LHU Men’s Wrestling opens MAC Championship; Noto, Strickland & Henson advance to finals
KENT, OH – Looking for the three-peat, the Lock Haven men’s wrestling team opened the 2024 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship in style today (Friday, March 8) as top seeds Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima), Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) and Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) all powered their way into tomorrow’s finals at their respective weight class.
The Bald Eagles’ powerful front-running trio combined to go a perfect 7-0 with two pins, two tech falls and a major decision. The efforts of Noto, Strickland and Henson certainly headlined the opening day of the two-day MAC Championship, taking place on the campus of Kent State University today and tomorrow (Saturday, March 9).
Lock Haven entered the tournament having won back-to-back MAC team titles.
Noto, the top-seed at 125, went a perfect 2-0 on the day. The nation’s 20th ranked 125-pounder opened the tournament with a quarterfinal-pin (4:00) over George Mason’s JB Dragovich. In the semifinals, Noto downed No. 5 seed Sean Spidle (Central Michigan), 8-6, and booked his spot in tomorrow’s finals.
Strickland, the top-seed at 133, went 3-0 and he did so in dominant fashion. The Bald Eagle opened the day with a 7-1 victory over Ohio’s Mason Brugh. In the quarterfinals, Strickland majored No. 8 seed Vincent Perez, 11-2. He booked his spot in Saturday’s finals behind an 18-3 (6:58) tech fall over Buffalo’s Tommy Maddox in the semifinals.
At 141, Henson was 2-0 with a tech fall and a pin. Ranked 16th nationally and the top-seed, Henson opened the tournament with another quick tech fall. He needed just 3:22 to soar by Edinboro’s Jacob Brenneman, 21-6 in the quarterfinal round. The tech fall was Henson’s 18th of the season, which marks the most ever in Lock Haven history for a single season. In the semifinals, Henson pinned No. 4 seed Eric Almarinez (SIU Edwardsville) at the 6:23 mark as the Bald Eagle booked his spot in the finals Saturday afternoon.
Both Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) and Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) advanced to Day 2 action tomorrow as well.
Stoltzfus, the No. 4 seed at 174, was 2-1 today with a pair of hard-fought decisions.
Fegley, the No. 8 seed at 184, was 2-1 with a tech fall and a major decision. His only loss came in the quarters to the top-seed.
Following Day 1 action, the Bald Eagles sit fourth overall in the 13-team standings. Central Michigan leads the way, while Rider is second and George Mason rounds out the top-three.
The 2024 MAC Championship will continue tomorrow (Saturday, March 9). Day 2 action Saturday is set for an 11:30 a.m. start (consolation quarterfinals) and the finals are set for 3 p.m.
Lock Haven Results:
125: #1 seed (No. 20 nationally) Anthony Noto
First Round, bye
Quarterfinals vs. JB Dragovich (George Mason) W, pin (4:00)
Semifinals vs. #5 seed Sean Spidle (Central Michigan) W, dec., 8-6
2-0
133: #1 seed Gable Strickland
First Round vs. Mason Brugh (Ohio) W, dec., 7-1
Quarterfinals vs. #8 seed Vincent Perez (Central Michigan) W, major dec., 11-2
Semifinals vs. #4 seed Tommy Maddox (Buffalo) W, tech fall, 18-3 (6:58)
3-0
141: #1 seed (No. 16 nationally) Wyatt Henson
First Round, bye
Quarterfinals vs. Jacob Brenneman (Edinboro) W, tech fall, 21-7 (3:22)
Semifinals vs. #4 seed Eric Almarinez (SIU Edwardsville) W, pin (6:23)
2-0
149: #5 seed Nick Stonecheck
First Round vs. Matthew Ryan (Kent State) W, major dec., 15-5
Quarterfinals vs. #4 seed Jaivon Jones (Northern Illinois) L, dec., 5-2
Consolation Round 2 vs. #3 seed Caleb Tyus (SIU Edwardsville) L, injury default
1-2
157: Connor Eck
First Round vs. #3 seed Johnny Lovett (Central Michigan) L, dec., 8-4
Consolation Round 2 vs. #4 seed Colton Washleski (Rider) L, dec., 7-1
0-2
165: Eric Alderfer
First Round vs. #5 seed Jake Silverstein (Rider) L, dec., 4-1
Consolation Round 1 vs. Maxwell Kirby (Edinboro) W, dec., 5-0
Consolation Round 2 vs. #6 seed Hunter Shaut (Buffalo), L, dec., 2-1 SV2
1-2
174: #4 seed Tyler Stoltzfus
First Round vs. Paul Pierce (George Mason) W, dec., 5-2 SV2
Quarterfinals #5 seed John Worthing (Clarion) L, pin (2:21)
Consolation Round 2 vs. Joseph Arnold (Edinboro) W, dec., 7-0
2-1
184: #8 seed Colin Fegley
First Round Kyle Snider (Kent State) W, tech fall, 16-1 (5:39)
Quarterfinals vs. #1 seed Cameron Pine (Clarion) L, major dec., 15-4
Consolation Round 2 vs. Brody Evans (Edinboro) W, major dec., 14-3
2-1
197: Cael Black
First Round vs. #1 seed Sam Mitchell (Buffalo) L, major dec., 10-0
Consolation Round 1 vs. Ryan Yarnell (SIU Edwardsville) W, dec., 10-8
Consolation Round 2 vs. #7 seed Azeem Bell (Rider) L, major dec., 8-0
1-2
285: #8 seed Ethan Miller
First Round, bye
Quarterfinals vs. #1 seed Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) L, major dec., 8-0
Consolation Round 2 vs. Donovan Sprouse (George Mason) L, dec., 5-3
0-2
