NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Lock Haven University wrestling team (3-10) was edged 18-16 at Rutgers (10-5) today in a non-conference thriller.
 
The Bald Eagles won five bouts on the day, including an upset at 133, but it wasn't enough to secure the win on the road.
 
No. 26 Fred Garcia (Donora, Pa./Ringgold), Phil Sprenkle (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown), Cody Wheeler (Towanda, Pa./Towanda), No. 25 Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) and Mac Maldarelli (Merrick, N.Y./Nassau C.C.) all won for Lock Haven.
 
Wheeler upset the 32^nd ranked wrestler in the nation at 133 and Neff took down the 27^th ranked 141-pounder helping Lock Haven take the lead into the final bout, but host-Rutgers rallied for the win.
 
Today's match started at 165 pounds and No. 29 Jake Kemerer (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) dropped a hard-fought battle, 5-4. Kemerer trailed 4-2 after two periods and scored a takedown with 1:15 left, but immediately cut Rutgers' Nick Visicaro, giving Visicaro the 5-4 lead. The one-point proved to be the difference as Kemerer couldn't score on a late flurry.
 
Rutgers took a 7-0 team lead after two bouts as No. 33 Phillip Bakuckas majored Travis Moyer (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) 13-2 at 174.
 
Garcia put Lock Haven on the board with solid 10-7 decision over Ethan Orr at 184. Garcia led 8-3 after two and scored an early third-period takedown to stretch the lead to 10-4, but Orr countered with a late takedown after Garcia cut him loose, while looking for the major.
 
Sprenkle made it back-to-back Haven wins and cut the Rutgers' lead to one, 7-6 after a 5-2 decision over Hayden Hrymack at 197. After a scoreless first period, Sprenkle went up 2-0 on a reversal and he tallied two quick back points at the start of the third. Sprenkle finished with 2:05 in riding time.
 
Rutgers took an 11-6 lead into halftime after No. 18 Billy Smith of RU majored Brad Emerick (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Coughlin) 10-0 at 285.
 
Kaleb LeMaire (Rehoboth Beach, Del./Caesar Rodney) fell 11-1 (major) to Sean McCabe at 125, as Rutgers stretched the lead to 15-6 after six bouts.
 
Wheeler jump started a string of three straight Lock Haven wins.
 
Cody Wheeler and No. 32 Vinnie Dellefave put the packed College Ave. Gym crowd on their feet with a thriller at 133. After a scoreless first period, Wheeler hammered Dellefave on top in the second, riding out the period. After choosing down to start the third, Wheeler got a quick escape point to take a 1-0 lead. Dellefave did score a takedown, but again Wheeler broke his grasp and held on for the thrilling, 3-2 upset on riding time.
 
In a battle of two of the nation's best 141-pounders, Neff took down No. 27 Tyson Dippery in dominating fashion. Neff, ranked No. 25 majored Dippery 10-2 after jumping out to a 6-2 lead after two periods. Neff took Dippery down twice in the first and once in each of the final two periods.
 
Maldarelli gave Lock Haven its first lead of the day after a thrilling 5-3 (SV) win over Ken Tehobold at 149. Maldarelli rode out the third to force the extra frame and picked up a quick sudden-victory takedown for the win.
 
Elias Biddle (Turbotville, Pa./Warrior Run) dropped the final bout of the day, 8-1 to Anthony Perrotti, giving Rutgers the 18-16 win.
 
Lock Haven is now 4-2 all-time vs. the Scarlet Knights, who are coached by former Bald Eagle wrestler and LHU alum ('95) Scott Goodale. Goodale and the Scarlet Knights have won two straight over Lock Haven.
 
The Bald Eagles return to action on Saturday, March 8 at the 2014 Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Championships, hosted by Cleveland State in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
Individual Bout-by-Bout Results:
*Today's match started at 165 pounds
165: Nick Visicaro (RU) dec. #29 Jake Kemerer (LHU) 5-4
174: #33 Phillip Bakucukas (RU) major dec. Travis Moyer (LHU) 13-2
184: #26 Fred Garcia (LHU) dec. Ethan Orr (RU) 10-7
197: Phil Sprenkle (LHU) dec. Hayden Hrymack (RU) 5-2
285: #18 Billy Smith (RU) major dec. Brad Emerick (LHU) 10-0
125: Sean McCabe (RU) major dec. Kaleb LeMaire (LHU) 11-1
133: Cody Wheeler (LHU) dec. #32 Vinnie Dellefave (RU) 3-2
141: #25 Dan Neff (LHU) major dec. #27 Tyson Dippery RU) 10-2
149: Mac Maldarelli (LHU) dec. Ken Tehobold (RU) 5-3 SV
157: Anthony Perrotti (RU) dec. Elias Biddle (LHU) 8-1
 
Match Notes:
Lock Haven finished its EWL slate at 1-4 … Dan Neff (141) was coming off an individual title at last weekend's Edinboro Open … Neff went 5-0 … Neff is one of three Bald Eagles ranked this week by Wrestling Report – Neff was ranked No. 25, while Jake Kemerer (165) and Fred Garcia (184) checked in at No. 29 and No. 26, respectively … On Thursday, the second of three NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings came out and the first RPI of the season … Four Bald Eagles were listed in the Coaches' Panel Rankings and five were listed in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI) – visit GoLHU.com for more information.