Photo courtesy Lock Haven University Lock Haven’s DJ Fehlman grapples with Cornell’s Chas Tucker during their 133-pound match at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 21, 2019. Fehlman, a Warren Area High School graduate, won a 7-2 decision over Tucker to become the first 24-seed to win a first round match in tournament history.

PITTSBURGH – The Lock Haven University wrestling team opened the 2019 NCAA Division I Championships with a sensational Session 1 effort that was headlined by five of six Bald Eagles posting tournament-opening wins, as the championship got underway Thursday in Pittsburgh.

DJ Fehlman (Warren, Pa./Warren) posted an upset-win at 133, while both Chance Marsteller (New Park, Pa./Kennard-Dale) and Thomas Haines (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) recorded major decisions to highlight the opening session at PPG Paints Arena.

Kyle Shoop (Boiling Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) and Corey Hazel (Spring Mills, Pa./Penns Valley) rounded out LHU’s Session 1 winners as Lock Haven went 5-1.

Alex Klucker (Summerdale, Pa./East Pennsboro) dropped his tournament-opening bout at 157.

After returning to 133 pounds on January 25, Fehlman finished the regular season on a 10-1 run at the weight class. His only loss during that span came to Cornell’s Chas Tucker back in the dual on February 2. Fehlman avenged that loss today with a brilliant tournament-opening win. The Bald Eagle trailed 2-1 after one, but put on a tough ride in the second period. In the second, Fehlman quickly turned Tucker for four near fall points and his active and heavy pressure on top led to a stalling point. He led 6-2 after two and tacked on a riding-time point for the 7-2 victory.

With the win, Fehlman became the first No. 24 seed to win a first round match in tournament history.

Fehlman has now won 11 of his last 12 matches, all at 133 pounds since dropping back down for the Arizona State dual (Jan. 25). Thursday marked Fehlman’s return to the national tournament after qualifying back in 2017. In the second session, Fehlman dropped a 4-0 decision to Missouri’s John Erneste, the No. 8 seed. He moves into the wrestlebacks and will face Appalachian State’s Codi Russel today.

Shoop (141), who is making his third straight NCAA Tournament appearance, opened the tournament with a thrilling and workmanlike 8-7 win over Utah Valley’s Matt Findlay, the No. 20 seed. Shoop, the No. 13 seed, trailed 7-3 after one period, but scored a quick second-period takedown and shifted the momentum. Shoop’s quick takedown and a hard ride cut Findlay’s lead to 7-5 and erased a riding-time advantage. Again, Shoop struck quickly in the third and tied the bout at 7-7 with a takedown. Once again, Shoop’s dominance on top paved the way to the 8-7 win, thanks to over two minutes of riding time.

Shoop upset the No. 4 seed Josh Alber of Northern Iowa with a 19-10 major decision. He faces Missouri’s Jadin Eierman, the No. 5 seed, in the quarterfinals today.

Marsteller put on a clinic his tournament-opener at 165 pounds. The returning All-American and No. 5 seed used five takedowns and racked up over five minutes of riding time on the way to a 16-3 major decision over No. 28 seed Carson Brolsma (Minnesota). Marsteller scored a pair of takedowns in the first period and led 8-1 after three minutes. He racked up over two minutes of riding time in the opening period alone. After two, the lead was 11-2 and Marsteller put it away, going away, in the third with two more takedowns to highlight the win.

Marsteller picked up a 4-2 decision over Ohio State’s Te’shan Campbell to advance to the quarterfinals where he’ll square off with the No. 4 seed, Evan Wick of Wisconsin.

Hazel, the No. 16 seed at 184, earned a solid 9-3 win over No. 17 seed Andrew McNally (Kent State). After giving up an early takedown and trailing, Hazel responded in a big way. He led 3-2 after one period and extended the lead to 5-3 after two, thanks to a pair of near-fall points. Hazel powered his way to the 9-3 win thanks to a third-period escape and takedown, before he tacked on the riding-time point.

Hazel lost a 16-5 major decision to Myles Martin, the top seed, of Ohio State.

Haines (285) met up with his former Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) rival Billy Miller in his opening round match and Haines, the No. 11 seed, cruised to a 13-4 major over No. 22 Miller. Miller competed at Edinboro, before transferring to Virginia Tech and him, and Haines had split their last four bouts which each winning two. Most recently, Miller won the last season’s (’18) EWL finals clash, but today it was all about Haines.

Haines led Miller 4-0 after one period thanks to a quick takedown and two near fall points. Haines racked up 1:48 of riding time in the first. After two, the Haines’ lead was 9-2 and the Bald Eagle senior dominated the third and put it away with two more takedowns.

The No. 6 seed, Amar Dhesi of Oregon State, won an 18-1 tech fall over Haines in the second round.

Klucker led 7-2 after one period in his tournament-opening 157-pound pigtail, but an early second-period reversal from Duke’s Ben Anderson led to the Blue Devil win. Anderson recorded the fall at the 4:39 mark.

Klucker dropped a 13-1 major to Brown’s Christian Labrie, the No. 30 seed