Old Dominion (3-7, 1-1 MAC) vs. Lock Haven (5-2, 1-1 MAC)
Match Info – Friday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Giveaway – First 100 Fans in Attendance Receives a Free T-Shirt
Follow – Live Stats | Live Stream | Twitter
Old Dominion (3-7, 1-1 MAC) vs. No. 25 Rider (6-2, 2-1 MAC)
Match Info – Sunday, January 19 at 1 p.m.
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
Follow – Live Stats | Live Stream | Twitter
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University wrestling team (3-7, 1-1 MAC) will compete in its first home matches of the season this upcoming weekend, as it takes on Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division foes Lock Haven at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night, January 17, and No. 25 Rider on Sunday, January 19 at 1 p.m.
Last week, the Monarchs earned a fifth-place finish at the 40th Annual Virginia Duals, going 2-2 in the four matches they had in the event. ODU beat Penn in their first match, 18-13, before falling to then-No. 22 Virginia, 23-9 and Fresno State, 20-15. The Monarchs then came out victorious against Maryland in the fifth-place match, 18-16, after trailing by as much as seven points in the dual.
Senior Larry Early earned the John Graham Outstanding Wrestler Award and was named the MAC East Division Wrestler of the Week after going a perfect 4-0 in his bouts at the Virginia Duals, including two ranked victories over No. 13 Anthony Artalona of Penn and No. 24 Justin McCoy of Virginia. He also collected his first pin of the season against Fresno State's Beau Colombini after two minutes and 22 seconds of action. His fourth victory came in an 8-3 win by decision over Lucas Cardio in the Monarchs' fifth-place match against Maryland. Early is ranked in the top-16 in all four of the latest national polls, topping out at 12th in the nation at 157 pounds in WIN Magazine's rankings.
The Monarchs have three other ranked wrestlers on their roster, as Michael McGee is ranked 19th in WIN Magazine at 125 pounds, Killian Cardinale is ranked 16th according to FloWrestling, also at 125 pounds, and Sa'Derian Perry checks in at 18th on FloWrestling's list at 141 pounds.
Kenan Carter went 3-1 at 149 pounds at the Virginia Duals, including taking down No. 32 Greg Gaxiola of Fresno State in a 3-2 decision. Antonio Agee went 3-1 in the two-day event, with this of his matches going to overtime at 184 pounds, while Timothy Young also went 3-1 at 197 pounds, including a 3-2 win by decision over No. 25 Jaron Smith of Maryland.
With the start of the home schedule upon us, the Monarchs are looking for their first winning record at Chartway Arena since the 2014-15 season. Last season the team wrestled to a 2-4 home record.
About Lock Haven
The Bald Eagles enter the weekend with a 5-2 record, 1-1 in the MAC, and will compete in three matches in four days. Their bout against ODU on Friday night will be their second consecutive match, as they take on Appalachian State on Thursday evening.
Lock Haven currently has seven ranked wrestlers on its roster. At 125 pounds, Luke Werner is the highest ranked combatant on the team, checking in at No. 14. At 133, the Bald Eagles have two ranked athletes, with No. 16 Cole Manley and No. 29 DJ Fehlman.
At 141 pounds, Kyle Shoop checks in at No. 15, while Alex Klucker comes in at No. 30 at 157 pounds. The last two ranked Bald Eagles are No. 31 Jared Siegrist and No. 33 Corey Hazel at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively.
Both Werner and Siegrist have over 15 victories this season, as Werner has 19 and Siegrist has 17.
In the latest MAC rankings, Old Dominion and Lock Haven were tied for third place behind only Rider and Missouri.
Series History
Overall, the Monarchs and the Bald Eagles have faced each other a total of nine times, with Lock Haven winning seven of the matches. However, ODU has won the last two meeting these two teams have had. In their last matchup in the 2013-14 season, the Monarchs came away with a 26-10 victory.
Giveaway
The first 100 fans in attendance for Friday's match against Lock Haven will receive a free ODU Wrestling t-shirt.
About Rider
The Broncs enter this weekend rounding out the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) top-25 rankings. This will be Rider's second trip to Hampton Roads in two weeks, as they came out victorious in last week's Virginia Duals. The Broncs took home the championship after defeating then. No. 22 Virginia in the final round.
Rider boasts five wrestler who can be found in national rankings, including two that can be found in the top-10. At 157 pounds, Jesse Dellavecchia is ranked sixth in the nation after winning 18 of his 20 bouts including both of his MAC challangers.
Ethan Laird is the other Bronc that is ranked inside the top-10, as he comes in as high as eighth in the nation at 197 pounds. This season, Laird is 17-5 and 602 in dual action.
In the latest MAC rankings, Rider jumped ahead of Old Dominion for the first time this season, claiming second behind only Missouri.
Series History
ODU holds a 10-5-1 record in the sixteen meeting these two teams have had. The last time these teams faced off against each other, the Monarchs came away with a 26-14 victory in the 2015-16 season.
Tickets
You can get your tickets to these two MAC matchups and every other home dual this season by visiting ynottix.com.
Pre-Match Social
ODU wrestling will host a pre-match social located in the Big Blue Room one hour prior to the start of every home wrestling match. The Big Blue Room will close at the start of the action, and then reopen during every intermission. Adult beverages will be served.
Probable Starters Against Lock Haven
125: No. 16 Killian Cardinale OR No. 19 Michael McGee vs. No. 14 Luke Werner OR Matt Maloney
133: Shannon Hanna II OR Steven Simpson vs. No. 29 DJ Fehlman No. 16 Cole Manley
141: No. 18 Sa'Derian Perry OR Yarhoski Aldiva vs. No. 15 Kyle Shoop
149: Kenan Carter or Kevin Budock vs. Brock Port OR Austin Wilson
157: No. 12 Larry Early OR Cole Smith vs. No. 15 Alex Klucker OR Chase Stephens
165: Shane Jones OR Kellen Ekern OR Jacob Curling vs. Austin Bell OR Caleb Clymer
174: Alex Cramer OR Luke Drugac vs. No. 31 Jared Siegrist
184: Antonio Agee OR Noah Bushman OR Dean Drugac vs. No. 33 Corey Haze OR Ray Bernot
197: Tim Young vs. Parker McClellan OR Blake Reynolds
285: Will Hilliard OR Jacob Bullock vs. Trey Hartsock
Probable Starters Against Rider
125: No. 16 Killian Cardinale OR No. 19 Michael McGee vs. No. 19 Jonathan Tropea
133: Shannon Hanna II OR Steven Simpson vs. Anthony Cefolo OR Chris Wright
141: No. 18 Sa'Derian Perry OR Yarhoski Aldiva vs. No. 33 Pete LiPari
149: Kenan Carter or Kevin Budock vs. Gino Fluri
157: No. 12 Larry Early OR Cole Smith vs. No. 6 Jesse Dellavecchia
165: Shane Jones OR Kellen Ekern OR Jacob Curling vs. Joe Casey OR Georgio Poullas
174: Alex Cramer OR Luke Drugac vs. No. 17 Dean Sherry
184: Antonio Agee OR Noah Bushman OR Dean Drugac vs. George Walton
197: Tim Young vs. No. 8 Ethan Laird
285: Will Hilliard OR Jacob Bullock vs. Ryan Cloud
Wrestling Hosts Lock Haven and Rider in First Home Matches of the Season
