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Lock Haven has trio of wrestlers win MAC titles and qualify for nationals

KENT, Ohio — The Lock Haven men’s wrestling team participated in the Mid-American Conference tournament on Friday and Saturday and the Bald Eagles crowned three champions who punched their ticket to the NCAA Division 1 wrestling championships. Anthony Noto, Gable Strickland and Wyatt Henson all qualified for the NCAA Division 1 championships are in Kansas City, Missouri on March 21-23.

The Bald Eagles finished fourth overall with 93 points.

“A lot of exciting and competitive matches compared to last year,” Lock Haven coach Scott Moore said. “Anytime you’re at a conference tournament, guys are competing to go to the nationals so there’s a lot of energy. We came in confident that we could compete for a team title, fell a little short of that, but had some really good performances.

“I think overall all 10 guys wrestled well and competed hard. Having three champs is great. I’m excited that these guys could spend some time together and compete and have some champions and place top-4 as a program and Noto, Strickland and Henson being outstanding wrestlers is kind of a cherry on top,” Moore added.

At 125, Noto was looking for the three-peat after he made his way to the final bout after a victory by pin (4:00) over JB Dragovich of George Mason. Noto picked up the 8-6 decision victory in the semifinals over Central Michigan’s Sean Spidle.

Noto picked up his third MAC Championship in as many tries after a 13-5 major decision over Blake West of Northern Illinois in the finals. Noto has qualified for the NCAA national championships three times.

“Last year I placed fourth at nationals,” Noto said. “And this year, I’m looking at securing All-American status again. but the biggest goal is the national championship and I’ve been working all year for it. So hopefully it pays off.”

At 133, Strickland went a perfect 3-0 to advance his way to the finals. Strickland earned a 7-1 decision victory in Round 1 before a major decision victory (11-2) over Central Michigan’s Vincent Perez in the quarterfinals. In his semifinal match, Strickland defeated Tommy Maddox by tech fall (18-3) in 6:58.

Strickland won his second straight MAC Championship after a 4-3 decision victory over Rider’s Richie Koehler. The win was a special for Strickland, who lost to Koehler 4-1 (SV) earlier in the year at Lock Haven’s dual against Rider.

“Koehler and I have always had back-and-forth matches. Freshman year he beat me twice. Last year, I beat him twice and then this year, he beat me in the first match and I just happened to come out on top in the second match,” Strickland said. “He’s a great opponent. He’s made me a better wrestler and I made him a better wrestler.”

At 141, Henson made his way to the finals after recording a tech fall and a pin. Henson, the takedown machine, recorded his 18th tech fall and made quick work of Edinboro’s Jacob Brenneman, needing just 3:22 to defeat Brenneman 21-6 in the quarterfinals.

All of Henson’s points came via takedowns. Henson won via pin in 6:23 over Southern Illinois’ Eric Almarinez in the semifinals. Henson recorded his 19th tech fall of the season in the finals over Northern Illinois’ Jacob Brya.

It took Henson 5:40 to soar past Byra, 21-6. This marks Henson’s first MAC Championship after transferring from Oklahoma. In addition, Henson’s 19 tech falls are the most in a single season in Lock Haven history.

At the end of the tournament, Henson was crowned Co-Wrestler of the Year in the MAC.

“I had a great week,” Henson said. “I just stayed focused and did what I came here to do. I extended my tech fall record which is awesome. I love it at Lock Haven. The tech fall record is good, but the ultimate goal is to win a national title.”

Henson and Strickland have qualified for nationals along with Noto.

“They’ve all bee there (at nationals),” Moore said. “It’s really about believing in yourself and performing. I’m excited for those guys. Every time we get to coach it’s a blessing, and every time those guys get to compete, they should be grateful for this opportunity. It will be such a unique setting. Nationals is one of the highest tournaments you can compete in.”

At 174, Tyler Stoltzfus went 2-1 on Day 1. Stoltzfus took the win in the first round over Paul Pierce of George Mason by decision (5-2, SV-2) before dropping his quarterfinal match over John Worthing by fall (2:21). Stoltzfus earned two consolation victories over Joseph Arnold of Edinboro (7-0) and SIU’s Dominic Lopez (17-1, 6:39 tech fall). In his consolation semifinal match, Stoltzfus fell to Sal Perrine by a 12-3 major decision. Stoltzfus finished sixth after a 7-3 decision loss to Jay Nivision.

Colin Fegley started off with a 16-1, 5:39 tech fall over Kyle Snider of Kent State at 184. Fegley fell by major decision (15-4) to Cameron Pine before making his way to the semifinal consolations with wins over Brody Evans and Isaac Dean by major decision, 14-3, and decision, 2-1, respecptively. Fegley and Dean were tied 1-1 with under 30 seconds remaining, but a stalling call on Dean earned Fegley a penalty point.

Fegley made his way to the third-place match after a 2-0 win over SIU’s Deron Pulliam. Fegley dropped the third-place match to Buffalo’s Chase Kranitz by decision, 7-3.

At 149, Nick Stonecheck opened up his MAC run with a 15-5 major decision win over Kent State’s Matthew Ryan. Stonecheck dropped his quarterfinal match to Northern Illinois’ Jaivon Jones, 5-2. Stonecheck lost via injury default in Round 2 of consolations, 2:44.

Eric Alderfer (165) and Cael Black (197) both went 1-2 on Day 1. Alderfer lost his first-round match but earned a 5-0 decision in the Round 1 consolations over Maxwell Kirby of Edinboro. Alderfer fell by decision, 2-1 SV, in the second round of consolations.

Black lost by a 10-0 major decision from Buffalo’s Sam Mitchell. Black wrestled back in the first round of consolations with a win by decision (10-8) before dropping his second round match to end his MAC Championship run.

Lock Haven’s Connor Eck and Ethan Miller both went 0-2 on Day 1 at 157 and 285, respectively. Eck lost both his matches by decision against Central Michigan’s Johnny Lovett (8-4) and Rider’s Colton Washleski (7-1). Miller fell by an 8-0 major decision in the quarterfinals to No. 1-seed Daniel Burknavich of Cleveland State. Miller then dropped the first-round consolation match by decision, 5-3.