LHU wrestling edged in opener by Spartans, 19-17
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – In its first appearance at Thomas Fieldhouse in 20 months, the Lock Haven University men’s wrestling (0-1) turned in a stellar effort winning five bouts before ultimately falling to the visiting Michigan State Spartans (1-0) by a 19-17 final team score Thursday night.
The Eagles were victorious at 125, 141, 149, 165 and 174 pounds and owned a 17-5 advantage heading into the final three bouts of the evening.
At 125 pounds, No. 33 Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) got the evening started on the right foot with an 11-7 decision in sudden victory over Michigan State’s Julian Saldana. Werner and Saldana were knotted up, 7-7, after three periods. In the extra session, Werner used a quick takedown and a pair of near-fall points to secure the win. The victory for Werner was his 98th in his career in the Crimson and White.
Michigan State got on the scoreboard at 133 as No. 10 Rayvon Foley defeated Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) by a 10-5 tally to tie the match score, 3-3.
The Bald Eagles regained the lead with a decision victory at 141. Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford) used three takedowns and a third period escape to turn in a hard-earned 7-5 victory over Matt Santos. With the win, Lock Haven took a 6-3 lead into a pivotal bout at 149.
In a back-and-forth affair at 149 pounds, Connor Eck (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) used a third period takedown to gain a 6-4 advantage over No. 33 Peyton Omania. Omania scored an escape late in the third period, but it wasn’t enough as Eck brought the 1,357 Lock Haven faithful to their feet with a 6-5 upset-victory. After the conclusion of the bout, Michigan State saw a one-point deduction due to unsportsmanlike conduct on the Spartans as the Bald Eagles took a 9-2 advantage after four bouts.
At 157 points, a highly anticipated matchup between a pair of nationally-ranked foes went the distance. No. 22 Chase Saldate earned an 8-5 win over No. 33 Ben Barton (Louisville, Ky./Trinity (Campbell)) to bridge the gap to 9-5 in the match score at the mid-way point of the evening.
Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)) kept things going for the Bald Eagles with a stellar 3-0 win at 165 pounds. Eyler chose bottom to start the third period and turned in a reversal to take a 2-0 lead and added a point due to a three-minute advantage in riding time as Lock Haven surged to a 12-5 advantage.
Lock Haven scored its only bonus points of the evening with a convincing victory at 174 pounds. Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) recorded a quartet of four-point near falls to roll to a 16-0 tech fall victory. The win earned Stoltzfus his eighth victory of the year and pushed the Lock Haven lead to 17-5 in the team score.
Michigan State reeled off three straight victories to earn the match win. No. 27 Layne Malczewski was victorious by fall over Thomas Dressler (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) at 184 pounds, before No. 20 Cam Caffey turned in a 14-5 major decision victory over Parker McClellan (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) at 197 pounds. The Spartans rode away with a 19-17 victory in the match as Brad Wilton scored a 13-5 major decision victory over Colby Whitehill (Brookville, Pa./Brookville (Pittsburgh)) to wrap up the evening.
Bout-by-bout Results
125 | #33 Luke Werner (LHU) dec. Julian Saldana (MSU) 11-7, SV / LHU 3-0
133 | #10 Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. Gable Strickland (LHU) / 10-5 / Tied 3-3
141 | Nick Stonecheck (LHU) dec. Matt Santos (MSU) 7-5 / LHU 6-3
149 | Connor Eck (LHU) dec. #33 Peyton Omania (MSU) 6-5 / LHU 9-2
157 | #22 Chase Saldate (MSU) dec. #33 Ben Barton (LHU) 8-5 / LHU 9-5
165 | Ashton Eyler (LHU) dec. Caleb Fish (MSU) 3-0 / LHU 12-5
174 | Tyler Stoltzfus (LHU) tech fall Nathan Jimenez (MSU) 16-0 (5:33) / LHU 17-5
184 | #27 Layne Malczewski (MSU) pinned Thomas Dressler (LHU) / (6:59) / LHU 17-11
197 | #20 Cam Caffey (MSU) major dec. Parker McClellan (LHU) 14-5 / LHU 17-15
285 | Brad Wilton (MSU) dec. Colby Whitehill (LHU) 13-5 / MSU 19-17, Final
Final Team Score: Michigan State 19 Lock Haven 17
* 149 – MSU deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike
The Road Ahead:
Lock Haven returns to action on Saturday when it hosts 22nd-ranked Lehigh University. Start time for the dual with the Mountain Hawks is set for 1 p.m.
