Scots Hold Off Bald Eagles, 22-14
LOCK HAVEN – The No. 23 Lock Haven University wrestling team (10-3, 2-2 EWL) rallied from an early deficit and led 14-13 after eight bouts, but longtime rival Edinboro University (6-3, 4-1 EWL) won the final two bouts of Thursday night’s dual and edged the Bald Eagles, 22-14, in a thrilling Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) match.
LHU owned a 14-13 lead with two bouts to wrestle but the Bald Eagles were without the injured Tristan Sponseller at 197 pounds and Thomas Haines at heavyweight
All four of Lock Haven’s nationally-ranked wrestlers in the lineup posted wins including No. 16 Ronnie Perry (Christiana, Pa./Solanco) and No. 8 Chance Marsteller (New Park, Pa./Kennard-Dale), who tallied major decisions. No. 24 Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) and No. 31 Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) also won for the Bald Eagles.
For Perry, the win marked his 95th career victory as he moves closer to becoming LHU’s 20th member of the 100-win club. Marsteller improved to 33-1 on the season.
Edinboro jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the Fighting Scots nationally-ranked duo of Sean Russell and Korbin Myers tallied wins at 125 and 133, respectively.
Shoop put the Bald Eagles on the board with a solid 7-2 win over Nate Hagan at 133. Shoop trailed 2-1 after one, but turned it up in the second period and led 3-2 after two. Shoop scored two near fall points in the second as he rode out the period on top. A third-period takedown helped extend the lead.
Perry put the home crowd into a frenzy with a sensational effort at 149. Perry led 6-0 after one and scored five total takedowns on the way to his 18-5 major decision over Jensen Lorea. Most importantly Perry’s win tied the dual at 7-7.
Edinboro regained the lead and led 10-7 after the 157-pound bout.
Marsteller led 6-1 after one period and powered his way to a 12-4 major decision at 165. The Marsteller win gave the Bald Eagles their first lead at 11-10.
A narrow 6-5 win for No. 20 Ty Schoffstall over an upset-minded Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Central) at 174 put the Fighting Scots back on top, 13-11. Schoffstall recorded a late escape and takedown to pull out the win.
Again, Lock Haven responded as Hazel grinded out a 2-0 win at 184.
The Hazel win put Lock Haven up 14-13, but Edinboro capped the dual with the pair of wins in the final two bouts and earned the important EWL victory.
The dual meet was preceded by a high school match that saw State College edge Bellefonte by a 36-33 score.
Up next: The Bald Eagles will host Cleveland State in EWL action on Saturday (Feb. 3) at 2 p.m. before hosting No. 10 Cornell on Sunday (Feb. 4) at 1 p.m.
Edinboro, 22 – No. 23 Lock Haven, 14
125: #10 Sean Russell (EU) major dec. Luke Werner (LHU) 20-8 | EU leads 4-0
133: #18 Korbin Myers (EU) dec. DJ Fehlman (LHU) 9-4 | EU leads 7-0
141: #24 Kyle Shoop (LHU) dec. Nate Hagan (EU) 7-2 | EU leads 7-3
149: #16 Ronnie Perry (LHU) major dec. Jensen Lorea (EU) 18-5 | TIED 7-7
157: #29 Andrew Shomers (EU) dec. Alex Klucker (LHU) 7-0 | EU leads 10-7
165: #8 Chance Marsteller (LHU) major dec. Fritz Hoehn (EU) 12-4 | LHU leads 11-10
174: #20 Ty Schoffstall (EU) dec. Jared Siegrist (LHU) 6-5 | EU leads 13-11
184: #31 Corey Hazel (LHU) dec. Zach Ancewicz (EU) 2-0 | LHU leads 14-13
197: Dylan Reynolds (EU) dec. Trey Hartsock (LHU) 2-0 | EU leads 16-14
285: #18 Billy Miller (EU) pinned Derek Dragon (LHU) 4:37 | EU wins 22-14
*individual rankings = NCAA coaches’ panel rankings (Jan. 18)
