2009 NCAA Division II Softball Tournament

February 5, 2003
Lock Haven Grapplers Look To Rebound Against West Virginia, Pittsburgh

LHU's 133-pounder Justin Owens

#9 West Virginia... Under the tutelage of 25th-year head coach Craig Turnbull, the Mountaineers are ranked ninth nationally and sport a 2-3 overall ledger with a 1-0 mark in the EWL. All three of their losses came against top-12 ranked teams (Ohio State, Oklahoma, Minnesota) with the average margin of defeat just under five points in each match. WVU’s two dual meet wins came over No. 13-ranked Iowa State (22-14) and EWL opponent Clarion University (22-14). Eight of the Mountaineers’ starters are ranked in the nation’s top-20 led by returning national champion and top-ranked Greg Jones (18-0) at 174 pounds. At 165 pounds, No. 7-ranked Tom McMath (5-5) is the returning EWL champion and an NCAA qualifier. No. 7-ranked Billy Smith (14-4) was the EWL runner-up at 149 pounds last season. Other ranked Mountaineers include #17 Seth Lisa (18-5) at 125 pounds, #14 Brandon Lauer (11-6) at 133 pounds, #13 Shane Cunanan (19-6) at 141 pounds, #17 Ryan Wilman (19-8) at 184 pounds and heavyweight #13 Brent Miller (13-8). 

Pittsburgh... Though the 2003 Pittsburgh Panthers may appear young on paper sporting as many as six freshmen in the starting lineup, this year’s edition has built a 7-3 dual meet ledger along with a 3-1 mark in the EWL. The Panthers, under veteran head coach Rande Stottlemyer, are currently on a six-match win streak. League wins have come over Virginia Tech (31-9) , Cleveland State (23-17) and Clarion (23-16), while the sole loss was early in the season against Bloomsburg (20-13). Three ranked Panthers lead the charge including seniors #19 Justin Giovinco (19-6) at 149 pounds and #13 Carl Fronhofer (15-4) at 174 pounds. Freshman and No. 14-ranked Jordan Sianni (23-4) is the third ranked grappler, residing at 125 pounds. 

Below is the LHU weight-by-weight preview:

125: The Bald Eagles will go with Jim Collins (Jonestown/Northern Lebanon) at 125 pounds. Collins had a rough weekend at Cleveland State and Edinboro, losing by technical fall to No. 18-ranked Rocco Mansueto and by fall to Edinboro’s Jacob Gray. He is 11-11 overall.

133: Justin Owens (Morrisdale/West Branch) also suffered two losses, unable to post any offensive points last weekend in a 9-5 loss against No. 16-ranked Phil Mansueto of CSU and a 12-5 decision against Edinboro’s Shawn Bunch. Owens is now 15-10 on the season.

141:With No. 7-ranked Mike Maney (Clarence/Bald Eagle Area) still questionable for the start this weekend, Lock Haven could continue using the services of junior John Holsinger (Pennsburg/Quakertown). Holsinger, now 1-6 overall, went 0-2 on the Bald Eagles’ road trip last weekend. He went down early but fought back to within two against CSU’s Paul Theodore, losing by a 8-6 decision. On Saturday, Edinboro’s No. 19-ranked Cory Ace pinned the Bald Eagle in the second period.

149: James LaValle (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park) fell to 10-13 on the season with two losses this weekend. LaValle saw early leads erased in both bouts, losing to CSU’s Anthony Coleman, 11-5, and Edinboro’s Ron Doppelheuer, 11-7. 

157: Charlie Brenneman (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) was one of two grapplers to go 1-1 on the road this past weekend, improving to 13-14 on the season. Brenneman posted a 5-2 decision over Cleveland State’s Josh Ging, but had trouble with Edinboro’s Eric Ring, losing by major decision, 13-5. Aiding Brenneman, who may sit out due a knee injury this weekend, could be true freshman Matt Marquart (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford). Marquart has posted a 3-4 record as an unattached grappler this season, competing in the West Virginia and East Stroudsburg Opens.

165: The status of 165-pound starter Jason Gilligan (Brookville/Brookville) is still up in the air, and no suitable replacement has been named to fill in. Gilligan, 14-7, has been out the past week due to an injury sustained in the PSAC tournament.

174: The second wrestler to go 1-1 on the road trip was Chris Haines (Gettysburg/Gettysburg), now 9-12 overall. Haines won an sudden victory decision against CSU’s Matt Klinger, 5-3, but was met with a 6-2 loss against Edinboro’s No. 15-ranked Matt R. King.

184: Mike Greenberg (Canton/Canton) is 10-14 heading into this weekend’s EWL lineup. Greenberg fought hard against the Vikings’ No. 4-ranked Gerald Harris, losing by only one point, 3-2. He fell in another low-scoring affair, 4-1, to Edinoro’s Alex Clemsen. 

197: Morgan Horner (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) had two close bouts this weekend, losing to Cleveland State’s Stipe Miosic, 5-3, before his second-straight loss to Edinboro’s No. 4-ranked David Shunamon, a fall in sudden victory. Horner is 12-8 on the season.

HWT: Steve Itterly (Bethlehem/Nazareth) matches up with another two talented heavyweights this weekend after going 0-2 on the road. Itterly lost in a 10-1 major decision to No. 18-ranked Russ Davie of CSU before a close 6-5 decision to Edinboro’s Joe Hennis. The Bald Eagle heavyweight is now 14-12 on the season.

UP NEXT: Lock Haven will travel to Bloomsburg University for an Eastern Wrestling League match on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

###LHU###