Bloomsburg Extends Mat Streak over LHU
Huskies Edge Eagles 19-16
LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven University wrestling team (2-4) won four of 10 bouts and picked up bonus points in a pair of matches, but fell to 0-2 in Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) action in a 19-16 home mat loss to rival Bloomsburg last Thursday.
The match was tied 16-16 heading into the night’s final bout and No. 19 Justin Grant sealed the team victory for Bloomsburg (3-2).
No. 20 Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco), Mac Maldarelli (Merrick, N.Y./Nassau C.C.), Jake Kemerer(Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) and No. 15 Fred Garcia (Donora, Pa./Ringgold) all won for Lock Haven tonight in front of a large “Community Night” crowd sponsored by the Lock Haven Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club 4298; admission was free.
Lock Haven also hosted the Central Mountain and Philipsburg-Osceola junior high and varsity matches prior the Lock Haven – Bloomsburg match. Both varsity head coaches are Lock Haven graduates.
Much to the delight of the home crowd, Neff scored a late third-period takedown for a win at 141 and Maldarelli continued his hot streak with a pin at 149.
Following a Huskie win at 157, Kemerer recorded a major decision. Garcia rounded out Lock Haven’s wins with a 4-3 decision at 184.
Lock Haven found itself in an early hole, down 6-0 after the night’s first two bouts. Bloomsburg’s Sean Boylan scored a quick second period escape and rode out the third for a 2-0 win over Kaleb LeMaire (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Caesar Rodney). The Huskies made it two in a row after Nick Wilcox, ranked No. 16 by InterMat took down Cody Wheeler (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) 7-4.
Neff put Lock Haven on the board with his win over Matt Rappo. The match marked the third time in six days the two met after splitting matches at the recent Cleveland State Open.
After a scoreless first period, Rappo started the second down and he scored on a quick escape. Neff tied the match 1-1 with an escape of his town, but Rappo took Neff down for a 3-1 advantage. A late third-period reversal for Neff once again tied the match at 3-3. Again Rappo broke Neff’s control and led 4-3 before Neff shot in and scored a takedown with 20 seconds left to secure the 5-4 win.
The Lock Haven fireworks continued as Maldarelli pinned Kurtis Becker with five seconds left in the second period. The reigning EWL Athlete of the Week gave the Bald Eagles their first lead at 9-6.
Kevin Hartnett knotted the team scored with an 8-2 win over Billy Randt (York, Pa./West York).
Kemerer put Lock Haven back on top with a workmanlike effort. He took Bloom’s Mark Granahan down four times in the first and led 12-4 after two on the way to the major (17-6).
Dylan Caprio (Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain) nearly upset Mike Dessino, ranked No. 23 by WrestlingReport at 174. The two were scoreless after two periods, but Dessino scored on an escape and last-second takedown.
Garcia held on to beat Sam Shirey 4-3, which kept Lock Haven in the lead, 16-12.
The Huskies tied the match with a major at 197 and sealed the win with Grant’s win at 285.
No. 8 Richard Perry beat Phil Sprenkle (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown) 12-2 at 197 and Grant beat Cody Mason (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) 4-2.
The dual was the fourth straight for Lock Haven vs. a nationally ranked team and it marked Bloomsburg’s tenth straight win over the Bald Eagles.
Lock Haven is set to close out the 2013 calendar year by hosting the Cradle Gear Invitational (formerly the Brute Invite) on Sunday, Dec. 29 starting at 9 a.m.
FINAL: (22) Bloomsburg 19 – Lock Haven 16
Bloomsburg (3-2, 1-0 EWL)
Lock Haven (2-4, 0-2 EWL)
Individual Bout-by-Bout Results:
125: Sean Boylan (BU) dec. Kaleb LeMaire (LHU) 2-0
133: Nick Wilcox (BU) dec. Cody Wheeler (LHU) 7-4
141: (20) Dan Neff (LHU) dec. Matt Rapp (BU) 5-4
149: Mac Maldarelli (LHU) pinned Kurtis Becker (BU) 4:55
157: Kevin Hartnett (BU) dec. Billy Randt (LHU) 8-2
165: Jake Kemerer (LHU) major dec. Mark Granahan (BU) 17-6
174: Mike Dessino (BU) dec. Dylan Caprio (LHU) 3-0
184: (15) Fred Garcia (LHU) dec. Sam Shirey (BU) 4-3
197: (8) Richard Perry (LHU) major dec. Phil Sprenkle (LHU) 12-2
285: (19) Justin Grant (BU) dec. Cody Mason (LHU) 4-2
*Rankings = Amateur Wrestling News (AWN)
