Solid Opener for Bald Eagles at Binghamton
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team turned in a solid outing at Sunday’s Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open, hosted by Binghamton University. The event was a tune-up for the start of the Bald Eagles’ dual meet season this Friday night at Penn State. That match will be heard on therecord-online as part of Bald Eagle grappling action on the record-online this winter.
Third-year head coach Scott Moore’s squad battled all day long Sunday with several Bald Eagles getting off to a fast start, while others were able to bounce back in dominating fashion after suffering early losses.
Jake Field (South Elgin, Ill/Marmion Academy) went 2-2 at 125 pounds.
Returning All-American Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) got off to a fast start early in the tournament, winning his first three matches. He finished 3-2 overall at 141 pounds.
Cody Cordes (Edwardsville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) and Tyler Wood (West Chester, Pa./West Chester-Rustin) both finished 3-2 on the day at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively.
Adam Mackie (Bechtelsville, Pa./Brandywine Heights) went 2-2 at 184.
Competing unattached, 2015 National Qualifier Ronnie Perry (Christiana, Pa./Solanco) turned in a strong outing for the Bald Eagles 141 pounds as well. After getting pinned in his first match, Perry went on a tear and won his next six matches, which included him pinning Rick Durso, ranked eighth in the nation. Perry was 6-1 on the day when he defaulted out of the tournament.
Field rattled off of a pair wins to earn a spot in the quarterfinals at 125 pounds. He opened the tournament with an 11-8 decision and needed to just 42 seconds to pin his second opponent to earn a spot in the quarters. In the quarterfinals, Field fell to Princeton’s Pat D’Arcy, 3-0. Field then fell in the wrestlebacks and finished the day 2-2.
Neff opened his day in style, winning by tech fall (17-1), pin (3:40) and decision to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. In the quarters, Neff ranked No. 10 fell to No. 14 Randy Cruz of Lehigh, 12-6. Cruz went on to win the 141-pound title today. Neff dropped his next match in the wrestlebacks to finish the day at 3-2 overall.
Sunday marked Neff’s 2015-16 season debut. Neff was an All-American last year at 149 pounds, but will compete at 141 this season. Neff now has 86 career wins.
Mackie followed up a 16-1 tech fall with a thrilling 18-16 win to earn his spot in the quarterfinals at 184 pounds. Mackie lost his next two bouts and finished the day at 2-2 overall.
Cordes (165) won his first two bouts of the day and Wood (174) ripped off three straight wins after starting the tournament with a loss.
The Bald Eagles will start their 2015-16 dual meet season Friday at 7 p.m. when they travel the short distance to take on No. 2 Penn State.
