The No. 21 Lock Haven University wrestling team is set for the final weekend of the regular season.
 
The nationally-ranked Bald Eagles will open the weekend by hosting their final dual of the 2018-19 season on Saturday, February 23, before hosting the Mat-Town Open II Tournament on Sunday (Feb. 24).
 
On Saturday, Lock Haven, the 2018-19 Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) regular season champions, will host Appalachian State, the 2019 Southern Conference (SoCon) champions.
 
The Bald Eagles are 9-3 in dual action and looking for their 10^th win of the season Saturday night in Thomas Fieldhouse. App State is 8-6 overall and the Mountaineers lineup features a number of nationally-ranked wrestlers. On Sunday (Feb. 17), Appalachian State downed the Citadel for a share of the SoCon title, marking the App State's fourth straight crown.
 
Following Saturday's home dual, Lock Haven will host the Mat-Town Open II Tournament on Sunday (Feb. 24) at 9:30 a.m.
 
LHU news, notes & storylines - -
 
Honoring the seniors:
Prior to Saturday's match, the Bald Eagles will honor their three extraordinary seniors: Derek Dragon, Thomas Haines and Chance Marsteller.
 
EWL Champions:
Last weekend's (Saturday, Feb. 16) win at Cleveland State helped cap an undefeated run through EWL action and clinched the regular season EWL title. The Bald Eagles won nine of 10 bouts and bonus points were a big part of the story, as the Bald Eagles capped an undefeated run through league action with a 36-3 win. Seven of LHU's nine wins came by way of bonus points, as the Bald Eagles racked up five major decisions and two tech falls.
 
With the win, Lock Haven improved to 9-3 overall and ended its run through EWL duals at a perfect 6-0. With the win and perfect 6-0 record in league matches, the Bald Eagles clinched the EWL regular season title. It marked LHU's first regular season EWL crown since the 1995-96 season. Ironically enough, that was the last time Lock Haven was perfect (6-0) in EWL duals.
 
Moving up in the national rankings:
As a team, the Bald Eagles jumped to No. 21 in this week's National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) poll. Lock Haven was ranked at No. 22 in this week's InterMat Tournament rankings and No. 23 in InterMat's Dual Rankings. Last week, the NCAA released its updated rankings and a total of six Bald Eagles were listed in the new edition of coaches' panel rankings, while five were also listed in the updated RPI.
 
Shoop grabs historic win, named EWL Athlete of the Week:
On Monday (Feb. 18), redshirt-junior Kyle Shoop was named the EWL Athlete of the Week. Shoop highlighted the Bald Eagles win at Cleveland State with his 100th career win. Shoop recorded a major decision in the dominating win over CSU. The bonus-point win gave the nationally-ranked 141-pounder his 100th career win. Shoop became the 21st wrestler in LHU history to reach the 100-win club as a Bald Eagle. The two-time NCAA Division I qualifier was ranked No. 21 in last week's NCAA Coaches' Panel rankings. Shoop is now 27-6 on the season and he leads the nation (DI) in tech falls with 14. He is now 100-37 for his career and holds the school record for career tech falls (39).
 
Haines on a roll:
Thomas Haines recorded a tech fall in the win over Cleveland State. The victory extended Haines' win streak to seven bouts.
 
Fehlman dominating at 133:
DJ Fehlman also won at Cleveland State last week, improving to 6-1 since returning to 133 pounds on January 25.
 
NCAA rankings:
Last week (Feb. 14), the NCAA released updated coaches' panel rankings and RPI, two important tools used to determine the field for the 2019 NCAA Division I Tournament in March.
 
NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings (Feb. 14):
125, Luke Werner, No. 32
133, DJ Fehlman, No. 30
141, Kyle Shoop, No. 21
165, Chance Marsteller, No. 5
184, Corey Hazel, No. 17
285, Thomas Haines, No. 22
 
NCAA RPI (Feb. 14):
125, Werner, No. 22
141, Shoop, No. 5
165, Marsteller, No. 6
174, Jared Siegrist, No. 28
285, Haines, No. 10
 
PSAC DI Dual Champions:
The lopsided-win over Clarion on February 10 helped Lock Haven claim the 2018-19 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Division I Dual Championships, thanks to a perfect 3-0 record vs. DI PSAC teams. The DI PSAC wins came over EWL foes Bloomsburg, Edinboro and Clarion, marking Lock Haven's first PSAC sweep in 17 years. It was during the 2001-02 season where Lock Haven last beat Bloomsburg, Edinboro and Clarion in the same season.
 
Lock Haven's 2018-19 EWL Athletes of the Week:
Kyle Shoop's EWL Athlete of the Week award this week marked the second time in three weeks where a Lock Haven wrestler has been honored with the league's weekly award. Overall, he's the fifth different Bald Eagle this season to take home weekly awards.
 
November 11: Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven)
November 18: Corey Hazel (Lock Haven)
December 16: Jonathan Ross (Lock Haven)
February 3: Thomas Haines (Lock Haven)
February 17: Kyle Shoop (Lock Haven)
 
Five national qualifiers return from last year:
LHU's 2018-19 roster features five returning national qualifiers from last year's ('18) NCAA Division I championships. In all, Lock Haven returns six former national qualifiers.
 
National Tournament experience:
Returning national qualifiers include All-American Chance Marsteller (165). Also returning are 2018 NCAA Division I national qualifiers Kyle Shoop (141), Alex Klucker (157), Corey Hazel (184), Thomas Haines (285) and 2017 national qualifier DJ Fehlman (133). Shoop and Haines are both two-time NCAA qualifiers for Lock Haven.
 
Lock Haven's projected weekend lineup:
125: #32 So. Luke Werner (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) 27-10
133: #30 R-Jr. DJ Fehlman (Warren, Pa./Warren) 29-6
141: #21 R-Jr. Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) 27-6
149: Jr. Jonathan Ross (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) 16-9
// OR // R-Fr. Brock Port (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) 17-11
157: R-Jr. Alex Klucker (Summerdale, Pa./East Pennsboro) 18-9
165: #5 R-Sr. Chance Marsteller (New Park, Pa./Kennard-Dale) 18-2
174: Jr. Jared Siegrist (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) 23-12
184: #17 R-Jr. Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) 11-3
197: Fr. Parker McClellan (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) 20-15
// OR // Fr. Luke McGonigal (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield) 11-5
285: #22 R-Sr. Thomas Haines (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) 19-3
 
Appalachian State's projected weekend lineup:
125: So. De'Andrew Swinson-Barr (Fayetteville, N.C./South View) 12-9
133: #29 So. Codi Russell (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) 17-9
141: Sr. Irvin Enriquez (Aberdeen, N.C./Pencrest) 17-13
149: #27 Jr. Matt Zovistoski (Paramus, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) 22-12
157: Sr. Angel Najar (Bethel, N.C./North Pitt) 15-11
165: Sr. Michael Elliot (Jefferson, N.C./Ashe County) 20-10
174: So. Thomas Flitz (Monroe, N.C./Piedmont) 10-15
184: So. Alan Clothier (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence) 18-11
197: #18 Sr. Randall Diable (Greensboro, N.C./Dudley) 22-5
285: #26 Jr. Cary Miller (Greensboro, N.C./NW Guilford) 20-10
 
*Individual Ranking = NCAA Coaches' Panel (Feb. 14)
 
Up next:
This marks the final weekend of the regular season for the Bald Eagles. Following Sunday's Mat-Town Open II Tournament, it's all about the postseason. The 2019 EWL Championships are set for Saturday, March 9 at George Mason.