James LaValle (149 pounds) is Lock Haven's 
only returning PSAC Champion

         Top finishers for LHU last season included Trap McCormack, who pocketed his second PSAC title at 125 pounds, as did 141-pounder Mike Maney. At 149 pounds, James LaValle was a first-time winner, and JaMarr Billman took his second conference crown and his first at 157 pounds. Josh Millard at 184 pounds was the fifth individual champion for the Bald Eagles.
         Sporting a relatively young and inexperienced group this time around, only two wrestlers who competed in the 2002 championships for Lock Haven return, James LaValle (1st at 149 lbs.) and Chris Haines (3rd at 165) lbs.). A third, however, in Jason Gilligan has conference tournament experience from 2001 after finishing third at 157 pounds. 

Below is the LHU weight-by-weight preview:

125: Jim Collins (Jonestown/Northern Lebanon) will represent the Bald Eagles at 125 pounds. At 8-8 on the season, Collins is coming off a big win against Virginia Tech, pinning Geoff Head in 1:08 in EWL action. Since the PSAC crown has been owned by LHU’s Trap McCormack the past two seasons, a new batch of title contenders along with Collins include Edinboro’s Jacob Gray (23-11), Clarion’s Peter Derstine (18-8), Shippensburg’s Robbie Getz (8-3) and East Stroudsburg’s Mark Koszyk (11-8).

133: Last year’s 133-pound champion has bumped up to the 141 pound bracket, leaving the path wide open for senior Justin Owens (Morrisdale/West Branch) to claim his first conference title. Owens has won five of his last six matches including the most recent technical fall over Virginia Tech’s Dalton Head (21-5; 5:37) to improve to 12-7 on the season. In addition to Owens, top challengers in the hunt for the crown are last year’s runner-up, Clarion’s No. 10-ranked Rad Martinez (27-4), Shawn Bunch (18-12) of Edinboro and Kutztown’s Mark Rusak (8-4). 

141: With No. 7-ranked Mike Maney (19-2) out due to illness, the Bald Eagles feel they have a strong replacement in Blair Tugman (Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South). Tugman is 7-7 overall, and last took the mat against Illinois’ Cal Ferry in a 3-1 loss to the then No. 19-ranked wrestler. Tugman will have his work cut out for him in a strong weight class that includes last year’s 133-pound champion in Edinboro’s No. 19-ranked Cory Ace (26-4). Talent here also runs deep, including challengers Mark Smith (14-4) of East Stroudsburg, Clarion’s Frank Edger (20-7), Derek Sola (12-4) of Millersville , and Kutztown’s Dominic Sabia (11-5). 

149: The Haven’s lone returning champion is 149-pounder James LaValle (East Hanover, N.J./Hanover Park). LaValle has posted an 8-9 overall ledger wrestling as the starter this season. Last season he entered the tournament after serving as a key backup with a 9-4 ledger and captured the title. Slippery Rock’s Brad Cieleski (16-7), LaValle’s runner-up, returns to challenge once again. Others who will attempt to overthrow the returning champion include East Stroudsburg’s Keith Kleckner (11-4) and Ron Doppelheuer (15-7) of Edinboro. 

157: Junior Charlie Brenneman (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) will look to make his mark in the PSAC in his first appearance at the conference tournament. Brenneman is 10-11 overall, last suffering a 5-2 decision against Virginia Tech’s Chris Stith. No. 13-ranked George Carter (18-4) of Bloomsburg is the favorite at 157 pounds, but Clarion’s Jeremy Reitz (20-10) has the potential to upend the nationally ranked Huskie. Edinboro’s Eric Ring (9-3), Millersville’s Craig Pequignot (11-4), and Andy Martin (7-2) of Shippensburg could all play significant roles in the final order of finishers.

165: Returning after a one year absence at the PSAC championships, LHU’s Jason Gilligan (Brookville/Brookville) will compete at 165 pounds. Gilligan, who placed third at 157 pounds in 2001, is 12-6 overall following a 4-1 decision over Virginia Tech’s Mike Cox. The reigning 165-pound gold medalist returns in No. 19-ranked Matt R. King (26-5) of Edinboro, and last year’s runner-up, Brandon Mihalko (11-6) of East Stroudsburg will also be on the bracket. 

174: Working for points at 174 pounds will be Bald Eagle Chris Haines (Gettysburg/Gettysburg) (6-9). Haines was a third-place finisher at 165 pounds last season. No. 18-ranked Hunter Guenot (20-3) of Bloomsburg enters the weekend as the tourney favorite, but he will have to get by Haines along with Edinboro’s Nate Yetzer (13-7), East Stroudsburg’s John Carr (15-5), Curtis Yeager (12-12) of Millersville and Kutztown’s Nick Brumbaugh (12-6). 

184: Mike Greenberg (Canton/Canton) is 8-10 entering into the PSAC tournament following a loss to No 16-ranked Scott Justus of Virginia Tech. Greenberg along with several qualified candidates will dot the 184-pound bracket including Edinboro’s Alex Clemsen (16-11), Bloomsburg’s Chad Hoare (15-6), East Stroudsburg’s Shawn Smith (12-4), and Kutztown’s Bret Wade (10-6).

197: Morgan Horner (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) (10-5) will be making his inaugural appearance at the conference tournament this weekend. Horner will have to get accustomed to the competition quickly, as the 2002 champion and runner-up are still among the field. Returning titlist and No. 6-ranked Eric Mausser (23-3) of Clarion along with No. 4-ranked David Shunamon (27-3) of Edinboro will both be looking to score gold this time around. Added challengers include Stanley Foster (14-4) of East Stroudsburg along with Millersville’s Adam Schaaf (14-10). 

HWT: Steve Itterly (Bethlehem/Nazareth) may have had a lukewarm start, opening the season 4-6, but after winning six of his last seven bouts to improve to 12-9 he is a prime candidate to make some noise at the PSAC tournament. Three-time defending PSAC champion and No. 6-ranked John Testa (27-2) is the heavily favored grappler here. Ready to stand their ground against Testa or any other opponent who may cross their paths are Octavius Newman (10-3) of Kutztown, Edinboro’s Joe Hennis (14-7) and Bob McKillop (10-8) of Slippery Rock. 

UP NEXT: The Bald Eagles are on the road for their next two matches, heading west for Eastern Wrestling League action versus Cleveland State University on Friday, January 31 (7:30 p.m.) then on to Edinboro University on Saturday, February 1 (7:30 p.m.). 

###LHU###