LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team (5-5-1) is set to kick off Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) action this week.
The Matches:
Tomorrow night (Thursday, Jan. 15) the Bald Eagles kick off EWL action by welcoming the 24th ranked Pitt Panthers to Thomas Fieldhouse for a 7:30 p.m. start. Saturday, The Haven travels to No. 16 Edinboro University for showdown with the Fighting Scots. Lock Haven is 5-5-1 on the year and is coming off a 1-1-1 performance at the Bulldog Duals, hosted by Gardner-Webb University.
Pitt:
Pitt is ranked No. 24 in latest USA Today/InterMat/ NWCA Division I Top 25 poll and brings a 1-3 record to Clinton Country. Pitt is 1-0 in EWL action with its lone win of the season coming back on Nov. 19 against Bloomsburg, 27-7. Pitt is coming off a 27-10 loss to No. 7 Illinois. The Panthers lineup features two national ranked grapplers.
Edinboro:
On Saturday LHU makes the trek to Edinboro to face off with the Fighting Scots, ranked No. 16 in the latest USA Today/InterMat/ NWCA Division I rankings. Edinboro is 7-4 on the year and kicks off EWL action on Friday night against Clarion. Edinboro’s lineup features six nationally ranked athletes including Gregor Gillespie (157) and Paul Donahoe (125), who are both ranked number-one in their respective weight classes.
The Series:
LHU is 22-22-1 all-time vs. Pitt. The Panthers won last year’s meeting 27-13 in Pittsburgh and Lock Haven won in ’07, 22-13. Lock Haven took home a win in the first ever meeting between the two schools in 1950, 24-6.
The Haven is 27-15 all-time against Edinboro, but hasn’t won since 2002. The Boro has won six straight including last year’s match 30-11. Lock Haven won the first ever meeting 31-3 in 1947.
Probable Lineups:
LHU -
125: Nick Hyatt R-So. (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown)
Evan Kolb, So. (Coopersburg, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic)
133: Billy Ashnault So. (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield)
George Ester, R-So. (Odenton, Md./Arundel)
141: Owen Wilkinson So. (Howell, Mich./Hartland)
Zach Kell, R-So. (Ickesburg, Pa./West Perry)
149: Matt Fittery Sr. (Denver, Pa./Cocalico)
157: Dave Richmond So. (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills)
Ollie Cooperwood, Sr. (Maple Heights, Ohio/Maple Heights)
165: Aaron Ernest Fr. (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove)
174: Dan Tolbert Fr. (Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank)
Travis Stem, Jr. (Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle)
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)
Pitt –
125: Chris Albright Fr. (York, Pa./Red Lion Area)
133: No. 14 Jimmy Conroy Jr. (South Plainfield, N.J./ South Plainfield)
141: No. 10 Tyler Nauman R-Fr. (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames)
149: Mark Powell Sr. (Washington, Pa./Purdue)
157: Phil Sorrentino R-Fr. (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny)
165: Ethan Headlee So. (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg)
174: David Sullivan R-Jr. (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley)
184: Zac Thomusseit Fr. (St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham)
197: Matt Wilps Fr. (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy)
HWT: No. 6 Zach Sheaffer R-So. (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley)
Edinboro –
125: No. 1 Paul Donahoe Sr. (Davidson, Mich.)
133: No. 7 Ricky Deubel Sr. (Chagrin Falls, Ohio)
141: Joes Webster Jr. (Norfolk, Conn.)
149: No. 19 Torsten Gillespie So. (Webster, N.Y.)
157: No. 1 Gregor Gillespie Sr. (Webster, N.Y.)
165: Chris Hrunka R-Fr. (Washington, N.J.)
174: Paul Paddock R-Fr. (Warsaw, N.Y.)
184: No. 18 Chris Honeycutt So. (North Ridgeville, Ohio)
Shawn Fendone So. (Salem, N.H.)
197: Pat Bradshaw Jr. (Saegertown, Pa.)
HWT: No. 14 Joey Fendone Sr. (Salem, N.H.)
2008-09 LHU Records:
Hyatt 10-11
Kolb 1-2
Ashnault 16-9
Ester 3-4
Wilkinson 4-7
Kell 4-12
Fittery 22-5
Richmond 6-9
Cooperwood 3-5
Ernest 6-10
Tolbert 5-7
Stem 0-2
Kocher 18-8
Hepburn 17-7
Murtorff 5-15
2008-09 Lock Haven Season Leaders:
Wins:
Fittery, 22
Kocher 18
Hepburn 17
Ashnault, 16
Hyatt, 10
Winning Percentage:
Fittery, .815
Hepburn, .708
Kocher, .692
Ashnault, .640
Hyatt, .476
Falls:
Fittery, 5
Ashnault, 4
Hyatt, 4
Tech. Falls:
Fittery, 4
Wilkinson, 2
Major Decisions:
Kocher, 7
Fittery, 6
Ashnault, 5
Back in action:
LHU welcomes Pitt tomorrow night before traveling to Edinboro on Saturday. The Bald Eagles are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Cleveland State in EWL action. The match is set for 5 p.m. LHU returns home on Saturday, Jan. 31 when the Bald Eagles host West Virginia in EWL action. The match is set for 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Fieldhouse.
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