The Lock Haven University wrestling team is set to close out the 2015-16 regular season on Thursday, February 18 with at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) match at George Mason.
 
The Bald Eagles enter Thursday's action with an 8-9 overall record and are coming off a historic win last Friday (February 12) vs. Michigan State. LHU is 2-3 in EWL action.
 
Lock Haven is looking to finish at 3-3 in EWL action for second straight season. Last season when the Bald Eagles finished at 3-3 in league duals, it marked The Haven's most EWL wins since the 2004-05 season.
 
The Lock Haven – George Mason match was originally scheduled for January 22, but postponed because of snow.
 
The Bald Eagles are a perfect 9-0 all-time vs. George Mason and won eight of 10 bouts in a rout last season.
 
The Patriots enter Thursday's dual with Lock Haven at 8-11 overall and are 2-3 in league action. Last weekend, George Mason went 0-3 with losses to Franklin &Marshall, Bucknell and Maryland.
 
A win Thursday would push the Bald Eagles to .500 in dual action on the season. LHU hasn't won nine dual matches in a season since the 2007-08 season when Lock Haven finished 9-8 overall.
 
News, notes & storylines:

• Thursday's match marks LHU's regular season finale.
• Last Friday, LHU beat Michigan State for the first time school history (1-3 all-time).
• It marked LHU's first win over a Big Ten team since last beating Penn State in 2002.
• Highligting the win over the Spartans was Aaron McKinney (157), who won his 100^th career match.
• Brad Emerick (285) returned the lineup for the first time since December 29 and sealed the victory for LHU.
• Returning All-American Dan Neff extended his win streak to 15 matches.
• Neff is 15-0 since returning to 149 pounds on December 17.

 
Lock Haven's probable lineup:
125: R-So. Jake Field (South Elgin, Ill./Marmion Academy) 13-15
133: #33 R-Sr. Bobby Rehm (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) 22-8
141: R-Sr. Cody Wheeler (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) 5-8
149: #18 R-Sr. Dan Neff (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) 22-8
157: R-Sr. Aaron McKinney (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) 29-14
165: Fr. Cody Cordes (Edwardsville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) 16-18
174: R-Jr. Tyler Wood (West Chester, Pa./West Chester-Rustin) 16-15
184: R-Fr. Tristan Sponseller (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) 20-13
197: R-Sr. Phil Sprenkle (Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown) 14-6
285: Jr. Brad Emerick (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Coughlin) 12-12
 
Rankings = NCAA Coaches' Panel
 
In the national rankings:
 
Bobby Rehm, 133

• NCAA Coaches' Panel = #33
• NCAA RPI = #26
• WrestlingReport = #33

 
Dan Neff, 149

• NCAA Coaches' Panel = #18
• InterMat = #17
• WrestlingReport = #12

 
Emerick named EWL Athlete of the Week:
On Monday (February 15), Brad Emerick was named the EWL Athlete of the Week. He returned the lineup after a 44-day layoff and sealed the Bald Eagles historic victory over Michigan State on Friday night (February 12).
 
With the match on the line and tied at 15-15, Emerick grinded out a 3-0 victory over Dimitrius Renfroe in the night's final bout at 285 pounds. The win gave LHU the 18-15 come-from-behind win. Emerick had been sidelined with an injury since December 29, but returned in a big way. The win marked Lock Haven's first ever in four tries vs. the Spartans and marked LHU's first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2002.
 
The Haven's 100-match winners:
LHU's 100-match club is now 19 strong thanks to the efforts of current Bald Eagle wrestlers Bobby Rehm, Dan Neff and Aaron McKinney, who have all hit 100-career wins this season. McKinney joined the club last Friday in the win over Michigan State.
 
1. Brad Lloyd, 146
2. Doug Buckwalter, 124
3. Mike Lingenfelter, 123
4. Rick Peterson, 120
5. Mike Maney, 119
5. Jody Karam, 119
7. JaMarr Billman, 117
8. Craig Corbin, 116
9. Seth Martin, 113
10. Mike Rogers, 112
10. Shannyn Gillespie, 112
12. Cary Kolat, 111
13. Mike Guerin, 108
13. Jeff Husick, 108
14. Dan Neff, 105
15. Freddy Garcia, 104
17. Bobby Rehm, 102
18. Aaron McKinney, 100
19. Jerry Swope, 100
 
NCAA rankings:
Last Thursday (February 11), the NCAA has released its second edition of the coaches' panel rankings and the preliminary edition of the ratings percentage index (RPI). The final rankings and RPI will be two of the tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers and seeding for the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
 
Bobby Rehm and Dan Neff represent The Haven in the latest NCAA coaches' panel rankings. Rehm was ranked No. 33 at 133 and Neff was listed at No. 18 at 149. Rehm was also ranked in the RPI, checking in at No. 26.
 
Up next:
The Bald Eagles are set to host the 2016 EWL Championships on Saturday, March 5. Check www.GoLHU.com in the coming days for much more on the championship event.