Setting the stage:
The No. 22/17 Lock Haven University wrestling team is set to host the inaugural Bald Eagle Duals, a dual-meet event featuring Wheeling Jesuit, Messiah, Bloomsburg and nationally-ranked LHU.
 
The event will be held Saturday (Dec. 16) at Liberty Arena in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It will mark the first ever college wrestling event in the area's premier indoor sports facility.
 
Lock Haven will take on Wheeling Jesuit at 2 p.m. and Messiah at 3:30 p.m., before opening Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) action vs. rival Bloomsburg at 5:30 p.m. Also at 5:30 p.m., Messiah will square off vs. Wheeling Jesuit to cap the quad-meet.
 
The Bald Eagles will enter the weekend nationally-ranked for the second straight week. Last week, LHU returned to the national rankings for the first time in 15 years. This week, LHU checked in at No. 22 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches' poll and Lock Haven was listed at No. 17 in the InterMat Dual Meet rankings. The Haven's lineup features three nationally-ranked wrestlers. LHU is 1-0 in dual meet action this season.
 
Bloomsburg enters the weekend at 2-2 overall and the Huskies are 1-0 in EWL action with a win over George Mason.
 
Messiah (4-2) is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division III and the Falcons' lineup features four nationally-ranked wrestlers. Wheeling Jesuit (3-0) is ranked No. 23 (tie) in Division II and the Cardinals' lineup features second-ranked (DII) Dustin Warner (133).
 
Lock Haven and Wheeling Jesuit will meet for the very first time in dual action. LHU is 1-0 all-time vs. Messiah with the lone win coming during the 2015-16 season (W, 29-10).
 
Saturday's showdown with local-rival Bloomsburg is the 74^th all-time meeting between the two area DI schools. The Bald Eagles have won three straight and lead the all-time series at 44-29. LHU won 27-12 last season.
 
The Bald Eagles' lineup
125: Fr. Josiah Kline (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge) 10-7
 - OR – Fr. Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) 9-6
133: R-So. DJ Fehlman (Warren, Pa./Warren) 13-5
141: R-So. Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) 12-4
149: #13 R-Sr. Ronnie Perry (Christiana, Pa./Solanco) 10-1
- OR – R-Fr. Collin Glorioso (Huntingdon, Pa./Huntingdon) 2-2
157: R-So. Alex Klucker (Summerdale, Pa./East Pennsboro) 10-3
- OR – So. Jonathan Ross (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) 5-7
165: #8 R-Jr. Chance Marsteller (New Park, Pa./Kennard-Dale (Oklahoma State) 16-0
174: So. Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) 12-7
184: R-So. Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) 9-4
- OR – R-Fr. Trey Hartsock (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) 7-8
197: R-Jr. Tristan Sponseller (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) 6-8
285: #13 R-Jr. Thomas Haines (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco (Ohio State) 8-2
- OR Jr. Derek Dragon (Harvey's Lake, Pa./Lake Lehman) 1-2
 
*rankings = InterMat (Dec. 12)
*lineup, tentative & subject to change
 
Back in the team rankings:
This week (Tuesday, Dec. 12), the Bald Eagles were ranked No. 22 in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches' poll. Last week's No. 24 ranking marked the first top-25 ranking for Lock Haven since November 24, 2002 when the Bald Eagles checked in at No. 24. This week, LHU was also listed at No. 17 – up from No. 18 last week – in the InterMat Dual Meet rankings.
 
Perry, Marsteller & Haines ranked:
InterMat released its latest national rankings (Tuesday, Dec. 12) and the trio of Ronnie Perry (149), Chance Marsteller (165) and Thomas Haines (285) remained in the individual national rankings. Perry, who won his second straight PSAC title last weekend, improved to 10-1 on the season. He's ranked No. 13. Marsteller is ranked No. 8 and is a perfect 16-0 on the year. Haines defended his 285-pound PSAC title and improved to 8-2 on the year. He's ranked No. 13.
 
PSAC recap:
Last weekend (Saturday, Dec. 16), LHU crowned five individual champions and rolled to the 2017 PSAC title. The championship marked Lock Haven's 20th PSAC title, the most of any conference school and it was the Bald Eagles first in 17 seasons. Ronnie Perry (149), Chance Marsteller (165), Jared Siegrist (174), Corey Hazel (184) and Thomas Haines (285) all won individual titles. Marsteller was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler after going 4-0 with three pins and a tech fall at 165 pounds. For Lock Haven, the five individual champions marked the most for the Bald Eagles since 2002 when they had five. It's been 17 seasons since the Bald Eagles last won a PSAC crown with last title coming during the 2000-01 season.
 
Bonus points:
The Bald Eagles performance at the PSAC Championships defined "domination" as Lock Haven went a combined 32-7 on the day with 26 of 32 wins coming by way of bonus points. Overall, the Bald Eagles recorded 11 major decisions, 10 tech falls and five pins. On the season, Lock Haven has recorded 35 tech falls, 30 majors and 16 pins and 55 percent of the team's total wins this year have come by way of bonus points (81 of 146).
 
Countdown to 100:
Ronnie Perry, a two-time NCAA qualifier, enters the weekend with 82 career wins as he slowly works his way toward 100. This season, he will look to become the 20^th LHU wrestler to reach the 100 career win mark.
 
Win streaks:
Chance Marsteller, who is a perfect 16-0 on the season is not the only Bald Eagle on a winning streak. Ronnie Perry has won nine straight matches and Thomas Haines has won eight straight with both of their winnings streaks dating back to the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on November 12.
 
Up next, the Lock Haven Classic:
On Friday, Dec. 29, LHU will host the 2017 Lock Haven Classic tournament. Action will get underway at 9:30 a.m. with several Bald Eagles set to hit the mats. It will mark the seventh annual Lock Haven Classic and the Bald Eagles are coming off their first title. Last year when LHU won, it marked the sixth different champion as Lock Haven (2016), Pittsburgh (2015), Hofstra (2014), Michigan State (2013), Bloomsburg (2012) and Michigan (2011) have each claimed a past title.
 
A look ahead to the Southern Scuffle:
For the first time since 2010, Lock Haven will return to the prestigious Southern Scuffle Tournament. The 2018 Southern Scuffle kicks off on New Year's Day. The two-day (Jan. 1 – 2) tournament is hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Bald Eagles attended the Southern Scuffle every season from 2004 to 2010 and their highest finish in seven appearances came in 2004 (11th). Seth Martin is Lock Haven's only Southern Scuffle champion (2006, 157-lbs.).