LHU women’s wrestling opens season in style; Johnson claims title at ESU Open
EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Lock Haven University women’s wrestling team opened the 2021-22 season Sunday at the East Stroudsburg University Open and the Bald Eagles did so in style as they claimed one individual title and collected seven total place-winners.
Leading the way for head coach Ronnie Perry and the Bald Eagles in the dominating season-opening effort was Jessica Johnson (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), who went 4-0 and won the title at 155 pounds.
Samantha Reitnour (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) was second overall at 101 pounds.
Alayna Gil (Gallitzin, Pa./Penn Cambria) and Madison Matta (Blue Ridge, Pa./Waynesboro) placed third at 123 and 136, respectively.
Carly Gross (York, Pa./West York) and Lillian Sherer (Shohola, Pa./Delaware Valley) were fourth overall in the 116 and 130 brackets, respectively.
Lacey Hums (Branchville, N.J./High Point) rounded out the Lock Haven place-winners as she took sixth overall on the day with a strong effort at 191.
Mackenzie Delvecchio (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland) was also in action for Lock Haven as the Bald Eagles sent eight athletes into action.
Johnson was a perfect 4-0 on the day and she downed Tiffin’s preseason nationally-ranked – No. 7 – Taylor Hites, 8-0 in the finals at 155. Johnson added a tech and a pin on the day in a sensational season-opening outing.
Reitnour (101) was second overall after going 2-1. Her only loss came in the finals.
Gil and Matta rounded out LHU’s top-three finishers and each had to battle back for third-place after dropping their opening bouts of the tournament.
Gil went 4-1 at 123 and Matta 5-1 at 136.
For Lock Haven, this 2021-22 season will mark the first full season of competition with a full roster and the Bald Eagles are looking forward for what’s to come for the young program.
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Lock Haven will return to East Stroudsburg for a dual-match vs. the Warriors. It will mark the first-ever dual match for the Bald Eagle program. The match between the two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) schools is set for a 7 p.m. start.
Looking ahead, Lock Haven’s first home competition this season will come on Saturday, Dec. 4 when the Bald Eagles host a tri-meet with Sacred Heart and New Jersey City. The full 2021-22 LHU women’s wrestling schedule is available at GoLHU.com.
