(LOCK HAVEN, PA): Lock Haven posted big wins by Justin Owens at 133 and Morgan Horner at 197 which led the Bald Eagles to a 24-16 win over Clarion on Friday night in an Eastern Wrestling League match at Lock Haven’s Thomas Field House.

The loss dropped Clarion to 8-8 overall and 1-5 in the Eastern Wrestling League, while Lock Haven raised its record to 12-11 overall and 3-4 in the EWL..

With the match starting at 125 the Golden Eagles darted out to a 6-0 lead when Peter Derstine pinned Jim Collins at 5:35. Derstine was behind 7-1 in the match in the first period, but had rallied to take a 15-11 lead when the fall was called.

Lock Haven posted a upset win at 133 when Justin Owens decisioned Clarion’s Rad Martinez 4-3 with a winning takedown with only 30-seconds remaining. Martinez was ranked #14 in the nation.

LH’s Mike Maney, ranked #7 at 141, edged Clarion’s Frank Edgar 3-2 using a third period escape to post the win, which gave Lock Haven a 10-6 team lead.

Clarion’s Jeremy Reitz came right back with a big win at 157 to put Clarion ahead 12-10. He was ahead of Matt Marquart 14-1 when he tossed the freshman to his back and pinned him at 4:42.

Lock Haven posted three straight wins starting with Jason Gilligan notching a 5-2 decision over Chris Horning at 165, then Chris Haines won a 10-5 decision over Dave Gardner at 174. Gardner had a 3-1 lead late in the second period when Haines tossed Gardner to his back for a five-point move and a 6-3 lead that he never lost.

Mike Greenberg posted a 17-0 technical fall over Eric Spence at 6:57 at 184-pounds to give Lock Haven a 21-12 leading heading into another important bout at 197.

Lock Haven’s #16 ranked Morgan Horner decisioned Clarion’s #12 rated Eric Mausser 4-3. Horner had a first period takedown, then after Mausser escaped on the edge, he (Mausser) was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct call after the whistle and awarded a key penalty point to lead 3-1. Mausser reversed Horner in the second period and nearly had near fall points recorded, but had them waived off. Horner escaped in the third period and held off Mausser to win 4-3.

Clarion heavyweight John Testa won an 18-7 major decision over Tim Myers to finish the dual meet. The win for Testa gave the Clarion senior 127 career wins, which now ranks him third on the all-time win list one ahead of Mark Angle. The only two Clarion wrestlers with more wins are legend Wade Schalles (153-5-1; 1970-74) and Mike Cole (150-31-2; 1984-89). Testa, ranked 39 in the country, is now 36-2 on the season.

Clarion closes the dual meet season at Virginia Tech on Sunday, February 23^rd at 1pm.