LHU Wrestlers Handle Vikings, 31-6
LOCK HAVEN – Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and DJ Fehlman (Warren, Pa./Warren) opened the match with back-to-back major decisions, and Thomas Haines(Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) returned to the lineup to close things out as the No. 23 Lock Haven University wrestling team (11-3, 3-2 EWL) rolled past visiting Cleveland State University (3-9, 1-4 EWL) 31-6 in Saturday Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) action.
In all, the Bald Eagles won eight of 10 bouts. Bonus points were once again part of the story as Ronnie Perry (Christiana, Pa./Solanco) won by tech fall and Chance Marsteller (New Park, Pa./Kennard-Dale) pinned his way to victory. Four of LHU’s eight wins came by way of bonus points.
In the only bout featuring nationally-ranked wrestlers, No. 31 Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) upended No. 29 Nick Corba in a thriller that came down to the final seconds.
The win pushed Lock Haven to 11-3 overall on the season and back to above .500 in league action at 3-2.
Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Central) and Trey Hartsock (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) added wins for the Bald Eagles.
Lock Haven jumped out to an 8-0 lead after Werner and Fehlman won by major decision at 125 and 133, respectively. The quick start and early momentum proved too much for the Vikings and carried LHU to the lopsided EWL win.
Perry, who is ranked No. 16 at 149, put on a clinic. He led 14-0 after the first period and used an early second-period escape to earn the 15-0 tech fall.
Marsteller, ranked No. 8 at 165, needed just 2:10 to earn the fall.
Siegrist followed Marsteller’s pin with a hard-fought 6-3 win at 174.
In the dual’s premier bout, Hazel thrilled the home crowd with a late takedown and 4-2 win. Hazel and Corba were deadlocked at 0-0 after one, but Corba led 2-0 after two periods. With the 184-pound bout tied 2-2 late, Hazel scored a takedown with just five seconds remaining, earning the upset-win.
Hartsock used a workmanlike effort and won 6-3 at 197.
No. 13 Haines looked as if he hadn’t missed a beat and won 6-0 at 285 to close out the match. It marked the first time he was in the lineup since January 2 at the Virginia Duals, but Haines looked strong after the month-long layoff as he scored two takedowns and racked up 2:42 of riding time.
Perry’s win marked the 96th of his career as he inches closer to becoming the 20th member of the 100-win club. Marsteller improved to 34-1 on the season. The 34 wins tie him for 10th all-time on the single-season win list.
Sunday the Bald Eagles will cap a busy week by hosting No. 10 Cornell University. LHU’s Senior Day match is set for a 1 p.m. start. Cornell beat Columbia 33-5 Saturday in Ithaca.
No. 23 Lock Haven, 31 – Cleveland State 6
125: Luke Werner (LHU) major dec. John Martin (CSU) 10-1 | LHU leads 4-0
133: DJ Fehlman (LHU) major dec. Andrew Coghill (CSU) 15-2 | LHU leads 8-0
141: Evan Cheek (CSU) dec. #24 Kyle Shoop (LHU) 11-7 | LHU leads 8-3
149: #16 Ronnie Perry (LHU) tech fall Ryan Ford (CSU) 15-0 (3:21) | LHU leads 13-3
157: John Vaughn (CSU) dec. Jonathan Ross (LHU) 9-2 | LHU leads 13-6
165: #8 Chance Marsteller (LHU) pinned Georgio Poullas (CSU) 2:10 | LHU leads 19-6
174: Jared Siegrist (LHU) dec. Gabe Stark (CSU) 6-3 | LHU leads 22-6
184: #31 Corey Hazel (LHU) dec. #29 Nick Corba (CSU) 4-2 | LHU leads 25-6
197: Trey Hartsock (LHU) dec. John Kelbly (CSU) 6-3 | LHU leads 28-6
285: #13 Thomas Haines (LHU) dec. Collin Kelly (CSU) 6-0 | FINAL, LHU 31-6
*individual rankings = NCAA coaches’ panel rankings (Jan. 18)
