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(Lock Haven, Pa.) –
Eight wrestlers on Lock Haven University of
Pennsylvania’s NCAA Division I wrestling team earned
recognition for being among the top contenders in their weight
class, including five grapplers ranked in the top 20 in InterMat’s
2001-02 NCAA Division I Pre-Season Rankings.
JaMarr Billman (Easton/Easton Area), Mike Maney
(Clarence/Bald Eagle Area), Josh Millard (Mill Hall/Bald Eagle
Area), Avery Zerkle (Urbana, Ohio/Graham), Trap McCormack (Loganton/Bald
Eagle-Nittany), Chris Spealler (Paoli/Great Valley), Victor
Jackson (Poquoson,
Va./Poquoson), and
Jason Gilligan (Brookville/Brookville) were all among
those garnering national billings.
Senior 149-pounder JaMarr Billman headlined the
group, earning a No. 3 ranking in his respective weight class.
A 2001 All-American after finishing fifth at the NCAA
national championships, Billman tallied a 25-3 overall record
including a team-best eight pins. He tore through the competition in his first season with the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and Eastern Wrestling
League, capturing conference titles at both post-season
championships.
Mike Maney, a sophomore at 141 lbs., is ranked No.
8 in the pre-season poll. Maney, the 2001 Mat-Town and PSAC champion and EWL runner-up,
qualified for nationals and finished just one win away from
All-American status. Sporting an overall mark of 28-6 with a
team-leading seven major decisions, the rookie was named the
PSAC and EWL Rookie of the Year.
Returning for his final season at 184 pounds is senior Josh
Millard, who earns a No. 17 ranking.
Millard came on strong last season, posting a 20-13
overall mark after capturing an EWL title and his first trip to
the NCAA championships.
Avery Zerkle also returns for his senior campaign,
earning a No. 19 pre-season rating.
The Bald Eagle grappler won titles at 197 pounds at the
PSAC and EWL championships en route to his first appearance at
the national tournament. Zerkle finished out the season with a
25-8 overall record.
Senior Trap McCormack returns to the mat after his
most prolific season, when he registered a 30-5 overall mark,
including a season-high of six falls.
McCormack garnered the PSAC title at 125 pounds and a
fourth-place finish at the EWL championships.
He secured his third-straight trip to nationals with an
EWL wild-card spot, where he posted a 2-2 record.
Receiving Special Mention at 133 pounds were Chris
Spealler and Victor Jackson.
Spealler recorded a 9-5 mark last season, including four
major decisions and a seventh-place finish at Mat-Town.
Jackson, a two-time Virginia state champion (130 lbs.)
and two-time Freestyle All-American, red-shirted last year but
is poised for action this upcoming season.
Jason Gilligan was among those receiving Honorable
Mention at 157 pounds. Gilligan went 14-9 last season, finishing
third at the PSAC Championships and fifth at the EWL tournament.
The red-shirt freshman topped off his season by earning a
wild card bid into the national championships.
The 2000-01 Bald Eagle wrestling team, under the guidance
of Head Coach Carl Poff, closed out the season with a 21st
place finish at the NCAA Division I National Wrestling
Championships and a No. 21 national (InterMat) ranking.
The Haven posted a school-record 21 wins while capturing
the PSAC tournament title and a runner-up finish at the EWL
championships.
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