**Lock Haven Dominates Northern Illinois 28-8 Behind Strong Second Half**
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven turned a shaky start into a commanding performance, rallying from an early 6-0 deficit to defeat Northern Illinois 28-8 in front of 511 fans at Thomas Fieldhouse on Thursday afternoon.
The Bald Eagles found themselves in an unexpected hole after the first two matches, as Northern Illinois jumped out to a 6-0 lead with decisions from Blake West at 125 pounds and Markel Baker at 133. West controlled his bout against Curtis Nelson with an escape and riding time bonus, while Baker secured a dramatic late takedown with just two seconds remaining to seal a 5-1 victory over Gable Strickland.
Lock Haven's momentum shifted dramatically at 141 pounds, where Wyatt Henson delivered the match's first highlight-reel performance. Henson dominated from the opening whistle, recording three takedowns and a four-point near fall before finishing with a fall at 2:44 to tie the dual at 6-6.
"That pin really got us going," said one observer, as the crowd energy noticeably shifted in Lock Haven's favor.
The Bald Eagles seized control with three consecutive decision victories in the middle weights. Lucas Kapusta edged Collin Arch 5-1 at 149 pounds, overcoming an early deficit with a third-period escape, takedown, and riding time point. Nick Stampoulos followed with a hard-fought 6-5 decision over Landen Johnson at 157, building an early 5-1 lead before withstanding a late Northern Illinois rally.
At 165 pounds, Nick Kunstek's 9-6 decision over Brett Smith proved pivotal, as Northern Illinois received a team point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct following the bout. The penalty extended Lock Haven's lead to 15-6, effectively putting the dual out of reach.
Lock Haven's upper weights delivered the knockout punch with three dominant performances. Avery Bassett controlled Tommy Bennett throughout their 174-pound match, earning an 8-1 decision with consistent takedowns and solid positioning.
The final two bouts showcased Lock Haven's depth and talent. Sam Gautreau put on a clinic at 184 pounds, overwhelming Ian Smith with relentless offense. Gautreau recorded seven takedowns and benefited from penalty points due to Smith's repeated stalling calls, securing a technical fall victory by a 22-6 margin in 6:46.
Tucker Hogan capped the evening with perhaps the most impressive performance, dismantling Dominic Heim at 197 pounds. Hogan accumulated 17 points through a combination of takedowns and multiple four-point near falls, earning a technical fall in just 4:04.
Northern Illinois salvaged the final bout as heavyweight Devon Dawson edged Kade Sottolano 4-2, preventing a complete shutout in the final five weight classes.
The dual's turning point came with Henson's fall, as Lock Haven won eight of the final nine bouts to transform an early deficit into a convincing 20-point victory. The Bald Eagles' balanced attack and superior conditioning proved decisive, particularly in the upper weights where they outscored Northern Illinois 20-3 over the final five matches.