LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — The feeling never left Matt Martoccio.
The
Council Rock South (Holland) 145-pound wrestler had just finished sixth at the PIAA Class AAA championships.
"I was frustrated and disappointed in myself," he said. "Actually, I was pretty angry with myself because I wanted to finish in the top 4. I set high goals, and I was mad that I didn't reach it. I went home Sunday, and I started to train for my senior year. I am itching to get back on that stage. I was a King of the Mountain champ, and I won Escape the Rock after battling back from an injury my sophomore year. But winning a state title has always been my goal."
At
Dallastown High School, Phil Sprenkle utters similar words.
"My goal is to win a state title," he said. "No matter which weight you wrestle at, it's a tough task."
Those two, along with talented
Solanco (Quarryville) grappler Dan Neff, have all signed national letters of intent to Lock Haven and will join the Bald Eagles and head coach Robbie Waller.
Neff and Martoccio are both 100-match winners entering their final scholastic seasons, while Sprenkle is ranked No. 2 in the state.
All three know a little something about success.
Neff was 43-4 as a junior and finished fourth in the 135-pound Class AAA bracket. Recently, he finished second at the 2010 Super 32 tournament, falling to talented junior Steve Spearman of Erie McDowell, 5-3. Neff is currently ranked in the top 2 at 135 and appears to be on a collison course with Spearman come March.
"I've been watching him for the past few years. I think the world of him," Waller said of Neff. "He's a great kid, a hard-nose kid who has great technique. Plus, he gets the job done in the classroom. He comes from a good program, and I think he has the ability to jump right in and make some noise."
Neff knew he wanted to be a Bald Eagle early in the recruiting process.
"Coach Waller kept in contact with me, and that meant a lot," he said. "He would call me to check and see how things were going, and see how I was doing. I want to be a part of this rebuilding at Lock Haven. It is going to happen, and I think they will be in the top 20 in the next few years. I'm glad that I made the decision early. Right now, I can just focus on winning a state title. I want to get better and stronger, and I'm going to keep working hard to achieve my goals."
For Martoccio, the decision to attend Lock Haven was difficult.
"But I know it is the right one," he said. "Lock Haven just felt like the right place for me. Just watching their practice, you can see that everyone is working toward the same goal. You know the guy running next to you doing sprints is working just as hard as you are. You know the guy you are working with in the wrestling room is working just as hard as you. Everyone has the same goals.
"I was at a clinic where coach (Scott) Moore was, and I really liked the things he was showing. I just liked the way he instructed it, and the way he worked. The coaches continued to stay in contact with me. It just clicked for me. I just felt like Lock Haven was the right place for me."
Martoccio, No. 1 in preseason state rankings at 145 and currently ranked in the nation, won 41 matches last year, and finished seventh at Super 32.
"He's a mat rat who wrestles all year," Waller said. "He's a good student, and I think a lot of people who saw him wrestle at the Fall Classic saw his future. We're excited to have him here at Lock Haven."
Sprenkle, who finished fourth in the state at 189 after going 37-7 in his junior year, loves the outdoors.
He loves to fish, and loves to hunt. What better place than the woods and streams around Clinton County?
"The rivers, the mountains, I love all of it," he said. "I definitely wanted to wrestle Division I, but I wanted to go to a smaller school. One of my coaches told me about Lock Haven, and I knew it was a good school. I knew about the history and tradition of the school. The future is bright, and that was a big part of my decision. They went through a few years where things didn't go so well. But the coaches in there now, they know what needs to happen to turn things around. With the young guys they have in there, I think it's going to turn around.
"I'm just going to continue to work hard throughout my senior year, and even in the offseason and the summer. If I continue to do that, maybe I'll put myself in a position to start in my freshman year."
Sprenkle needs 12 wins to reach 100 for his career, and finished second at the 2009 NHSCA Junior Nationals.
"He's going to be a surprise to a lot of people this year," Waller said. "He's a talented kid."
No doubt, the future is bright at Lock Haven.
With freshmen Colton Spade, Michael Khoury and Jake Bachman all in the starting lineup, and nationally-ranked juniors John Trumbetti and Matt Bonson still with a year of eligibility, the Bald Eagles continue to build.
That continues with Neff, Sprenkle and Martoccio.
"They are not just good students and good wrestlers, they are all good fits for the Lock Haven wrestling program," Waller said. "We try to recruit kids that fit our style and our personalities, and those three do. They are going to make the adjustments and make gains really quick.
"We're excited that they are going to join the Lock Haven family. But the recruiting never stops. There is another signing period as of April 15, so we'll continue to move forward. We're excited about our future."
Tom Fox is Sports Editor at The Lock Haven (Pa.) Express and covers Central and Northeastern Pa. for MaxPreps.com. He can be reached at tfox@lockhaven.com.
