Luke Werner’s 125-pound title headlines LHU wrestling effort at Navy Classic
ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Lock Haven University wrestling team crowned one champ and one place-winner Saturday at the team-scored Navy Classic Tournament.
Leading the way was champion Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and Ben Barton (Louisville, Ky./Trinity (Campbell).
Werner was perfect on the day and capped his title run with an upset-win in the finals. Barton finished fourth at 157 pounds in what proved to a sensational debut for the Bald Eagle.
The tournament field included wrestlers from American, Bloomsburg, Bucknell, The Citadel, Edinboro, Kent State, Michigan State, Ohio, Rutgers, VMI and host-Navy.
The Bald Eagles finished ninth of 12 teams. Michigan State placed first and will travel to Lock Haven on Dec. 2 for a non-conference dual with the Bald Eagles.
Werner was 4-0 with a tech fall and quick pin, and in the finals, he upset nationally-ranked Jake Ferri of Kent State 12-10 on a last-second takedown.
Werner ran his career win total to 97 as he looks to become the 23rd member of The Haven’s 100-win club.
Barton entered Saturday’s action ranked No. 27 nationally at 157 pounds. The transfer is a two-time NCAA Division I national-tournament qualifier. Barton went 3-2 on the day, falling in the third-place match to Chase Saldate of Michigan State.
Up next, the Bald Eagles look forward to hosting the 2021 Mat-Town Open Tournament. Action is set for a 9:30 a.m. start in Thomas Fieldhouse on Sunday, Nov. 28.
It will mark LHU’s fourth straight early-season tournament appearance and it marks the first action this season at home. Of note: Earlier this week, the LHU wresting team announced the Lock Haven Classic Tournament scheduled for December 29 has been canceled.
Looking ahead, LHU will open the dual portion of the schedule at home on Thursday, December 2 vs. Michigan State. Two days later on December 4, the Bald Eagles will host Lehigh. Those two early-December and noteworthy dual matchups mark two of five true-home duals in Thomas Fieldhouse. This season, Lock Haven will also host Mid-American Conference duals vs. George Mason, Clarion and Cleveland State. The full 2021-22 LHU men’s wrestling schedule is available at GoLHU.com.
