LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven men's wrestling team closed the 2025-26 regular season tonight (Saturday, Feb. 21) by hosting nationally-ranked West Virginia in a non-conference meet, and the No. 17 Mountaineers (11-5) slipped by the upset-minded Bald Eagles, 21-15.
 
With the loss, Lock Haven finished the season at 13-5 overall.
 
The Bald Eagles won three of their final five duals as they now set their attention on the postseason.
 
Prior to the start of tonight's match, the Bald Eagles honored the senior class including: Ethan Miller, Wyatt Henson, Avery Bassett, Gable Strickland, J.T. Hogan, Cael Black, Sean Logue, CJ Carr and DaShawn Farber.
 
Bassett, Sam Gautreau, Tucker Hogan, Henson and Lucas Kapusta all won for The Haven tonight.
 
The meet started at 174 pounds and the Bald Eagles benefitted early from a fast start.
 
The fast start was sparked by back-to-back upset-wins by Bassett and Gautreau at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively.
 
Bassett – ranked No. 32 - dominated start-to-finish in a 12-5 upset of No. 14 Brody Conley, and Gautreau blitzed No. 17 Ian Bush from the opening whistle on the way to the 14-8 victory.
 
The two upset victories pushed Lock Haven out to a 6-0 lead.
 
Hogan grinded out a 2-0 win at 197 pounds over Brian Finnerty and it was all Lock Haven early.
 
Lock Haven also got wins from its nationally-ranked pair of Henson and Kapusta at 141 and 149.
 
Henson – ranked No. 24 at 141 – downed Jordan Titus, 5-0 and Kapusta – ranked No. 23 at 149 – edged out Wille McDougald 6-5 in sudden victory.
 
After the three wins to open the match, Lock Haven led 9-6 at halftime as the Bald Eagles looked poised for their first upset of a top-20 team since January 2019, but nationally-ranked West Virginia stood strong while posting bonus-point wins in the final two bouts of the dual. In all, three of West Virginia's five wins came by way of the bonus-point variety.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results / Team Score by Bout
FINAL: No. 17 West Virginia (WVU) 21 - Lock Haven (LH) 15
174: No. 32 Avery Bassett (LH) dec. No. 14 Brody Conley (WVU), 12-5 | LH 3-0
184: Sam Gautreau (LH) dec. No. 17 Ian Bush (WVU), 14-8 | LH 6-0
197: Tucker Hogan (LH) dec. Brian Finnerty (WVU), 2-0 | LH 9-0
285: Brock Kehler (WVU) dec. Kade Sottolano (LH), 4-1 (SV) | LH 9-3
125: Louie Gill (WVU) dec. Curtis Nelson (LH), 11-6 | LH 9-6
133: No 18 Gunner Andrick (WVU) pinned Sean Logue (LH), 2:00 | WVU 12-9
141: No. 24 Wyatt Henson (LH) dec. Jordan Titus (WVU), 5-0 | Tied 12-12
149: No. 23 Lucas Kapusta (LH) dec. Willie McDougald (WVU), 6-5 (SV) | LH 15-12
157: Cole Evans (WVU) major dec. Chase Burke (LH), 9-0 | WVU 16-15
165: Ty Watters (WVU) tech fall Nick Kunstek (LH), 19-4 (6:43) | WVU 21-15 FINAL
*Match started at 174 lbs.
**Rankings = NCAA Coaches' Rankings (Feb. 12)
*** WVU's Ty Watters ranked No. 5 at 157 lbs.
 
Attendance: 803
 
Records:
No. 17 West Virginia, 11-5 (5-3 Big 12)
Lock Haven 13-5 (6-1 MAC)
 
Up Next for Lock Haven:
The Bald Eagles will now turn their attention to the postseason as they look to defend their Mid-American Conference (MAC) title. The 2025-26 MAC Championship is set for Friday and Saturday, March 6-7 in Buffalo, New York (University of Buffalo).