LHU’s Neff and Phil Sprinkle  Drop NCAA First Round Matches

NEW YORK – Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) and Phil Sprenkle (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown) of the Lock Haven University wrestling team both dropped their opening bouts at the 2016 NCAA Division I Championships today at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Both Neff and Sprenkle will return to action tonight in Session 2 as each will be looking for a win to stay alive in the tournament and move on.

Neff, a returning All-American and the No. 15 seed at 149 opened the day vs. Bucknell’s Victor Lopez.

Late in the first period Lopez worked out of a scramble on the edge of the mat and locked up a tight cradle, which led to a pin (2:55).

Neff entered today’s action on a 19-match win streak and hadn’t lost since returning to 149 pounds on December 17, 2015.

Neff is now 26-9 on the season and 19-1 at 149 pounds.

Neff will take on Eastern Michigan’s Nick Barber in the wrestlebacks tonight during Session 2.

Sprenkle’s NCAA Tournament debut came against No. 8 seed Aaron Studebaker of Nebraska. After a scoreless first period in their bout at 197 pounds, Studebaker rode out the second period for a two-minute riding time advantage. In the third, Studebaker earned a quick escape and held on for a 2-0 victory.

Sprenkle is now 18-8 on the season and he’ll take on No. 9 seed Reuben Franklin of California State University Bakersfield, who was upset in the First Round.

Today’s Session 2 (wrestleback prelims, second round) begins at 7 p.m.