Anthony Noto locks up All-American honors on Day 2 of NCAA Championship
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second consecutive year, Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) locked up All-American honors as he turned in another brilliant effort today for the 24th-ranked Lock Haven men’s wrestling team at the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship.
Earlier today (Friday, March 22) during Session 4 action, Noto won his quarterfinal match, which helped him clinch All-American status and powered him into tonight’s semifinals.
Noto became Lock Haven’s first two-time All-American since Chance Marsteller claimed All-American honors in 2018 and 2019. Noto also became the Bald Eagles’ first national semifinalist since assistant coach Ronnie Perry made a Cinderella-run to the 149-pound finals in 2018.
It’s the 45th Division I All-American honor in school history.
Despite a brilliant effort, Noto fell to No. 8 Richard Figueroa of Arizona State in the semifinals. Noto, the No. 12 seed, pushed the paced for the entire third period and did all he could to score off several exciting scrambles, but in the end, the Bald Eagle was edged out, 4-3.
Meeting for the first time, Noto and Figueroa were scoreless after the first period. Noto trailed 3-2 after the second with a Figueroa takedown the difference. In the third, Figueroa took a 4-2 lead on an early escape, but Noto cut the lead to one at 4-3, thanks to a stall point after his relentless pressure started to pay off, but in the end, the Sun Devil held on for the win.
The loss pushes Noto into tomorrow’s (Saturday, March 23) consolation round. Already an All-American, Noto has also locked up a top six finish and he can still finish as high as third.
Noto will meet No. 15 seed Caleb Smith of Nebraska in the consolation semifinals. The winner will advance to the third-place bout and the loser will move to the fifth-place match.
Noto downed No. 4 seed Matt Ramos of Purdue in sudden victory in this morning’s quarterfinal round (Day 2/Session 3) and with the win, he booked a spot in the national semifinals tonight. With the quarterfinal victory, Noto also secured All-American status for the second straight year. It marked Noto’s second straight NCAA quarterfinal appearance.
Yesterday (Thursday, March 21) on Day 1 of the championship, Noto went a perfect 2-0 to book his spot in today’s quarterfinals.
In championship second-round action, Noto picked up a dominating 9-2 victory over No. 28 Diego Sotelo of Harvard. Noto opened the tournament Thursday with a first-round win over Brandon Kaylor of Oregon State.
Noto went 1-1 today (Friday) and he’s now 3-1 over the last two days. The 3-1 mark pushes Noto to 20-3 on the season and 85-10 in his Lock Haven career. Now a three-time NCAA qualifier, Noto is 9-5 lifetime at the national tournament.
Tomorrow (Saturday, March 23) marks the third and final day of the 2024 NCAA DI Men’s Wrestling Championship. Session 5, which includes the consolation semifinals as well as the placement matches for third, fifth and seventh, is set for 12 p.m. EST (11 a.m. CDT). Session 5 will air live on ESPNU.
Lock Haven Results (Day 2)
125: #12 Anthony Noto
First Round vs. #21 Brandon Kaylor (Oregon State) – W, dec., 5-3
Second Round vs. #28 Diego Sotelo (Harvard) – W, dec., 9-2
Quarterfinals vs. #4 Matt Ramos (Purdue) – W, dec., 4-1 (SV)
Semifinals vs. #8 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) – L, dec., 4-3
– 3-1 at 2024 NCAA Tournament
– Clinched All-American status
Season Record: 20-3 | Career Record: 85-10
# = NCAA Tournament Seed
*Full Session 1, 2, & 3 Recaps are available at GoLHU.com.
