Tom Kocher was one of the many Bald Eagles who went 2-0 on the day as LHU defeated Wagner 45-0 and Rutgers 22-16.

PASCATAWAY, N.J. - The Lock Haven University Bald Eagles (5-1, 0-0 EWL) won both meets of their tri-meet in the Garden State on Friday evening by knocking off Wagner University 45-0 and then defeating Rutgers University 22-16 at Rutgers.

LHU got things started off on the right foot as they dismantled Wagner 45-0.

The match saw three bouts won by fall and four bouts by a major decision.

Bald Eagle head coach Rocky Bonomo couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match as John Trumbetti (Montvale, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) and Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) both pinned their opponents in the first bouts of the match.

Four of the matches next seven bouts would be won by major decision as Tom Kocher (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township), Jeremie Cook (Venice, Fla./Venice) and Ben Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock) continued the dominating performance by the Bald Eagle grapplers.

Freshman heavyweight Dan Craig (Paw Paw, Mich./Allegan) would cap off the match as he pinned opponent John Graeffe late in period number three to finalize the scoring at 45-0.

The day wouldn’t end there as LHU still had to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights later in the evening, but they would be up to the task.

Trumbetti would again get things kicked off well for LHU as he won a 12-2 major decision over Ryan Jablonski to start things off at 125.

Ashnault and Clint Shirk (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) would then drop the next two bouts as Rutgers took a 7-4 lead into the bout at 149.

The 149 pound affair would see defending PSAC Wrestler of the Week Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) winning by pinfall to give LHU the lead at 10-7.

Rutgers would knot the match up at ten a piece as John Mangini (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) lost a 10-6 decision at the hands of Chris Norrell in the 157 matchup.

LHU sophomore sensation Landis Wright (Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle) would give LHU the lead back for good as he recorded a pin just 1:55 into the 165 pound bout to give the Bald Eagles a 16-10 advantage.

Kocher and Cook would then rattle off a pair of wins to give LHU a 22-10 advantage as they all but wrapped the match up.

Hepburn and Craig would drop the final bouts of the evening, but Rutgers wouldn’t have enough as Lock Haven would come home with a pair of wins in the Garden State.

Lock Haven is next back in action in an all day affair at the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Virginia on January 11, 2008.

Lock Haven 45 – Wagner 0

125 – John Trumbetti of LH Pins Nick Keshecki of WC 1:38.

133 – Billy Ashnault of LH Pins Tyler Harmer of WC 2:25.

141 – Clint Shirk of LH 8-2 dec. over Mike Tutunjian of WC (LH adv time 5:24).

149 – Matt Fittery of LH 14-1 maj. dec. over Patrick Larkin of WC.

157 – Brian Ellis of LH 4-2 dec. over Sean Quinn of WC.

165 – Mike Metzger of LH 11-5 dec. over Larry Peotter of WC.

174 – Tom Kocher of LH 16-3 maj. dec. over Peter Morano of WC.

184 – Jeremie Cook of LH 9-0 maj. dec. over Eddie Broderick of WC.

197 – Ben Hepburn of LH 16-1 maj. dec. over Anthony Interiano of WC.

HWT – Dan Craig of LH pins John Graeffe of WC 6:36.

Lock Haven 22 – Rutgers University 16

125 – John Trumbetti of LH 12-2 maj. dec. over Ryan Jablonski of RU

133 – Dan Hilt of RU 6-1 dec. over Billy Ashnault of LH

141 – Steve Adamcsik of RU 13-1 maj. dec. over Clint Shirk of LH

149 – Matt Fittery of LH pins Jack Barrett of RU at 4:23

157 – Chris Norrell of RU 10-6 dec. over John Mangini of LH

165 – Landis Wright of LH pins Matt Pletcher of RU at 1:55

174 – Tom Kocher of LH 11-6 dec. over McPaul Ogbonna of RU

184 – Jeremie Cook of LH 3-2 5-0T dec. over. Keith Dobish of RU.

197 – Lamar Brown of RU 3-1 OT dec. over Ben Hepburn of LH

HWT – Karim Mahmoud 9-4 dec. over Dan Craig of LH