Lock Haven goes 2-1 at LHU Duals

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team (2-3) went 2-1 today as the Bald Eagles hosted the LHU Duals Thomas Fieldhouse.

Lock Haven kicked off the morning by dismantling East Stroudsburg 34-9, before downing Drexel 27-13. In the third and final match of the day LHU was edged 24-19 by Rutgers in a hard-fought match.

With the 2-1 record today, The Haven runs its dual meet record to 2-3 overall, after dropping dual meets earlier in the season to perennial power Missouri and Rider.

The trio of Nick Hyatt (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), Matt Fittery (Denver, Pa.Cocalico) and Tom Kocher (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) went 3-0 on the day to lead the Bald Eagles.

Sophomore Dave Richmond (Oxford, N.J./Warren Hills) went 2-1 on the day, picking up wins against ESU and Drexel

Lock Haven’s big win over ESU to open the day was powered by seven wins, including the first five of the match.

Hyatt opened they day with a bang, pinning ESU Dave Luthy just 1:47 into their 125-pound bout. Just 14 seconds in Hyatt scored a takedown to take control. He quickly went to work recording two near fall points, before finally earning the quick pin.

Hyatt’s pin and a win by forfeit by Ashanult at 133 put Lock Haven up 12-0 early.

The Haven continued to roll as, Owen Wilkinson (Howell, Mich./Hartland), Fittery and Richmond all won matches for LHU.

Following a loss at 165, Lock Haven picked up its sixth win at 174, as freshman Dan Tolbert (Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank) picked up the first win of his Bald Eagle career. It was a big win for Tolbert as he pinned Nick Tetro, of ESU at the 4:32 mark.

Kocher downed Eddie Ebowa 4-3 for LHU’s seventh win of the match, as the Bald Eagles dismantled East Stroudsburg.

In the second match of the day LHU head coach Rocky Bonomo’s squad looked solid throughout, dropping the Dragons 27-13.

Bonomo’s squad won six of 10 bouts vs. Drexel including six of the first seven.

For the second match in a row, Hyatt put LHU up 6-0 by way of a match-opening pin. This time around Hyatt dropped Drexel’s Mike Gomez in just 2:19.

Along with Hyatt, The Haven got two more pins. Fittery and Aaron Earnest (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove) both picked up important bonus points by way of pins against Drexel for the crimson and white.

The Bald Eagles won five matches against Rutgers including three of the first four.

Hyatt (125), Ashnault (133) and Fittery (149) all improved to 3-0 with wins as Lock Haven jumped out to a 10-6 lead.

LHU trailed 18-10 going into the 184-pound bout and Kocher picked up an injury default win.

LHU trailed by only one point heading into the heavyweight bout, but Gabe Murtorff (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) got pinned by RU’s Dominick Russo.

LHU is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Millersville University when the Bald Eagles take on MU and Princeton.

Full Results:

LHU 34 – ESU 9
125: Nick Hyatt, LHU pinned Dave Luthy, ESU (1:47)
133: Billy Ashnault, LHU won by forfiet
141: Owen Wilkinson, LHU tech fall John Menaford, ESU 15-0 at 4:40
149: Matt Fittery, LHU major dec. Scott Heckmen, ESU 11-3
157: Dave Richmond, LHU major dec. Jess Dunn, ESU 12-3
165: Jeff Jacobs, ESU dec. Aaron Earnest, LHU 7-2
174: Dan Tolbert, LHU pinned Nick Tetro, ESU 4:32
184: Tom Kocher, LHU dec. Eddi Ebowa, ESU 4-3
197: Shane Mallory, ESU dec. Ben Hepburn, LHU 3-2
HWT: Chris Birchler, ESU dec. Gabe Murtorff, LHU 11-7
 
