s action marked LHU’s first trip to the Virginia Duals since 2014 and Lock Haven’s 16th all-time appearance at the tournament, which marks the sixth-most appearances by a collegiate team.
With the 2-1 outing, the Bald Eagles move to 5-4 overall and tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 14) Lock Haven will take on the University of Virginia to close out the 2017 Virginia Duals. UVA beat LHU 24-16 back on November 20.
The Bald Eagles opened the day in style, winning seven of 10 bouts in a 32-10 victory over Kent State. DJ Fehlman (Warren, Pa./Warren), Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) and Thomas Haines (Quarryville, Pa./Coughlin) all recorded pins, and Tristan Sponseller (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) registered a tech fall.
Lock Haven jumped out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back. Jake Field (South Elgin, Ill./Marmion Academy) opened the match with a win at 125 and Fehlman’s (133) pin had the Bald Eagles in control from the opening whistle.
Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) and Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) also won for Lock Haven, grabbing victories at 149 and 165, respectively.
LHU’s early momentum set the tone and the Bald Eagles finished strong as well, capping the match with three straight wins. The wins at 184, 197 and 284, all came by way of bonus points as the trifecta of Hazel, Sponseller and Haines continues to be a dominant force in duals.
In the second match of the day, Lock Haven fell to No. 5 Virginia Tech, 35-6. The Hokies lineup featured seven nationally-ranked wrestlers, including five ranked among the nation’s top-five.
Lewis Williams (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia) picked a win for Lock Haven, pinning Virginia Tech’s Kevin Norstren in just 24 seconds.
Despite a loss, Hazel gave No. 4 Zachary Zavatasky all he could handle, but in the end the Virginia Tech redshirt-sophomore edged Lock Haven’s talented redshirt-freshman, 4-2. The Hokies’ seventh-ranked Solomon Chishko downed Shoop, 8-3 as Shoop also continued to impress despite the loss.
The Bald Eagles closed day one with a thrilling win over Chattanooga, as the Bald Eagles edged the Mocs, 19-18.
Down 11-0 after UTC wins at 125, 133 and 141, Lock Haven rallied for four straight wins of its own.
Shoop won at 149, Jonathan Ross (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) won at 157, Siegrist won at 165 and Adam Mackie (Bechtelsville, Pa./Brandywine Height) picked up huge pin at 174, and the Bald Eagles led 16-11 after seven bouts.
A UTC win at 184 cut into The Haven lead, but Sponseller responded and his win at 197 had Lock Haven leading 19-15 heading into the final bout.
Despite a win at 285 by No. 11 Jared Johnson of Chattanooga, Lock Haven held on to win the dual 19-18.
Tomorrow’s (Saturday, Jan. 14) Silver Division Championship match with Virginia starts at 10 a.m.
Lock Haven 32 – Kent State 10
125: Jake Field (LHU) dec. Cory Simpson (KSU) 5-3
133: DJ Fehlman (LHU) pinned Ethan McCoy (KSU) 2:21
141: Chance Driscoll (KSU) major dec. Lewis Williams (LHU) 12-4
149: Kyle Shoop (LHU) dec. Tim Rooney (KSU) 6-1
157: Casey Sparkman (KSU) dec. Jonathan Ross (LHU) 10-5
165: Jared Siegrist (LHU) dec. Jared Walker (KSU) 9-3
174: Jairod James (KSU) dec. Adam Mackie (LHU) 15-12
184: Corey Hazel (LHU) pinned Jerald Sphon (KSU) 1:47
197: Tristan Sponseller (LHU) tech fall Stephen Suglio (KSU) 17-2
285: #16 Thomas Haines (LHU) pinned Devin Nye (KSU) 5:42
#5 Virginia Tech 35 – Lock Haven 6
125: #2 Joey Dance (VT) tech fall Jake Field (LHU) 20-4
133: Dennis Gustafson (VT) major dec. DJ Fehlman (LHU) 14-3
141: Lewis Williams (LHU) pinned Kevin Norstren (VT) 0:24
149: #7 Solomon Chishko (VT) dec. Kyle Shoop (LHU) 8-3
157: #14 Sal Mastriani (VT) major dec. Kyle Hammond (LHU) 18-6
165: David Bergida (VT) dec. Jared Siegrist (LHU) 9-5
174: #2 Zach Epperly (VT) tech fall Adam Mackie (LHU) 23-5
184: #4 Zachary Zavatasky (VT) dec. Corey Hazel (LHU) 4-2
197: #3 Jared Haught (VT) major dec. Tristan Sponseller (LHU) 16-5
285: #3 Ty Walz (VT) major dec. #16 Thomas Haines (LHU) 24-15
Lock Haven 19 – Chattanooga 18
125: Alonzo Allen (UTC) dec. Jake Field (LHU) 9-3
133: Chris Debien (UTC) dec. DJ Fehlman (LHU) 4-3
141: Chase Zemenck (UTC) tech fall Lewis Williams (LHU) 17-0
149: Kyle Shoop (LHU) major dec. Dylanger Potter (UTC) 10-2
157: Jonathan Ross (LHU) dec. Dolton Clark (UTC) 9-6
165: Jared Siegrist (LHU) dec. Justin Lampe (UTC) 6-4
174: Adam Mackie (LHU) pinned Chad Solomon (UTC) 0:55
184: #17 Bryce Carr (UTC) major dec. Corey Hazel (LHU) 12-3
197: Tristan Sponseller (LHU) dec. DJ Smith (UTC) 3-1
285: #11 Jared Johnson (UTC) dec. #16 Thomas Haines (LHU) 3-0
