The Bald Eagles dominated Clarion from start to finish winning all, but two bouts. Three Haven grapplers recorded falls including senior Seth Martin (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selingrove) along with freshmen Jeremie Cook (Venice, Fla./Venice) and Landis Wright (Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle).
"I was impressed with Seth and our young guys, we're not getting beat, just running out of time," said head coach Rocky Bonomo. "I have to give coach Rogers (LHU assistant coach, Mike Rogers) a lot of credit."
The win for Martin was a special one for the senior who was competing in Thomas Fieldhouse for the last time.
Action started at 184 pounds with sophomore Tom Kocher (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) picking up a 7-3 decision over Scott Joseph, putting the Bald Eagles up 3-0.
After a scoreless first period the match was tied a 2-2 heading into the final period. Kocher took the lead just four seconds into the third with an escape and recorded an important takedown with just over a minute left in the action.
The pin by Cook at 197 put the Haven up 9-0. Cook did not waste time in going to work on Clarion's Dixon Jordon as he picked up two takedowns in the first minute and a half of action and eventually earned the fall at 2:29.
At heavyweight sophomore Ben Hepburn (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalstock) dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision to A.J. Brooks.
No. 12 Obenson Blanc (Naples, Fla.Lely) won-his 125-pound bout with Patrick Feeley by disqualification. The junior was winning 9-1 when the match was stopped because of excessive penalty points to Feeley.
The Blanc-win put Lock Haven up 15-3 and they went up 21-3 after freshman Nick Hyatt (Boyertown, Pa/Boyertown) won by forfeit with Clarion not entering a wrestler at 133.
Zack Kell (Ickesburg, Pa/West Perry) picked up an 11-5 win over Tony Lascari. The 141-pounder led 4-2 at the end of the first period after picking up an early takedown and a reversal. The freshman led 8-5 heading into the final period and used a reversal with 1:14 to go and one riding time point to rack up the 11-5 decision.
Freshman Donnie Ament (Acme, Pa./Mount Pleasant) lost 5-3 to Hadley Harrison at 149. Ament led 2-1 after one, but Harrison pulled out the win, marking the second and last Clarion victory on the day.
After being honored prior the start of today's match for his endless contributions to the Lock Haven wrestling program, No. 9 Martin went out with a bang. Coming off a rare two straight losses, the senior pinned Nick Billups just 2:13 into their 157-bout. Martin used a strong takedown just 28 seconds in and racked up six near fall points before finishing off his Golden Eagle opponent.
"I couldn't ask for a better way to go out," said Martin who thinks this might be last piece to the puzzle for him heading into the post-season. "I am going into EWL's feeling confident and want to end my career with a win."
"It's hard to put into words how important Seth as been to me personally, to me as a coach and to our program, it is an honor for me," said Bonomo.
Freshman Landis Wright (Wingate, Pa./Bald Eagle) kept the momentum going for the Bald Eagles as he was able to pick up the fall, marking back to back pins for the Haven. Wright pinned his 165-pound Clarion opponent Mario Morelli at 6:41.
Junior Michael Metzger (Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin) closed things out for the Haven with a major decision victory over Dominic Ross at 174. Metzger jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after one period and led 9-3 after two. He added an early escape and takedown in the third to help insure the major.
The Bald Eagles are back in action on Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4 when they travel to Cleveland State University for the EWL championships.
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