LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team (6-8-1, 1-3 EWL) was edged by West Virginia (6-4, 3-0 EWL) 20-16 at home tonight in Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) action.

Both teams split bouts with each winning five.

The match was tied 16-16 going into the heavyweight bout and West Virginia’s Dustin Rogers came out on top.

LHU got off to a tremendous start with two straight wins to kick off the night.

Nick Hyatt (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) and Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield N.J./South Plainfield) posted back-to-back wins at 125 and 133 to get The Haven rolling.

Hyatt defeated Kyle Turnbull 9-4 at 125.

Ashnault followed Hyatt’s win up with a big one of his own. He picked up a major decision over Tyler Oravec, downing the Moutaineer13-2.

The two early wins put LHU up 7-0.

The Bald Eagles dropped the match at 141, but quickly got back in the win column as senior Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) picked up an upset-win at 149.

Fittery downed No.19 David Jauregui 4-2 in the night’s most exciting bout.

With 40 seconds left in the opening period, Fittery opened the scoring with at takedown. Fittery was the aggressor from the start and it paid off as he took the 2-0 lead into the second period.

Fittery, who improved to 25-6 on the season with the win still led 2-0 after two periods.

An early third period escape put Fittery well in control, leading 3-0, but Jauregui, wouldn’t go away quietly and scored a late takedown. Fittery tacked on one more point late, by way of an escape to earn the hard-fought 4-2 decision, much to the delight of the home faithful.

Lock Haven was once again strong at 184 and 197, as Tom Kocher (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) and Ben Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock) posted back-to-back wins.

Kocher downed Lance Bryson 5-3 and Hepburn used a workmanlike performance to beat Kyle Rooney 3-2.

Hepburn’s win tied the match at 16-16, sending it to heavyweight to decide the winner.

The Bald Eagles return to action on Friday, Feb. 13 when they travel to local-rival Bloomsburg University for an EWL showdown. The match is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.

LHU Wrestling:

Saturday, Jan. 31 2009

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Thomas Fieldhouse

Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Dual

West Virginia at Lock Haven

WVU 6-4, 3-0 EWL

LHU 6-8-1, 1-3 EWL

Individual Match Results:

125: Nick Hyatt (LHU) dec. Kyle Turnbull (WVU) 9-4

133: Billy Ashnault (LHU) maj. dec. Tyler Oravec (WVU) 13-2

141: Colin Johnston (WVU) maj. dec. Zach Kell (LHU) 17-4

149: #24 Matt Fittery (LHU) dec. #19 David Jauregui 4-2

157: Ryan Goodman (WVU) dec. Ollie Cooperwood (LHU) 5-3

165: Donnie Jones (WVU) tech. fall Aaron Ernest (LHU) 21-6

174: Kurt Brenner (WVU) maj. dec. Travis Stem (LHU) 19-8

184: Tom Kocher (LHU) dec. Lance Bryson (WVU) 5-3

197: Ben Hepburn (LHU) dec. Kyle Rooney (WVU) 3-2

HWT: Dustin Rogers (WVU) maj. dec Gabe Murtorff (LHU) 9-1

Team Score by Match

125: LHU leads 3-0

133: LHU leads 7-0

141: LHU lead 7-4

149: LHU leads 10-4

157: LHU leads 10-7

165: WVU leads 12-10

174: WVU leads 16-10

184: WVU leads 16-13

197: LHU tied WVU 16-16

HWT: WVU def. LHU 20-16