Bald Eagles third at LHU Classic

LOCK HAVEN – Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) went 5-0 on the way to the 149 pound title, leading the Lock Haven University wrestling team today, as the Bald Eagles hosted the Lock Haven Classic.

Bobby Rehm (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) added to a strong day for head coach Scott Moore’s squad, taking second overall at 133 pounds.

The Bald Eagles racked up 78.5 total team points and finished third behind Pittsburgh and Indiana. No. 20 Pitt tallied 94.5 points and topped No. 22 Indiana (88 points). Buckell (58 pts.) and Kent State (54.5 pts.) rounded out the top-five in the team race.

Bucknell’s Joe Stolfi was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, as voted on by the coaches. Stolfi went 4-0 with three pins and a major at 285.

Neff, who went 5-0, is now 7-0 since moving back up to 149 pounds on December 17. Last season, Neff was an All-American at 149.

Neff rattled off four straight wins to earn a spot in the finals. He dominated his opponents and his four wins came by way of a pin, tech fall and two major decisions. In the finals, Neff downed Bucknell’s Victory Lopez (UNA), 9-6.

Rehm was 3-1 on the day. He went 3-0 with a tech fall and a major decision on the way to the title bout at 133. In the finals, Rehm fell to No. 16 Dom Forys of Pittsburgh, 7-3.

Neff and Rehm are both closing in on the 100-win club quickly and the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania natives now have 97 and 96 wins, respectively.

Aaron McKinney (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny), Cody Cordes (Edwardsville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), Tristan Sponseller (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) and Adam Mackie (Bechtelsville, Pa./Brandywine Heights) were all went 3-2 on the day and finished fourth for Lock Haven.

The Bald Eagles will kick off the 2016 calendar year in Phoenix, Arizona with matches against Embry-Riddle and Grand Canyon on Tuesday, January 5, 2016.

Final Team Scores

1. Pittsburgh 94.5
2. Indiana 88
3. Lock Haven 78.5
4. Bucknell 58
5. Kent State 54.5
6. Hofstra 43.5
7. George Mason 35.5
8. Binghamton 23.5
9. Clarion 16.5
10. Messiah 8