LHU Wrestling Set for PSAC Championships
LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven University wrestling team is set to compete at the 2015-16 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships on Saturday, December 5 at Mercyhurst University’s Athletic Center. Action gets underway at 10 a.m., as the Bald Eagles have their eyes set on their first PSAC title since the 2000-01 season. LHU finished second a year ago.
The tournament will feature 12 teams, including Lock Haven, as well as NCAA Division I teams Edinboro – the defending champion – along with Clarion and Bloomsburg. Edinboro received one vote in this week’s USA Today/National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Coaches’ poll.
Eight NCAA Division II teams, including Mercyhurst, Kutztown, Pitt-Johnstown, Gannon, East Stroudsburg, Seton Hill, Shippensburg and Millersville will also compete. Mercyhurst was third last season and is ranked No. 4 nationally among all Division II teams. UPJ checks in at No. 6 in the most recent NCAA II poll.
Lock Haven’s Lineup:
125: R-So. Jake Field (South Elgin, Ill./Marmion Academy) 8-6
133: R-Sr. Bobby Rehm (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) 7-6
141: R-Sr. Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) 4-6
149: R-Sr. Cody Wheeler (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) 1-2
157: R-Sr. Aaron McKinney (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) 9-8
165: Fr. Cody Cordes (Edwardsville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) 9-7
174: R-Jr. Tyler Wood (West Chester, Pa./West Chester-Rustin) 7-6
184: R-Fr. Tristan Sponseller (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) 9-5
197: R-Sr. Phil Sprenkle (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown) 9-3
285: Jr. Brad Emerick (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Coughlin) 5-7
LHU Coaches:
Head Coach: Scott Moore (third season)
Assistant Coaches: Steven Fittery (third season) Rob Weikel (second season) & Spencer Myers (first season)
PSAC History:
Edinboro won the team title last season, marking the Fighting Scots fourth straight championship. Clarion won the title back in the 2010-11 season.
LHU has won a PSAC-best 19 team titles.
Last time at the PSAC Championships:
Last season (Dec. 6, 2014), LHU took second at the PSAC Championships.
Four different Bald Eagles took second overall, including returners Bobby Rehm and Aaron McKinney, along with Ronnie Perry, who is redshirting this season.
Dan Neff was third for the Bald Eagles last season, while competing at 149 pounds.
What to watch for:
Redshirt-senior Bobby Rehm, who was second last season at the PSAC Championships at 141 pounds looks to compete for the title this year at 133.
Rehm is a two-time PSAC champion, winning the 125-pound title in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
All-American Dan Neff:
Returning All-American Dan Neff (R-Sr., 141) will look to lead the way this year for LHU on the mats. Last season, Neff was eighth at the 149 pound weight class at the NCAA Championships, marking Lock Haven’s first All-American since 2007. This year Neff moves back down to 141, where he competed during the 2013-14 and 2011-12 seasons. Last season, Neff was 25-15 at 149 and last year’s NCAA Tournament marked Neff’s third straight appearance at the championships.
Up next:
Following the PSAC Championships, LHU returns to action on Saturday, December 12 when the Bald Eagles travel to West Virginia for a 7 p.m. match.
