LH men’s wrestling celebrates seniors, falls to WVU, 34-9
LOCK HAVEN, PA – Nationally-ranked Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) won by pin and Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford High School) posted an upset-victory as the Lock Haven University men’s wrestling team closed the regular season at home Sunday versus West Virginia in non-conference dual action. The visiting Mountaineers improved to 10-5 overall with a 34-9 win.
Prior the match, head coach Scott Moore and the Bald Eagles honored four graduating Lock Haven seniors for their many important contributions to the program. Those honored included: Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/ Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)), Matt Maloney (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Liberty), Tyler Dilley (Saint Mary’s, Pa./Saint Mary’s), and Kollin Myers (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs).
Strickland’s pin at 133 quickly fired up the home crowd, and Stonecheck knocked off the nation’s 26th ranked wrestler at 149.
With the loss, Lock Haven finished the season at 8-7 overall in dual action.
West Virginia received votes in this week’s National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Wrestling Coaches’ poll and came up just one point shy of cracking this week’s top-25. Overall, WVU’s roster includes eight different wrestlers ranked in the latest NCAA Coaches’ Panel rankings.
The match started with a Lock Haven forfeit at 125 pounds and West Virginia jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
Strickland quickly and enthusiastically got the Bald Eagles even – much to the delight of the home crowd – and tied the dual at 6-6 with his pin at 133. Strickland led 6-0 after one period, and he led 9-0 when he earned the fall over Jace Schafer at the 4:28 mark.
West Virginia regained the lead after a decision at 141. No. 31 Jordan Titus edged out Zack Zeamer (Manheim, Pa. Manheim Central (Oklahoma)) and put WVU up 9-6.
At 149, Stonecheck thrilled and reenergized the home crowd. He used a second-period reversal and grinded out the upset-win over No. 26 Sam Hillegas. The LHU win tied the team score at 9-9.
At 157, No. 29 Alex Hornfeck (West Virginia) earned a major decision over Eyler and West Virginia regained the lead in the dual, 13-9.
Visiting West Virginia stretched the lead to 25-9 after posting wins at 165 and 174. At 165, No. 1 Peyton Hall (West Virginia) pinned Aiden Gaugler (Shamokin Dam, Pa./Selinsgrove), and West Virginia won by forfeit at 174.
At 184, it looked like Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) was poised for another upset. Fegley and No. 29 Anthony Carman (West Virginia) were tied 5-5 late in the third, but Carman scored four near-fall points in the final seconds to secure the 9-5 decision.
At, 197, Cael Black (Warren, Pa./Eisenhower) stepped up and looked more than game, but in the end, No. 28 Austin Cooley secured a 10-3 decision and West Virginia led 31-9.
The final bout of the meet featured two of the nation’s best 285-pounders and it didn’t disappoint. In the end, No. 23 Michael Wolfgram of West Virginia edged out Isaac Reid (Saltsburg, Pa./Kiski), 6-4. WVU closed the match with six straight wins and won the non-conference dual, 34-9.
Lock Haven opened the week on Thursday (Feb. 16) and clinched at least a share of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Eastern Division regular season title with a 29-9, victory over longtime-rival Edinboro. The Bald Eagles won eight of 10 bouts and picked up bonus points in three matches on the way to the big win at home over the Fighting Scots. Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)), ranked No. 11 at 125, provided a win by bonus-point variety as he recorded a first-period pin. Noto was one of several regular starters, who sat out Sunday’s action in preparation for the upcoming postseason run.
With the 2022-23 regular season officially in the books, the Bald Eagles will now turn their focus to a postseason. The defending MAC champions will open their title defense on Friday, March 3 on Day 1 of the 2023 MAC Tournament. The 2022-23 Mid-American Conference Championships are set for Friday and Saturday, March 3-4 at George Mason. More championship information will be available at GoLHU.com in the coming days.
Bout-by-Bout Results:
125: Colton Drousias (West Virginia) won by forfeit / West Virginia 6-0
133: #31 Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) pinned Jace Schafer (West Virginia) 4:28 / Tied 6-6
141: #31 Jordan Titus (West Virginia) dec. Zack Zeamer (Lock Haven) 6-0 / West Virginia 9-6
149: Nick Stonecheck (Lock Haven) dec. #26 Sam Hillegas (West Virginia) 3-0 / Tied 9-9
157: #29 Alex Hornfeck (West Virginia) major dec. Ashton Eyler (Lock Haven) 13-0 / West Virginia 13-9
165: #11 Peyton Hall (West Virginia) pinned Aiden Gaugler (Lock Haven) 1:42 / West Virginia 19-9
174: Scott Joll (West Virginia) won by forfeit / West Virginia 25-9
184: #29 Anthony Carman (West Virginia) dec. Colin Fegley (Lock Haven) 9-5 / West Virginia 28-9
197: #28 Austin Cooley (West Virginia) dec. Cael Black (Lock Haven) 10-3 / West Virginia 31-9
285: #23 Michael Wolfgram (West Virginia) dec. #33 Isaac Reid (Lock Haven) 6-4 / West Virginia 34-9
FINAL: West Virginia 34 – Lock Haven 9
*Individual Rankings = NCAA Coaches’ Panel (Feb. 9)
Records –
West Virginia (10-5)
Lock Haven (8-7)
Attendance: 607
