Bald Eagles bounce back in big way, bonus points power Lock Haven by Wisconsin
LOCK HAVEN– The Lock Haven men’s wrestling team won six of 10 bouts on the night and the Bald Eagles recorded three tech falls to go along with two major decision wins as The Haven powered by visiting Wisconsin (2-3), 26-17, in front of an energized “White Out” crowd.
No. 23 Wyatt Henson (141 lbs.), Lucas Kapusta (149 lbs.), No. 33 Nick Stampoulos (157 lbs.), No. 33 Avery Bassett (174 lbs.), No. 28 Colin Fegley (184 lbs.) and Tucker Hogan (197 lbs.) all won for the Bald Eagles.
With the win, Lock Haven moved improved to 2-1 on the season – with both wins coming at home in Thomas Fieldhouse.
For the second time in just three days, the Bald Eagles faced off with a Big Ten (BIG) opponent, and today’s victory helped Lock Haven bounce back from the loss Friday (Dec. 6) at No. 17 Rutgers.
Tonight’s victory marked The Haven’s first vs. a BIG opponent since Lock Haven started “The Rise” with a victory over Rutgers back on Dec. 1, 2017.
Kapusta, Fegley and Hogan posted tech falls for Lock Haven, while both Henson and Bassett won by major decision. Stampoulos grinded out a hard-fought decision.
Wisconsin opened the meet with a pin at 125 and the Badgers stretched the team lead to 9-0 after Zan Fuggitt edged out No. 14 Anthony Noto at 133 pounds.
Trailing 9-0, Lock Haven responded with bonus-point wins from Henson, Kapusta and Stampoulos.
Henson, ranked No. 23 at 141, majored Brock Bobzein, 12-4. Kapusta (149) recorded his 10th win of the season with a 17-1 (5:57) tech fall, and tied the dual at 9-9. Stampoulos, ranked No. 33 at 157, earned a decision and put Lock Haven ahead, 12-9.
Behind a 12-2 major decision, Bassett put Lock Haven up for good. He downed Luke Condon, 12-2 and the Bald Eagles led 16-12 after the 174-pound bout.
Fegley, ranked No. 28 at 184, earned a dominant 19-4 (7:00) tech fall over Matthew Jens and stretched the Lock Haven lead to 21-12.
Hogan sealed the team victory with a tech fall at 197. He needed just two minutes to down Niccolo Cullucci, 15-0.
Wisconsin closed out the night with a bonus-point win at 285, but the Bald Eagles’ overall dominance on the night was too much as Lock Haven soared to the non-conference victory.
With the loss, Wisconsin slipped to 2-3 overall and match tonight vs. Lock Haven closed a busy weekend for the Badgers. Wisconsin picked up its first dual win of the season last night at Bucknell, 23-15, and the Badgers made it two wins in a row as they topped Bloomsburg, 37-9, earlier today – just a short distance to the east.
Bout-by-Bout Results / Team Score by Bout
Final: Lock Haven 26 – Wisconsin 17
125: #25 Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) pinned Lucas Fye (Lock Haven) 1:10 / Wisconsin, 6-0
133: Zan Fuggitt (Wisconsin) dec. #14 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) 4-2 / Wisconsin, 9-0
141: #23 Wyatt Henson major dec. (Lock Haven) Brock Bobzein (Wisconsin) 12-4 / Wisconsin, 9-4
149: Lucas Kapusta (Lock Haven) tech fall Aiden Medora (Wisconsin) 17-1 (5:57) / Tied, 9-9
157: #33 Nick Stampoulos (Lock Haven) dec. Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) 14-7 / Lock Haven, 12-9
165: Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) dec. Caden Dobbins (Lock Haven) 9-6 / Tied, 12-12
174: #33 Avery Bassett (Lock Haven) major dec. Luke Condon (Wisconsin) 12-2 / Lock Haven, 16-12
184: #28 Colin Fegley (Lock Haven) tech fall Matthew Jens (Wisconsin) 19-4 (7:00) / Lock Haven, 21-12
197: Tucker Hogan (Lock Haven) tech fall Niccolo Cullucci (Wisconsin) 15-0 (2:00) / Lock Haven, 26-12
285: Gannon Rosenfeld (Wisconsin) tech fall Ethan Miller (Lock Haven) 24-8 (6:38) / FINAL, Lock Haven 26-17
*Individual Ranking = InterMat (Dec. 3)
Records:
Wisconsin: 2-3
Lock Haven: 2-1
Attendance: 1,013
Up Next for Lock Haven:
The Bald Eagles will officially return to action at the 2024-25 Journeymen Collegiate Wrestling Duals event on Saturday, Dec. 21 in Nashville, Tennessee. Lock Haven is set to take on Iowa State, Ohio State and North Carolina, who are all ranked among the nation’s top-25 this week. The full 2024-25 Lock Haven men’s wrestling schedule is available at GoLHU.com.
