LHU’s Werner only placer at MAC Championships
TRENTON, NJ – It was a tough two days for the Lock Haven University wrestling team as the Bald Eagles returned to the mats for the first time at the Mid-American Conference Championships on Friday and Saturday.
Without any previous competitions, the Bald Eagles finished in last place in the 15-team field with 15 points.
Missouri took the title with 188.5 points; Edinboro led the four-team contingent from the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, the Scots’ 80 points good enough for fifth place. The LHU program had been officially inactive until a go-ahead was announced by the school on Feb. 11.
Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) placed fifth at 125 pounds, the only Bald Eagle to earn a place. The school did not advance any wrestlers to the NCAA tournament next month.
Werner, ranked 17th nationally and the tournament’s No. 4 seed, went 4-2 overall at the two-day tournament. He was the only Bald Eagle to advance to Day 2 action and Werner is now a two-time MAC placewinner after a third-place showing a year ago.
After going 2-1 on Day 1, Werner opened Saturay’s action in the consolation quarterfinals where he recorded another dominating major decision. Werner downed Edinboro’s Lucas Rodriguez 11-2 to advance to the consolation semifinals. The major over Rodriguez marked Werner’s third major decision of the tournament after both of his Day 1 wins came by way of major decision.
In the consolation semifinals, Werner fell to Rider’s Jonathan Tropea, 7-3. Werner however bounced back and capped his tournament run with a victory, downing Josh Jones, 6-1, for fifth-place.
2021 MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS: WERNER BOUT-BY-BOUT RESULTS
125: Luke Werner – – Fifth-Place
Championship Round 1 vs. Cameron Butler (Clarion) W, major dec. 18-4
Quarterfinals vs. Noah Surtin (Missouri) L, pin (1:01)
Consolation Round 2 vs. Cody Moosman (Cleveland State) W, major dec. 11-0
2-1 on Day 1
Consolation Round 3/Quarterfinals vs. Lucas Rodriguez (Edinboro) W, major dec. 11-2
Consolation Semifinals vs. Jonathan Tropea (Rider) L, dec. 7-3
Fifth-place match vs. Josh Jones (George Mason) W, dec. 6-1
2-1 on Day 2
