LHU Wrestlers Edged by Broncs, 20-17

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team (7-6, 3-3 MAC East) got off to another tremendous start, opening the dual with three straight bonus-point wins, but in the end visiting Rider University (9-2, 4-0 MAC East) rallied on Friday night, downing the Bald Eagles 20-17 in a Mid-American Conference (MAC) Eastern Division thriller.

No. 15 Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), No. 28 DJ Fehlman (Warren, Pa./Warren) and No. 20 Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) ripped off three straight dominating wins to start the match.

Werner posted a major decision at 125, Fehlman secured a pin in the second period at 133 and Shoop’s historic win at 141 came by way of the major decision. The three big wins put Lock Haven up 14-0.

Austin Bell (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) kept his strong momentum going and posted another important victory for Lock Haven at 165 pounds.

For Shoop, the victory ran his career win total to 125, which has him firmly cemented in second for career wins at LHU. Fehlman remained undefeated in MAC duals.

Overall, Rider won six of 10 bouts, including the final four of the meet. The night marked the second MAC East dual in as many nights for Lock Haven.

The match with Rider started with a top-33 battle at 125 pounds. In the end, Werner – ranked No. 15 – proved too strong for No. 32 Jonathan Tropea. Werner got an early takedown and rode out the first period. He led 5-0 after two and put it away in a dominating third period effort. Werner’s 15-4 major put Lock Haven up 4-0.

At 133, Fehlman – ranked No. 28 – trailed Richie Koehler, 2-1 after one, but he took control in the second. A quick escape and takedown put the Bald Eagle up 4-2, before Fehlman secured a pin at the 4:49 mark, coming out of a wild scramble. The pin put LHU up 10-0 and electrified the home crowd.

Shoop – ranked No. 20 – extended Lock Haven’s lead to 14-0 with the Bald Eagles second major decision and third straight victory by way of bonus points. Shoop held a 4-3 lead at the end of the first and led 7-3 in the second, before two more third-period takedowns in the third. The workmanlike effort came at the delight of the home fans and pushed Shoop to a 12-4 major over No. 29 Peter Lipari in a top-33 showdown.

Rider got on the board with a win at 149 as Gino Fluri edged out Brock Port (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte), 4-3. In another top-33 clash at 157, No. 6 Jesse Dellavecchia majored No. 29 Alex Klucker (Summerdale, Pa./East Pennsboro). After two Rider wins at 149 and 157, Lock Haven led 14-7 at halftime.

Bell kept LHU on top with an outstanding effort at 165. Bell downed Rider’s Joe Casey, 6-2 and pushed Lock Haven to a 17-7 lead. A late takedown helped Bell seal the victory.

It was another battle of nationally-ranked wrestlers at 174, but No. 18 Dean Sherry of Rider edged out No. 32 Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), 5-2. Rider’s win at 174 was the first of four straight wins by the Broncs as the visitors closed the match with a strong rally.

Despite a solid effort at 184, Ray Bernot (Gainesville, Va./Battlefield) was clipped by George Walton, 8-5. No. 9 Ethan Laird won by decision over Parker McClellan (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), 9-2 at 197. After the 197 bout, LHU clung to a one-point lead at 17-16 heading into the night’s final bout of the dual.

Ryan Cloud downed Lock Haven’s Trey Hartsock (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) at 285 by major decision and sealed the win for Rider, 20-17.

Next Saturday, Feb. 22 Lock Haven will host nationally-ranked Cornell in non-conference dual action, before hosting the Mat-Town Open II Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 23.

Edinboro at Lock Haven Bout-by-Bout Results
MAC East Match
Friday, February 7, 2020 // 7 p.m. // Thomas Fieldhouse (Lock Haven, Pa.)
Rider 20 – Lock Haven 17
125: #15 Luke Werner (Lock Haven) major dec. #32 Jonathan Tropea (Rider) 15-4 / LHU 4-0
133: #28 DJ Fehlman (Lock Haven) pinned Richie Koehler (Rider) 4:49 / LHU 10-0
141: #20 Kyle Shoop (Lock Haven) major dec. #29 Peter Lipari (Rider) 12-4 / LHU 14-0
149: Gino Fluri (Rider) dec. Brock Port (Lock Haven) 4-3 / LHU 14-3
157: #6 Jesse Dellavecchia (Rider) major dec. #29 Alex Klucker (Lock Haven) 8-0 / LHU 14-7
165: Austin Bell (Lock Haven) dec. Joe Casey (Rider) 6-2 / LHU 17-7
174: #18 Dean Sherry (Rider) dec. #32 Jared Siegrist (Lock Haven) 5-2 / LHU 17-10
184: George Walton (Rider) dec. Ray Bernot (Lock Haven) 8-5 / LHU 17-13
197: #9 Ethan Laird (Rider) dec. Parker McClellan (Lock Haven) 9-2 / LHU 17-16
285: Ryan Cloud (Rider) major dec. Trey Hartsock (Lock Haven) 10-1 / FINAL, Rider 20-17
Rankings = NCAA Coaches’ Panel (Jan. 24)
Records:
Rider (10-2, 6-1 MAC, 5-0 MAC East)
Lock Haven (7-6, 3-4 MAC, 3-3 MAC East)
Attendance – 541