LHU 27 – Drexel 13
125: Nick Hyatt, LHU pinned Mike Gomez, DU 2:19
133: Billy Ashnault, LHU dec. Frank Cimato, DU 4-0
141: Mike Dugan, DU major dec. Owen Wilkinson, LHU 16-2
149: Matt Fittery, LHU pinned Robert Robinson, DU 2:46
157: Dave Richmond, LHU dec. Billy Haydt, DU 10-8 SV
165: Aaron Earnest, LHU pinned Scott Hunter DU, 4:13
174: Brian Stouffer, DU dec. Dan Tolbert, LHU 5-1
184: Tom Kocher, LHU dec. Justin Wieller, DU 5-2
197: John Oplinger, DU dec. Ben Hepburn, LHU 9-5
HWT: Kyle Frey, DU dec. Gabe Murtorff, LHU 5-0
 
Rutgers 24 – LHU 19
125: Nick Hyatt, LHU dec. Mike Damarco, RU 5-0
133: Billy Ashnault, LHU major dec. Paul Grogan, RU 10-0
141: Dave Greenwald, RU, pinned Owen Wilkinson, LHU 3:05
149: Matt Fittery, LHU dec. Dave Seidenberg, RU 8-4
157: Scott Winston, RU major dec. Dave Richmond, LHU 14-6
165: Matt Pletcher, RU major dec. Aaron Earnest, LHU 8-0
174: Mike Whalen, RU major dec. Dan Tolbert, LHU 16-2
184: Tom Kocher, LHU won by injury default over Keith Dobish, RU
197: Ben Hepburn, LHU dec. Karkim Mahmoud, RU 5-2
HWT: Dominick Russo, RU pinned Gabe Murtorff, LHU 3:20
 
Rutgers 21 – Drexel 15
125: Matt Fusco, RU dec. Michael Gomez, DU 9-8
133: Frank Cimato, DU dec. Mike Demarco, RU 7-5
141: David Greenwald, RU pinned Matt Dugan, DU 2:31
149: David Seidenburg, RU pinned Robert Robinson, DU 1:42
157: Billy Haydt, DU tech fall Greg Zannetti, RU (2:01)
165: Matt Pletcher, RU dec. Scott Hunter, DU 7-0
174: Mike Whalen, RU dec. Brian Stouffer, DU 7-0
184: Justin Wieller, DU dec. Keith Dobish, RU 8-6
197: Jon Oplinger, DU dec. Karim Mahmoud, RU 9-5
HWT: Dominick Russo, RU dec. Kyle Frey, DU 9-3
 
Rutgers 32 – ESU 12
125: Matt Fusco, RU major dec. Dave Luthy, ESU 16-5
133: Paul Grogan, RU won by forfeit
141: David Greenwald, RU pinned John Menadord, ESU 2:21
149: David Seidenberg, RU dec. Scott Heckman, ESU 4-3
157: Scott Winston, RU major dec. Jesse Dunn, ESU 18-5
165: Matt Pletcher, RU dec. Jeff Jacobs, ESU 10-3
174: Mike Whalen, RU pinned Nick Tetro, ESU 4:53
184: Eddi Ebowa, ESU won by injury forfeit over Mike Cucinotta, RU
197: Shane Mallory, ESU dec. Karim Mahmoud, RU 5-3
HWT: Chris Birchler, ESU dec. Dominick Russo, RU 11-5
 
Drexel 24 – ESU 15
125: Mike Gomez, DU dec. Dave Luthy, ESU 11-5
133: Frank Cimato, DU won by forfeit
141: Matt Dugan, DU tech fall John Menadord, ESU 20-4
149: Scott Heckmen, ESU pinned Robbie Robinson, DU 1:41
157: Billy Haydt, DU dec. Jesse Dunn, ESU 6-2
165: Jeff Jacobs, ESU dec. Scott Hunter, DU 8-4
174: Brian Stouffer, DU dec. Nick Tetro, ESU 4-1
184: Eddie Ebowa, ESU dec. Shawn Fausey DU 6-4
197: Jon Oplinger, DU major dec. Shane Mallory ESU 15-5
HWT: Chris Birchler, ESU dec. Kyle Frey, DU 4-3