LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team is set to travel to Erie, Pa. this Saturday for the 66th edition of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships.

The Tournament:

The PSAC Wrestling Championships are set for Saturday, Dec. 6 at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. 2008 marks the 66th edition of the conference championships.

Action kicks off Sat. in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center at 9:30 a.m.

The finals, which will include bouts for third and fifth places will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tournament passes for adults ($12) and students ($3), as well as individual session tickets for adults ($7) and students ($2), will be available at the door. Students from PSAC member institutions are admitted free with a valid ID.

LHU at the PSAC Championships:

In 2007, at Clarion University, The Haven took fourth overall, and had four Bald Eagles finish at runners-up.

LHU has won 19 PSAC tournaments in the storied history of the program, marking the most titles of any other conference school.

Lock Haven’s last championships came in 2001 (2001, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1970, 1969, 1967, 1966, 1961, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1953, 1950, 1948, 1947, 1942, 1941 & 1940).

Lock Haven has also brought home a total of 172 individual PSAC Champions with last coming in 2007. Seth Martin won back-to-back titles at 157 in 2006 and ’07.

Listen/Watch:

Fans who can’t make it to Erie can watch all the action live via a video-webcast brought to fans live by Mercyhurst and B2 Networks. More information on the webcast and B2 Networks can be found by accessing the Mercyhurst College Athletics Website: www.hurstathletics.com

Lock Haven Wrestling celebrating 70 years:

2008 marks the 70th anniversary of the Lock Haven wrestling program. Earlier this fall the storied program and its many successes were celebrated at 70th Anniversary Wrestling Dinner/Celebration held in the Durrwachter Alumni Conference Center on The Haven campus.

A number of guest speakers took part with each and every speaker presenting statistics that support the legendary Haven program. Those speakers included University President Keith Miller, LHU Alumni Association President Reed Mellinger, LHU alumnus and wrestling historian Tom Elling, current Bald Eagle head coach Rocky Bonomo and the keynote speaker, the father of Lock Haven University wrestling, Henry “Hank” Blake, who is credited with starting the Bald Eagles program as a student in 1938..

Also on hand were past NCAA champions Elliot “Gray” Simons, Fred Powell, Ken Melchior and Cary Kolat. The Bald Eagles’ other living national champion, Rev. Bill Blacksmith, was unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict. Also on hand was Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann, as well as many of the LHU Wrestling Hall of Fame members, wrestling alumni, boosters, friends and members of the current men’s and women’s teams.

LHU’s Probable Lineup:

125: Nick Hyatt, R-So. (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown)

133: Billy Ashnault, So. (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield)

141: Owen Wilkinson, So. (Howell, Mich./Hartland)

149: Matt Fittery, Sr. (Denver, Pa./Cocalico)

157: Dave Richmond, So. (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills)

165: Aaron Ernest, Fr. (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove)

174: Dan Tolbert, Fr. (Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank)

184: Tom Kocher, Sr. (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township)

197: Ben Hepburn, Sr. (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock)

HWT: Gabe Murtorff, R-Fr. (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs)

Lock Haven’s last time out:

Bald Eagles host Mat Town Open, Fittery & Hepburn claim individual titles

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – (11/20/08) The Lock Haven University wrestling team was in action today at the LHU Mat Town Open and several Bald Eagle grapplers faired quite well.

Leading the way for The Haven was a pair of seniors.

The duo of Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) and Ben Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock) claimed individual titles at 149 and 197, respectively.

Fittery went 5-0 to win the 149-pound title and capped off his day with a win over Edinboro’s Garrett Scott, who was competing unattached. Fittery won 11-2, 3-1 and then picked up two pins on his way to the championships bout.

Hepburn was 4-0 and capped of his day with a dramatic sudden-victory win in the 197-pound championship match.

Sophomore Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) was second at 133.

Ashnault was 3-1 on the day, with his loss coming in the 133-pound championships bout. He lost to Pitt’s Brad Gentzel 8-3. Ashnault cruised into the championship match by way of three pins.

Junior Dave Richmond (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) was fourth at 157for Lock Haven. Richmond was 3-2 on the day.

Last time at the PSAC Championships:

Bald Eagle grapplers compete at PSAC Championships, Haven takes fourth

CLARION, Pa. – (12/08/07) The Lock Haven University wrestling team finished fourth overall at the 65th edition of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Wrestling Championships today at Clarion University.

Lock Haven was fourth overall behind champion, Edinboro University, Bloomsburg University and host Clarion.

The Bald Eagles were led by four second place finishers including redshirt-junior Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico), sophomore Landis Wright (Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle), redshirt-junior Ben Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock) and junior Tom Kocher (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township).

Rookie John Trumbetti (Montvale, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) placed third at 125 and fellow freshman Dan Craig (Paw Paw, Mich./Allegan) took fourth at heavyweight.

Heading into today’s finals the Bald Eagles were fourth in the team standings with four guys competing for individual championships.

In the 149-pound final, Fittery fell to Edinboro’s Daryl Cocozzo 5-0.

Fittery advanced to the championship-bout after opening the tournament with a 13-1 major decision over Millersville University’s Cody Becker. He followed that up with a 13-12 win over Dennis Bermudez of Bloomsburg, advancing to the finals.

Wright fell by major decision in the 165-pound final to Edinboro’s Jarrod King. Wright opened the tournament by pinning (2:04) Sonny Flood of Kutztown University and followed that with a 10-3 win over Rick Schmelyun of Bloom.

In the 174 pound final, Kocher was pinned in 1:31 by Philip Moricone of Edinboro. Kocher advanced to the final after going 2-0 in the opening rounds.

Hepburn needed only one win to get to the finals at 197. He opened the championships with a 7-2 win over Pete Grodziak of Shippensburg University, but the Bald Eagle fell 5-1 in his championship bout with Edinboro’s Patrick Bradshaw.

