LH women’s wrestling ranked 19th nationally; Gross No. 7 at 116 lbs.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) on Thursday released preseason NCAA Women’s Wrestling rankings and the Lock Haven women’s wrestling team came in as the No. 19 team in the nation after their sensational debut season in 2021-22.

In the individual rankings, Carly Gross (York, Pa./West York) was tabbed at the No. 7 wrestler in the country at 116 pounds.

For the Bald Eagles, it marks their second appearance in the national rankings. On November 19, 2021, Lock Haven jumped into the spotlight for the first time at the No. 15 spot, behind Jessica Johnson’s (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) No. 8 ranking at 155 lbs.

Lock Haven finished their first full season of competition in 2021-22 with a 6-2 dual record and sent five total wrestlers to the 2022 National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship (NCWWC) National Championships in Adrian, Michigan.

Gross capped her 2021-22 season with a 9-7 overall record, featuring a 4-1 record in dual meets. She also grabbed a spot at the NCWWC National Championships after a fifth-place finish at the Northeast Regionals. The Bald Eagle’s 116-pounder piled up some impressive wins including two pins and three tech falls during her freshman campaign.

The nationally ranked Bald Eagles open their 2022-23 campaign on Sunday, Nov. 6 at the Princeton Open. Lock Haven opens the dual slate with a home match against East Stroudsburg just days later on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in Thomas Fieldhouse.

On Tuesday of this week the Bald Eagles entered a new era and announced the hiring of Matt Lackey as head coach.