LHU Wrestlers Fall to Cornell, 32-9
ITHACA, N.Y. – Thomas Haines (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) shifted the momentum early in the dual with a first-period pin at 285 and Chance Marsteller (New Park, Pa./Kennard-Dale) closed the match with a dominating win at 165, but the duo’s effort was not enough to spark the No. 21 Lock Haven University wrestling team past host and 13th-ranked Cornell (9-2), as the Big Red won, 32-9 Saturday in non-conference action.
Cornell won eight of 10 bouts despite the Bald Eagles pushing the hosts early in a meet that started at 174 pounds.
Haines, ranked No. 9 at 285, recorded the quick pin, ending the match at the 1:39 mark, and fifth-ranked Marsteller dominated from the start at 165 and won, 9-2.
The loss dropped LHU to 6-3, ending a recent four-match win streak.
Saturday’s action featured at least one nationally-ranked wrestler in every weight class but two.
The match started at 174 pounds, and both Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) and Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) looked poised for big-time upsets, as they gave their Cornell opponents all they could handle from the opening whistle.
Siegrist was ready from the start and pushed 15th-ranked Brandon Womack for seven minutes, but Womack edged out Siegrist, 5-3 and put Cornell up 3-0 after the opening bout of the dual.
Hazel, ranked No. 18 at 184, locked up with 10th-ranked Max Dean and the two didn’t disappoint. The two were tied at 4-4 after two periods, but Dean scored a third-period escape and takedown to edge Hazel, 7-5 in a battle of two of the nation’s premier 184-pounders.
Cornell posted a major decision at 197 and extended the early lead to 10-0 after three bouts.
Haines quickly halted the Big Red momentum with a sensational effort at 285. After a quick takedown, Haines put Jeramy Sweany to his back and pinned him in just 1:39. Haines is now on a four-match win streak for LHU.
The hosts however responded and Cornell won the next five bouts including two pins, before Marsteller capped the dual with Lock Haven’s second win.
Of note, 125-pounder Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) turned in a strong effort, but No. 11 Vitali Arujua pulled away late and won 11-4.
At 133, DJ Fehlman (Warren, Pa./Warren) and No. 13 Chas Tucker locked up in a thriller. In the end, Tucker edged Fehlman, 7-5 in sudden victory. The loss marked the first for Fehlman since returning to 133 pounds on January 25 vs. Arizona State. Fehlman is now 3-1 at 133, a weight class where he previously qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2017.
The Bald Eagles now set their attention to a busy weekend at home. LHU will return home to host Rider in Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) action on Friday, Feb. at 6 p.m. Lock Haven will then host Clarion on Sunday, Feb. 10 in league action at 2 p.m.
Sunday marks LHU’s annual Alumni Day. More information is available at www.GoLHU.com.
#13 Cornell 32 – #21 Lock Haven 9
* dual started at 174 pounds
174: #15 Brandon Womack (CU) dec. Jared Siegrist (LHU) 5-3 / Cornell, 3-0
184: #10 Max Dean (CU) dec. #18 Corey Hazel (LHU) 7-5 / Cornell, 6-0
197: #17 Ben Honis (CU) major dec. Parker McClellan (LHU) 15-2 / Cornell, 10-0
285: #9 Thomas Haines (LHU) pinned Jeramy Sweany (CU) 1:39 / Cornell, 10-6
125: #11 Vitali Arujau (CU) dec. Luke Werner (LHU) 11-4 / Cornell, 13-6
133: #13 Chas Tucker (CU) dec. DJ Fehlman (LHU) 7-5 SV-1 / Cornell, 16-6
141: #1 Yianni Diakomihalis (CU) pinned #20 Kyle Shoop (LHU) 4:42 / Cornell, 22-6
149: Jonathan Furnas (CU) major dec. Jonathan Ross (LHU) 10-2 / Cornell, 26-6
157: Adam Santoro (CU) pinned Alex Klucker (LHU) 3:46 / Cornell, 32-6
165: #5 Chance Marsteller (LHU) dec. Andrew Berreyesa (CU) 9-2 / Cornell, 32-9
