LHU Heading West for Pair of Duals
LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven University wrestling team will open the 2016 calendar year in the Grand Canyon State, as the Bald Eagles are set for two duals on January 5 in Phoenix, Arizona.
On Tuesday, January 5, the Bald Eagles will take on Embry-Riddle (Arizona) at 5 p.m. EST, before taking on host Grand Canyon University at 8 p.m. EST. Both matches will take place in the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Bald Eagles are coming off a strong showing at the Lock Haven Classic (December 29) and enter the New Year with a 4-5 overall record (1-0 EWL). On December 17, LHU went 2-0 in dual action, picking up wins over NCAA Division III power Messiah and Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) rival Bloomsburg.
Lock Haven and Embry-Riddle have met once with LHU winning 54-3 back in 2003. Embry-Riddle is ranked No. 18 among all NAIA schools.
LHU and GCU met for the first time last season in Lock Haven, and the Bald Eagles won nine of 10 bouts on the way to a 48-3 victory.
Lock Haven’s probable lineup:
125: R-So. Jake Field (South Elgin, Ill./Marmion Academy) 11-12
– OR – R-Jr. David Sheesley (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) 9-7
133: R-Sr. Bobby Rehm (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) 16-7
141: R-Sr. Cody Wheeler (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) 4-5
– OR – So. Joe Ghione (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) 14-8
149: R-Sr. Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) 14-8
157: R-Sr. Aaron McKinney (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) 18-11
165: Fr. Cody Cordes (Edwardsville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) 15-2
174: R-Jr. Tyler Wood (West Chester, Pa./West Chester-Rustin) 13-10
– OR – R-Jr. Travis Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) 7-7
184: R-Fr. Tristan Sponseller (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) 16-9
197: R-Sr. Phil Sprenkle (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown) 10-4
– OR – Jr. Adam Mackie (Bechtelsville, Pa./Brandywine Heights) 9-6
285: Jr. Brad Emerick (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Coughlin) 11-12
Last time out:
The Bald Eagles finished third at the Lock Haven Classic (Tuesday, December 29). Leading the way was Dan Neff, who went 5-0 on the way to the 149-pound title. Neff was one of six LHU placewinners, which included Bobby Rehm (2nd, 133). Lock Haven finished third overall, behind only Pittsburgh and Indiana, who are both ranked among the top-25.
Perry turns in impressive run at Midlands:
Competing unattached at 141 pounds, Ronnie Perry finished sixth at the Midlands Championships. Perry was 4-3 overall, becoming LHU’s first Midlands placewinner since 2003. He went 4-0 on day one, knocking off the No. 8 and No. 1 seeds on the way to the semifinals. Last season, Perry was a national qualifier at 133 pounds.
