LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team is set to welcome one the nation’s best to Clinton County tomorrow night, as the Bald Eagles host the number fifth-ranked University of Missouri Tigers.
The Match:
The match is set for 7 p.m. in LHU’s Thomas Fieldhouse and marks the first dual for both teams this year. Several Bald Eagles have competed in open evenst thus far, but this will be the first competition as team. Lock Haven returns three NCAA Division I national qualifiers from a year ago. Missouri enters the match with a No. 5 preseason ranking (Intermat). The Tigers lineup tomorrow night will feature three individually ranked opponents, including Nicholas Marable, who is ranked No. 1 at 165.
The Series:
The Haven is 2-0 all-time against Mizzou. LHU won the first ever meeting 21-19 in 1983 and took home the most recent match up in 1989 30-7.
Listen/Watch:
Fans who can’t make it out to Thomas Fieldhouse can watch a live video webcast. HAVENc@st is set for live coverage of tomorrow’s wrestling match.
Tune in early for the pre-game show, as Travis Larrabee and Derek Caldwell will bring you coverage and analysis of the contest. Don’t forget about the always popular in-game trivia question. Fans at home can vote online.
To access the live and free coverage, use the link listed below.
http://eagle.lhup.edu/Mediasite/catalog/
LHU Wrestling to Host Family Night:
Tomorrow’s home opener is family night
The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a Children’s Carnival in the Fieldhouse. There will be a bounce house and slide along with all types of carnival booths maintained by several LHU sports and organizations. The carnival will run throughout the match. The match will begin at 7:00 PM, featuring the Lock Haven University Bald Eagles against the University of Missouri Tigers.
LHU Student Spirit Contest:
Tomorrow night’s match will also feature a spirit contest for all LHU students, staff and faculty who would like to enter. The winners of the contest will receive a pizza party for ten people! Please plan to come out and root for your home team!
Ticket Prices:
Reserved $8
General $6
Adults w/Child $5
Students 13 & Older $3
Senior Citizens $3
FREE Kids 12 & Under
FREE LHU Students
Probable Lineups:
LHU
125: Nick Hyatt, R-So./Evan Kolb, So.
133: Billy Ashnault, So.
141: Zach Kell, R-So.
149: Matt Fittery, Sr.
157: Luke Lanno, R-Fr./Dave Richmond, Jr.
165: John Mangini, So./Aaron Ernest, Fr.
174: Alex Dalrymple, Jr.
184: Tom Kocher, Sr.
197: Ben Hepburn, Sr.
HWT: Gabe Murtorff, So.
#5 Missouri
125: Troy Dolan
133: Todd Schavrien
141: Marcus Hoehn
149: Andrew Sherry
157: Emanuel Brooks
#1 165: Nicholas Marable
#4 174: Raymond Jordan
184: Dorian Henderson
#6 197: Maxwell Askren
HWT: Dominique Bradley
Bald Eagle Recap:
Several Haven grapplers have competed in open events thus far in 2008.
Leading the way has been junior Jeremie Cook (Venice, Fla./Venice) and senior Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) both of whom have won titles this year.
At the Eastern Michigan Open, Cook led the way with a title at 184 pounds. The junior went 4-0 on the day. Cook started the tournament with an 8-0 major decision win over Erich Smith of Michigan. He then followed that up with a 7-4 over Navy’s Casey Caldwell. Cook’s third match didn’t last very long as he pinned Andrew Kissel of Purdue just 1:59 in. In the championship bout Cook edged Michigan State’s Ian Hilton, who was competing unattached, 3-2.
The Bald Eagles were also solid at the Buffalo Open. Leading the way senior Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico), who took home the individual title at 149 pounds. Fittery, a 2008 NCAA qualifier went a 5-0 on the day. He started the tournament with a 6-3 win over Bloomsburg’s Frank Hickman. Fittery followed that up with three more wins including a pin and major decision. In the 149-pound championship bout Fittery met a familiar face in teammate Seth Creasy (Mercer, Pa./Mercer). Fittery downed Creasy 9-4 for the win.
Creasy took second with his only loss coming to Fittery as the Bald Eagles flexed their muscles at the 149-pound weight class. Creasy kicked off his tournament in a big way with a pin (6:14) before following that up with a major decision. He downed Ohio State’s Jared Kusar 6-4 to advance to the championship bout.
Zach Kell (Ickesburg, Pa./West Perry) went 4-2 at 141 on this way to an impressive fourth-place showing. Kell opened with two pins and a 4-0 shutout before eventually falling 5-1 to Buffalo’s Andrew Stella in the third-place bout.
Sophomore Nick Hyatt (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) was sixth at 125 after going 4-2. Hyatt kicked off his tournament with a pin. Hyatt was 2-0 before falling to Edinboro’s Paul Donahoe, who claimed the 125-pound National Championship in 2007.
Three National Qualifiers Return:
The Haven returns all three national qualifiers from last year including sophomore Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), 133 and senior Ben Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock), 197 along with Fittery at 149.
Back in action
LHU is back in action on Friday, Nov. 21 at Rider University (7 p.m.).
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