At 125 pounds, Trumbetti defeated Clarion’s Jay Ivanco 4-2 to earn his third-place showing. With the win in the third place match Trumbetti improved to 3-2 on the day.

Things were still scoreless at the end of the first period, but that didn’t last long in the second with Trumbetti starting the second period on top. He started the second period very aggressively and recorded two near fall points just over 30 seconds in. Ivanco however wasn’t finished there and scored on a reversal with 22 second left in the second period, but Trumbetti quickly countered and scored a strong escape with just over 10 seconds left in the second.

Trumbetti started the third period down and scored again with an escape as the Bald Eagle rookie took home the 4-2 win for third place at his first PSAC championship.

Craig was 1-1 on the day heading into his third-place match with Edinboro’s Joe Fendone where Craig was pinned falling to 1-2 on the day.

Bald Eagles in the Finals:

149: Matt Fittery (LHU) vs. Daryl Cocozzo (Edinboro): Cocozzo dec. Fittery 5-0

165: Landis Wright (LHU) vs. Jarrod King (Edinboro): King major dec. Wright 16-6

174: Tom Kocher (LHU) vs. Phillip Moricone (Edinboro): Moricone fall (1:31) Kocher

197: Ben Hepburn (LHU) vs. Patrick Bradshaw (Edinboro): Bradshaw dec. Hepburn 5-1

Third-place matches:

125: John Trumbetti (LHU) vs. Jay Ivanco (Clarion): Trumbetti dec. Ivanco 4-2

HWT: Dan Craig (LHU) vs. Joe Fendone (Edinboro) Fendone fall (4:12) Craig

Fittery reigning PSAC Wrestler of the Week:

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – (12/02/08) Senior Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) of the Lock Haven University wrestling team has been named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Wrestler of the Week for his recent efforts on the mat for the Bald Eagles.

Fittery was one of two individual champions for The Haven at the LHU Mat Town Open, as he dominated the 149-pound weight class.

He went 5-0 on the day, cruising into the finals by way of one major and two pins.

With the 5-0 tournament performance Fittery improves to 11-1 on the year and is currently ranked in the top-25 nationally.

His 11 wins are a team high this season.

Hyatt named EWL Wrestler of the Week:

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – (11/17/08)Redshirt sophomore Nick Hyatt (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) of the Lock Haven University wrestling team has been named Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Wrestler of the Week for his recent efforts on the mat for LHU.

Hyatt kicked off this dual-meet season in a big way this past weekend when the Bald Eagles played host to the fifth-ranked University of Missouri Tigers.

Despite dropping their first dual of the year The Haven wrestled well and were led by a sensational performance by Hyatt in the night’s opening bout.

Hyatt brought the near capacity crowd to its feet as he pinned Mizzou’s nationally-ranked Troy Dolan.

Hyatt quickly went to work at 125-pounds on Dolan, much to the delight of the home faithful.

Hyatt’s aggressive style paid off as he earned the fall at 2:29.

Just 14 seconds into the bout, Hyatt used a strong single leg to takedown Dolan and three seconds later he had two back points, as it was looking if he might get the quick fall.

Hyatt was cruising 9-0 after racking up five more back points before finally pinning Dolan with just 0:31 left in the night’s opening bout.

Hyatt and the Bald Eagles are back in action on Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. when they travel to Rider University.

Breaking Down the Bald Eagles:

125: Nick Hyatt, R-So. (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown)

Hyatt is 6-5 on the year … A one-time EWL Wrestler of the Week Hyatt got off to solid start this season … He got a huge win in the Missouri Dual … Hyatt pinned Mizzou’s nationally-ranked Troy Dolan.

133: Billy Ashnault, So. (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield)

After a bit of slow start the 2007 National Qualifier has been on a tear … He started the season 1-4, but quickly found his form at the Mat Town Open … Ashnault finished second and 3-1 on the day, with his loss coming in the 133-pound championships bout … He lost to Pitt’s Brad Gentzel 8-3 … Ashnault cruised into the championship match by way of three pins … He is 4-5 on the year.

141: Owen Wilkinson, So. (Howell, Mich./Hartland)

Wilkinson has gone 2-2 thus far, while wrestling unattached.

149: Matt Fittery, Sr. (Denver, Pa./Cocalico)

Fittery is coming off the 149-pound title at the Mat Town Open … Fittery, ranked in the top-25 national is the reigning PSAC Wrestler of the Week … With his 5-0 record at Mat Town, Fittery improves to 11-1 on the year with a .917 win-percentage … At Mat Town Fittery cruised in the championships bout by way of one major decision and two pins … Fittery was second at the PSAC Championships last year.

157: Dave Richmond, So. (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills)

Richmond is 4-5 on the year and took fourth at Mat Town, going 3-2 on the day.

165: Aaron Ernest, Fr. (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove)

Ernest is 2-2, wrestling unattached.

174: Dan Tolbert, Fr. (Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank)

Tolbert has yet to compete this season.

184: Tom Kocher, Sr. (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township)

Kocher is 4-4 on the season … He is ranked within the top-30 nationally … He placed second at the PSAC Championships last year.

197: Ben Hepburn, Sr. (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock)

Hepburn is coming off a title at Mat Town, where he went 4-0 and capped of his day with a dramatic sudden-victory win in the 197-pound championship match … He is 5-1 on the year and ranked in the top-30 nationally.

HWT: Gabe Murtorff, R-Fr. (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs)

Murtorff is 1-4 on the year.

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 Sunday, Dec. 14 when the Bald Eagles host the LHU Duals in Thomas Fieldhouse.

Full PSAC Preview/Official Tournament Webpage:

Click on link listed below.