WVU Drops Dual to Lock Haven

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Jan. 6, 2013) – With two of its regular starters out of the lineup due to injury, the West Virginia University wrestling team could not overcome a mid-match deficit, as it fell to Lock Haven, 19-15, in Lock Haven, Pa., at Thomas Fieldhouse.

Reserves Sean Fee (133) and Timothy Wheeling (149) stepped in admirably for injured starters Colin Johnston (133) and Brutus Scheffel (149) after each suffered an injury late in the week, but the Mountaineers could not muster the required comeback late in the match.

“We put ourselves in a very tough situation today,” said coach Craig Turnbull. “There were a couple matches that we should have win that would have alleviated the pressure that we put on Sean and Tim in their first varsity matches. It was my hope that we were going to be the better team today despite the circumstances we were faced with, but we weren’t.”

The afternoon’s match, which began at 157 pounds, saw Jason Luster score his first career dual meet victory, as he earned a tough 3-2 decision over the Bald Eagle’s Aaron Fry. Luster converted a takedown in the first period and got an escape point with less than 15 seconds remaining in the third period to earn the win.

After LHU’s Aaron McKinney earned a 3-2 win by way of the riding time point at 165 pounds, Bubba Scheffel put the Mountaineers in front 9-3, as he earned his third win by fall this season. Scheffel, who was in the down position to begin the third, converted a clean reversal that ended with him pinning McKinney at the 5:09 mark of the match.

“Bubba has continued to work at getting his stamina, and today was another example of him moving towards being in the right place.” Turnbull said. “The next couple of weeks will give us a real idea as to where Bubba is in his progression.”

The Bald Eagles quickly erased WVU’s lead and built an advantage of their own, as they were able to score decision victories in the next three matches that set the score at 12-9.

WVU struck again at 125 pounds, however, as Shane Young earned a 13-8 decision win over LHU’s Bobby Rehm. In the highly physical match, Young was ahead 5-4 at the end of the second period and was able to outscore Rehm 8-4 in the final period.

With the match even at 12, the Bald Eagles were able to take a 7-2 decision at 133 pounds and an 8-0 major decision win at 149 pounds.

Nathan Pennesi was able to sandwich in a tough 4-0 decision victory at 141 pounds, but if was not enough as LHU took the match victory, 19-15.

“This was one of the most disappointing losses we have had,” Turnbull said. “It is a nice win for Lock Haven, but now, we are faced with a very tough road ahead.”

The Bald Eagles’ win was their first over the Mountaineers in eight years.

WVU (1-3, 0-0 Big 12) will return to the mat on Jan. 18, as it travels to Oklahoma State for its first Big 12 match of the season.

Lock Haven 19 WVU 15
157: Jason Luster (WVU) dec. Aaron Fry (LHU), 3-2
165: Aaron McKinney (LHU) dec. Ross Renzi (WVU), 3-2
174: Bubba Scheffel (WVU) win by fall Tyler Wood (LHU), 5:09
184: Fred Garcia (LHU) dec. Lance Bryson (WVU), 3-1
197: Phil Sprenkle (LHU) dec. A.J. Vizcarrondo (WVU), 5-4
HWT: Harry Turner (LHU) dec. Phil Mandzik (WVU), 4-0
125: Shane Young (WVU) dec. Bobby Rehm (LHU), 13-8
133: Matt Bryer (LHU) dec. Sean Fee (WVU), 7-2
141: Nathan Pennesi (WVU) dec. Dan Neff (LHU), 4-0
149: Mac Maldarelli (LHU) dec. Tim Wheeling (WVU), 8-0

Team Score: 19-15 Lock Haven

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