Bald Eagle Wrestlers Claim Two Titles at Clarion Opener
CLARION, Pa. – The No. 23 Lock Haven University wrestling team officially opened the 2019-20 season at the Clarion Open on Sunday and the Bald Eagles crowned a pair of individual champions.
Returning national-qualifier Alex Klucker (Summerdale, Pa./East Pennsboro), ranked No. 31 (TrackWrestling) in the nation, went 4-0 and won the title at 157 pounds. Competing unattached at 133 pounds, Brandon Loperfido (Columbia, Pa./Hempfield) won the title after going 3-0.
The Bald Eagles showed their depth at 157, as Klucker topped teammate Jonathan Ross (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) in the finals by way of forfeit. Ross was competing unattached.
Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) also stood out after placing second at 174.
Other notable season-opening performances came from Caleb Clymer (Germansville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) and Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty). Clymer was 2-2 at 165 and Werner was 2-2, competing unattached at 125. Brock Port (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) picked up two wins at 149, and both Ray Bernot (Gainesville, Pa./Battlefield) and Parker McClellan (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) went a solid 2-2 at 184 and 197, respectively.
The action at the Clarion Open marked the fifth consecutive season where Lock Haven has opened their respective season at the tournament. The Bald Eagles have claimed at least one individual Clarion Open title now for five straight seasons, and overall, the Bald Eagles have now won seven individual titles in five seasons.
For Klucker, it marked his second career Clarion Open win. He won the tournament back in 2017.
Klucker was a perfect 4-0 at 157. He opened the day with a tech fall (16-0) in 2:14 and followed it up with back-to-back pins, earning his spot in the finals where he won by forfeit over Ross.
Ross (UNA) went 3-0 to earn a spot in the finals at 157.
Loperfido (UNA) powered his way to the 133-pound title, thanks a dominating 3-0 run. He started the tournament with back-to-back pins (5:41 & 2:23). In the finals, he took down Bloomsburg’s Josh Mason, 9-7 in a thriller.
