As Carl Poff walked out of Rec Hall and toward the locker room after his team had beaten No. 13 Penn State, Lock Haven wrestlers and fans had a surprise for the fifth-year coach — a Gatorade shower.

A Gatorade shower after a wrestling match may seem unusual, but Lock Haven had good reason to celebrate. Penn State and its intrastate foe have wrestled 20 times since the 1942-43 season, and the Bald Eagles have never won -- not until last night.

After Lock Haven's Mike Geurin, a nationally ranked wrestler, clinched the match with a win at 190 pounds, the Lock Haven contingent seated in the northeast corner of Rec Hall exploded into cheers and chants: "LHU . . . LHU."

Rick Fultz, a fan of Lock Haven wrestling since 1953, was wearing a smile from ear to ear. He said the win ended all the frustration he has felt losing to Penn State for so many years.

"It's the biggest win in the history of the school. It's so huge for our school and our program."

For the first time, Bald Eagle cheerleaders accompanied the wrestlers to an away match.

And Nikki Rhinehart, a junior cheerleader, was so astounded that all she could utter was that the 20-14 win was "awesome."

Poff was also elated.

"It's tremendous," he said. "There are a lot of people who have been following the program for 40 years and this win is for them."

After the match, the Lock Haven fans hugged and congratulated one another as if they had won the Super Bowl.

"Knowing what this is doing for our school and our program, this is the biggest win I've had as a coach," a jubilant Poff added.

Lock Haven had come close to beating Penn State before. Last season, the Lions won a tight 19-18 match, and five years earlier, the Bald Eagles lost another one-point decision 20-19.

When both schools competed in the Eastern Wrestling League, Penn State dominated Lock Haven. The Lions won the league title every year from 1982 until they joined the Big Ten 10 easons later.

But for now Lock Haven has the bragging rights.

"To beat a school like (Penn State), it has to help our exposure nationally and within the state," said Fultz.

Even before the win against its rival, Lock Haven was having an excellent dual-meet season. The Bald Eagles, who improved to 10-3 on the season, are ranked No. 21 in Division I.

With the loss, Penn State falls to 5-9 (2-3 Big Ten) and will have the school's first losing season since 1979.

Note:

-- Penn State will face Lehigh at 3:15 p.m. tomorrow at Rec Hall. Thirty five Penn State All-American wrestlers will be honored at the match.