CLARION, PA – Sophomores Brian Watkins (Bear Gap, Pa./Southern Columbis) and Caleb Willey (Towanda, Pa./Towanda Area) led the Lycoming College wrestling team on Sunday, Nov. 4, at its opening meet, the Clarion Knight Point Open at Clarion University’s University Recreation Center.
Watkins won four matches to reach the 157-pound brackets final eight competitors. After an opening round loss to Clarion’s James Fleming, Watkins pinned Army Prep’s Erik Mullins in 57 seconds, posted a 5-3 win over Navy’s John Keck, an 8-3 win over Lock Haven’s Christopher Nagel and earned a medical withdraw win over Ben Dorsey. In the consolation quarterfinals, he dropped a 9-0 decision to Navy’s John Watson.
At 141 pounds, Willey opened the tournament with an 8-5 win over Kent State’s Collin Harrell. After a loss in the round of 16, Willey rebounded with a 13-5 major decision over Clarion’s Timothy Bailey. He dropped his match in the consolation round of 16 to Pitt’s Jake Keller to wrap up his day.
Sophomore Nikolas Christine (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) also notched two pins at 184 pounds, sticking Army Prep’s Kyle Many at 6:02 and Penn State-Dubois’ Alex Winbark in 1:01.
Freshmen Owen Bradley (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) (133), Matt Neff (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) (149), Steven Baker (Hampton, N.J./Voorhees) (157), Eddie Helm (Swiftwater, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) (165) and Harris Nowotarski (Womelsdorf, Pa./Tulpehocken) (174) each picked up their first win in a Warrior singlet in their respective weight classes.
Sophomore Cody Barbiche (Milford, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) (125), sophomore Tyler Evans (Sykesville, Md./Century) (157), junior Johnathan Secor (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) (174), junior Tyler Cunningham (Haddon Township, N.J./Haddon Township) (184) and junior Zach Hickernell (Richland, Pa./ELCO) (285) also each won a match at the tournament.
The Warriors get back in action on Wednesday, Nov. 7, when they head to Thiel for a 7 p.m. dual meet.
