LHU’s Sprenkle Moves on at NCAA Championships
NEW YORK – With everything on the line Phil Sprenkle (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown) upset No. 9 seed Reuben Franklin, leading the way for the Lock Haven University wrestling team on Day 1 at the 2016 NCAA Division I Championships at Madison Square Garden in New York.
With the win, Sprenkle, a redshirt-senior advances to today’s action. He was 1-1 on the day at 197 pounds.
Redshirt-senior Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) went 0-2 and was eliminated from the tournament; it marked the end of a sensational career for Neff.
Sprenkle, who was making his NCAA Tournament debut, picked up his win in dramatic fashion over Franklin of California State University Bakersfield.
Sprenkle trailed 1-0 after two periods, but ended up winning 8-6 after an exciting third period. Sprenkle began the third period down and the scoring frenzy started with him earning a quick reversal. Both Sprenkle and Franklin put it all on the line in the final minute, and Sprenkle hung on to advance.
Sprenkle improved to 19-8 on the season and 73-45 for his career.
Neff, a returning All-American and the No. 15 seed at 149 pounds was eliminated from the tournament after his second loss of the tournament, which came in the Session 2 consolation wrestlebacks.
Neff fell to Eastern Michigan’s Nick Barber 7-4.
Both Neff and Sprenkle dropped their First Round matches during Session 1.
Neff, the 2016 Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Champion 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 the action on a 19-match win streak.
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.
Neff wraps up his Bald Eagle career as a four-time NCAA qualifier and his 109 wins are the 11th most in school history. Neff is 6-9 all-time at the NCAA Tournament and finished this season at 26-10. He went 19-2 at 149 pounds, returning to the weight on December 17, 2015. Neff’s career mark is 109-46.
The 2016 NCAA Division I Championships continue with Session 3 action at 11 a.m. Updated brackets and results can be found at www.TrackWrestling.com (live results) and www.NCAA.com.
