Pennsylvania Wrestlers Own Lock Haven Fall Classic

The annual Lock Haven Fall Classic took place last weekend on the campus of Lock Haven University and drew wrestlers from all over the Nation. While it may not be the size and scope of the Super 32, the Tournament was a competitive event with several big names.

At 108 lbs. Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Nathan Lackman finished as the runner-up to New York State Champion Jon Charles falling (9-3) in the finals. DuBois Area freshman Trenton Donahue had a strong Tournament going (4-2) at 108 lbs. and advancing into the Championship semifinals. There he faced Nathan Lackman in a rematch of the 2016 PJW Junior High quarterfinals at 92 lbs. in which Lackman won (3-0). This time around Nathan, a 2016 PJW Fourth Place Medalist, won (6-2). At the Lock Haven Fall Classic Donahue placed fourth but defeated several Keystone State wrestlers along the way including Reese Vollmer (Port Allegany) and Cole Stewart (Bellefonte Area).

All four medalists at 115 lbs. were Pennsylvania wrestlers including Champion Wyatt Lutz (Montoursville Area). The 2016 PIAA State Qualifier defeated one of PA’s Top Incoming Freshmen in the finals (4-3). The junior earned a hard fought (1-0) win over Bethlehem Catholic freshman Matthew Lackman in the quarterfinals being taking out Liberty sophomore Matt Maloney by fall in the semifinals. Ed Scott (DuBois Area) needed a (5-4) win in the opening round over Wilson sophomore and 2016 PIAA State Qualifier Brandon Connor. Scott then earned a fall and major decision to advance into the finals against Lutz. Matt Maloney went on to finish in third place defeating Connor in the consolation finals (5-0).

2016 PIAA State Medalist Luke Werner (Liberty), who is pictured, made it two in a row for Pennsylvania as he captured the 122 lbs. bracket with a win over Billy Wehr (Northwestern Lehigh) in the finals (8-3). Werner, a 2x PIAA State Medalist who finished fifth in 2016, downed Wehr who had a solid performance. The senior, who was 2016 Regional Qualifier, defeated 2x PIAA State Medalist and Bucknell recruit Geo Barzona (Central Mountain) in the semifinals (7-4). Barzona bounced back to finish in third place defeating 2016 PIAA State Qualifier Ryan McGuire (Notre Dame Green-Pond) in the consolation finals (3-0).

At 128 lbs. it was an all Pennsylvania finals with a pair of talented freshmen going at it. Caleb Dowling, who attends Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Boalsburg, PA, had a strong showing picking up a tech-fall, fall, and a major decision en route to the Championship title. In the finals Dowling, a 2016 PJW State Runner-up, met fellow rookie Kibwe McNair (Methacton). McNair was a 2016 PJW State Medalist at 112 lbs. and himself has an impressive Tournament. In the quarterfinals McNair defeated 2016 North West Regional Champion and PIAA State Qualifier Dalton Woodrow (DuBois Area) by decision (3-1). He then earned a (6-0) victory over freshman Bryce Gonzalez (Pottsville Area) before falling to Dowling in the finals (12-1). Rookie Clayton Reed (Mifflinburg Area), a 2016 PJW State Qualifier, downed Woodrow in the consolation finals to earn third place.

Sophomore Gabe Miller (Pequea Valley), who was a 2016 PIAA State Qualifier, captured the 134 lbs. Lock Haven Fall Classic Championship. In the semifinals he defeated 2016 North West Regional Fourth Place Garrett Rigg (Bald Eagle Area) by decision (5-4). 2016 South East Regional Fifth Place Medalist Drew Massetti (Kennett) bounced back from a first round defeat to Gabe Miller (12-3) and grabbed third place. The second Pequea Valley wrestler to finish in the top four was Tanner Ball who placed fourth. At 140 lbs. Bald Eagle Area junior Seth Koleno, a 2016 PIAA State Medalist, didn’t have to travel far to win the Lock Haven Fall Classic. Seth had a series of quality wins en route to the Championship including a (6-4) decision in the finals over Zach Ortman (Parkland). Milton Area junior Noah Stamm, a 2016 North East Regional Sixth Place Medalist, bounced back from a first round defeat to Braden Stahlnecker (Hughesville Area) to finish in third place. In the consolation semifinals Stamm downed freshman Evan Courts (Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy) by fall before knocking-off 2016 PIAA State Qualifier Blake Daniel (Notre Dame Green-Pond) by decision (1-0).

A pair of District 6 grapplers met in the 147 lbs. Championship finals as Bellefonte Area senior Brock Port competed in his future home of Lock Haven. The 2x PIAA State Medalist had no issues picking up a decision, major, and three falls including on in the finals against Nathan Swartz (Hollidaysburg Area). After falling to Port by major decision Gettysburg Area junior Joseph Pecaitis claimed third place by defeating Lower Dauphin rookie Clayton Ulrey (3-1). The freshman Ulrey proved he will make an impact in his first year defeating twice on the day junior Zack Zeamer (Manheim Central) who last season was a South Central Regional Sixth Place Medalist.

Scranton junior William Evanitsky made a large jump in weight going from 120 lbs. last season to competing in the Lock Haven Fall Classic at 154 lbs. The 2016 North East Regional Qualifier seemed to adjust well to the heavier weight as he captured the Championship Title in Mat Town USA. In the finals William defeated fellow District 2 wrestlers Alec Sampson (Dallas) by decision (5-3). Glendale sophomore Isaac Krause rebounded from a fall against Sampson to finish in third place at 154 lbs. Sampson’s teammate Steven Newell (Dallas), a sophomore who was a Regional Qualifier last season, placed second at 162 lbs. while Red Land senior Dylan Gettys came all the way back from a first round defeat to place third winning six straight matches.

The top three finishers at 172 lbs. all hailed from the WPIAL with 2016 South West Regional Champion Tim Wallace (Albert Gallatin) winning the Championship title. Wallace cruised picking up two falls including in the finals over Greensburg Salem junior Alec Shaw. 2016 PIAA State Qualifier Kyle Homet (Waynesburg Central) fell to Wallace in the quarterfinals (7-2) but came back to defeat Jordan Hepler (Shikellamy) in the consolation semifinals and picking up an (11-5) win over Anthony Emig (Liberty) to claim third place.

At 184 lbs. 2016 PIAA State Qualifier Wes Graham finished as the runner-up earning a (4-3) win over Central Mountain’s Tanner Weaver in the semifinals. Athens Area senior Nate Bradley, a 2016 PIAA State Qualifier, finished in third place at 184 lbs. defeating Eastern York junior Jahshim Snyder in the consolation finals (6-3). Altoona Area junior Parker McClellan finished second at 197 lbs. with a (3-1) record on the day. Parkland senior Nathan Freyer, a 2016 PIAA State Qualifier, was the Fall Classic runner-up at 222 lbs. while junior Brady Herr (Newport) placed fourth. Richard Thompson (Central Mountain) went undefeated at heavyweight to win the Championship title.

 

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