LHU Opens NCAA Championships; Hazel’s Upset-win Highlights 4-2 Session 1
CLEVELAND – The Lock Haven University wrestling team went 4-2 during Session 1 to open the 2018 NCAA Championships at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Ronnie Perry (Christiana, Pa./Solanco), Chance Marsteller (New Park, Pa./Kennard-Dale), Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) and Thomas Haines (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) all posted wins for the Bald Eagles.
Hazel made his NCAA debut in dramatic fashion as he upset the No. 12 seed in overtime. Perry and Marsteller both picked up major decisions, and Haines closed the session with a dominating 7-2 win over a Big Ten opponent.
Perry used five takedowns to roll past Lehigh’s Cortlandt Schuyler 11-3 for a major decision. Perry, the No. 15 seed at 149, will face No. 2 seed Brandon Sorensen of Iowa tonight.
Marsteller, the No. 9 seed at 165, used a six-point move late in the second period on the way to his 9-1 major over Indiana’s Bryce Martin. Tonight, Marsteller will take on Brown’s Jonathan Viruet, who upset No. 8 seed Chandler Rogers (Oklahoma State).
Highlighting Session 1 for Lock Haven was Hazel’s thrilling upset-win at 184. Hazel and No. 12 seed Bryce Carr (Chattanooga) were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation, but Hazel picked up the 6-3 win (TB-1) thanks to a late escape and takedown as time ran out in the extra frame.
Haines trailed Northwestern’s Conan Jennings 2-0 after the first period, but Haines went to work in the second. Haines, the No. 15 seed at 285, went to work in the second period and rode out the period, while also picking up near fall points. The dominant second period from Haines led to a 7-2 win. Tonight, Haines will get No. 2 seed Adam Coon of Michigan.
Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) was the first Bald Eagle to hit the mats this morning as he faced off with Iowa’s Vincent Turk in a 141-pound pigtail bout. Shoop fell to Turk 12-2 (major dec.). Tonight, Shoop will take on Irvin Enriquez of Appalachian State.
Alex Klucker (Summerdale, Pa./East Pennsboro) opened his NCAA tournament with a loss to No. 15 seed John Van Brill. Van Brill recorded the fall at the 4:21 mark. Tabulations from the NCAA had initially listed Klucker as pinning Van Brill but that was not correct. Klucker will take on No. 2 seed Joseph Lavallee (Missouri) tonight after Lavallee was upset in his tournament opening bout.
For Lock Haven, Perry is now a three-time NCAA tournament qualifier. Both Shoop and Haines are now back-to-back NCAA qualifiers. Klucker, Marsteller and Hazel all made their NCAA tournament debuts during Session 1.
The Bald Eagles are in 14th place in the team standings after Session 1. LHU has six points with four wrestlers in the championship round. Iowa leads the way with 18.5 points after the first session. Ohio State is second with 17 points and Penn State is in third with 16 points.
Session 1’s attendance at Quicken Loans Arena was 18,660. Tonight’s Session 2 is set for a 7 p.m. start.
LHU match-by-match
141: Kyle Shoop
Pigtail vs. Vincent Turk (Iowa) L, 12-2 major dec.
149: #15 Ronnie Perry
First Round vs. Cortlandt Schuyler (Lehigh) W, 11-3 major dec.
157: Alex Klucker
First Round vs. #15 John Van Brill (Rutgers) L, pinned (4:21)
165: #9 Chance Marsteller
First Round vs. Bryce Martin (Indiana) W, 9-1 major dec.
184: Corey Hazel
First Round vs. #12 Bryce Carr (Chattanooga) W, 6-3 (TB-1)
285: #15 Thomas Haines
First Round vs. Conan Jennings (Northwestern) W, 7-2 dec.
# = seed for NCAA tournament
