LHU women’s wrestling makes history, rolls to two victories over ranked opponents

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Lock Haven University women’s wrestling team (2-1) on Saturday picked up a 33-11 win over No. 11 Sacred Heart University and won two of the three contested bouts. The Bald Eagles followed up the historic win with another stylish win at Thomas Fieldhouse over No. 14 New Jersey City, 29-19, as head coach Ronnie Perry and the Bald Eagles picked up wins number one and two in program history.

Dual No. 1: Lock Haven 33 Sacred Heart 11

The Bald Eagles picked up forfeit wins on the opening five bouts of the match. Madison Matta (Blue Ridge, Pa./Waynesboro) then picked up a convincing 7-1 decision victory over Savannah Vanse at 109 pounds to push the LHU advantage to 28-1. Matta took control early and led 4-0 after the first period behind two takedowns. The Bald Eagle freshman notched another takedown in the third to power her way to 6-1 on the season.

Following an LHU forfeit at 143 pounds, Lock Haven’s No. 8 ranked Jessica Johnson (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) squared off against Sacred Heart’s Madison Sandquist, ranked No. 5 at 143, at 155 pounds. Johnson secured two takedowns and led 4-2 after the opening period. In the second, the Bald Eagles undefeated 155-pounder flexed her muscles and notched three takedowns before eventually winning by fall at 5:12.

In the final bout at 191, Sacred Heart’s nationally-ranked Ashley Reed picked up a win by fall. With the win, LHU picked up their historic first dual meet victory, and also notched its first win over a ranked opponent.

Bout by bout results:
101: Sammi Reitnour (LHU) win on SHU forfeit / LHU 5-0
109: Madison Packer (LHU) win on SHU forfeit / LHU 10-0
116: Carly Gross (LHU) win on SHU forfeit / LHU 15-0
123: Mackenzie DelVecchio (LHU) win on SHU forfeit / LHU 20-0
130: Lily Sherer (LHU) win on SHU forfeit / LHU 25-0
136: Madison Matta (LHU) dec. Savannah Vanse (SHU) 7-1 / LHU 28-1
143: Tays Pascual (SHU) win on LHU forfeit / LHU 28-6
155: #8 Jessica Johnson (LHU) pinned (#5 at 143) Madison Sandquist (SHU) 12-2 (5:12) / LHU 33-6
170: No contest
191: #6 Ashley Reed (SHU) pinned Lacey Hums (LHU) 4-0 (1:48) / LHU 33-11

Dual No. 2: Lock Haven 29 New Jersey City 19

After two NJCU forfeits, Alayna Gil (Gallitzin, Pa./Penn Cambria) jumped all over Victoria Devoto at 116 pounds. Gil muscled her way to three early takedowns and ended the bout via tech fall at 1:07 to give LHU a 14-0 lead.

At 130 pounds, New Jersey’s No. 5 ranked Naomi Henry notched a tech fall after an LHU forfeit and the Bald Eagles lead moved to 19-4.

Matta picked up right where she left off in her bout at 136 and used a big second period to notch her second win of the day. After a 1-0 opening period, Matta secured two takedowns and powered her way to the victory by fall at 5:27. Matta moved to 7-1 on the season and earned the crucial victory for LHU to push the Bald Eagle lead to 24-4.

Following a trio of forfeits, the Gothic Knights earned a pin at 191 from No. 7 Sandy Guerrero, but the Bald Eagles held the final advantage at 29-19.

The win for LHU moved them to 2-1 on the season and marked the second win over a ranked opponent on the day as the young Bald Eagles put on an impressive display in Mat-Town U.S.A.

Bout by Bout Results:
101: Samantha Reitnour (LHU) win on NJCU forfeit / LHU 5-0
109: Madison Packer (LHU) win on NJCU forfeit / LHU 10-0
116: Alayna Gil (LHU) tech falled Victoria Devoto (NJCU) 10-0 (1:07) / LHU 14-0
123: Mackenzie DelVecchio (LHU) forfeit on NJCU / LHU 19-0
130: #5 Naomi Henry (NJCU) tech falled Lily Sherer (LHU) 10-0 (5:10) / LHU 19-4
136: Madison Matta (LHU) pinned Kayla Zeppetelli (NJCU) 7-0 (5:27) / LHU 24-4
143: Lockslea Mayers (NJCU) win on LHU forfeit / LHU 24-9
155: #8 Jessica Johnson (LHU) win on NJCU forfeit / LHU 29-9
170: Evie Tahmazian (NJCU) win on LHU forfeit / LHU 29-14
191: #7 Sandy Guerrero (NJCU) pinned Lacey Hums (LHU) 4-0 (0:30) / LHU 29-19

The Road Ahead:
The Bald Eagle’s next time out comes on Saturday, January 22 when they travel to Elmira College for a quad dual. The times and opponents for the Bald Eagles have not yet been made official.