LHU Men’s Wrestling opens MAC Championship; Noto, Henson, Hogan & Hoffman advance to finals
TRENTON, N.J. (Friday, March 7) – Seeking its third team title in four years, the Lock Haven men’s wrestling team opened the 2025 Mid-American Conference Championship in style today as Anthony Noto, Wyatt Henson, Tucker Hogan and Gavin Hoffman all powered their way into tomorrow’s finals at their respective weight class.
The Bald Eagle quartet combined to go a perfect 10-0 with five decisions, three tech falls, two major decisions and one pin. The efforts of Noto, Henson, Hogan and Fegley headlined the opening day of the two-day MAC Championships, taking place on the campus of Rider University at the CURE Insurance Arena.
In total, eight Bald Eagles advance to compete on Saturday.
Noto, the top-seed at 133, went a perfect 2-0 on the day. The nation’s 16th-ranked 133-pounder opened the tournament with a bye, before securing a 21-6 (3:14) tech fall in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Noto downed the No. 4 seed Colton Camacho (Edinboro), 12-1 (major dec.) to book his spot in tomorrow’s final.
Henson, the top-seed at 141, went 3-0 with a pair of tech falls and a major decision. Nationally ranked at No. 17, Henson opened the day with a 17-1 (3:28) tech fall, before notching another tech fall in the quarterfinals, 18-2 (5:17), in the quarterfinals vs. No. 8 seed Dominic Hargrove (George Mason). Henson booked his spot in Saturday’s finals behind a 13-2 major decision over No. 4 seed Danny Martinez (SIUE).
At 197, No. 1 seed Hogan went 2-0 with a decision and major decision. Nationally ranked at No. 29, Hogan earned a hard-fought 4-2 decision over No. 8 seed Joey Lyons (Cleveland State), after opening the day with a bye. In the semifinals, Hogan downed No. 5 seed Ken State’s Blake Schaffer, 9-1.
At heavy weight, top-seed Hoffman (No. 17 nationally) went 3-0 with one pin and a pair of decisions. Hoffman opened his day with a pin (4:35) over Tyler McCatharn (Bloomsburg), before notching back-to-back decisions over No. 7 seed Brentan Simmerman (Kent State) (9-2) and No. 2 seed Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) (3-2).
Lucas Kapusta, Caden Dobbins, Avery Bassett and Colin Fegley advance to day two action as well.
No. 5 seed Kapusta (149), started the day 2-0 with two pins, before falling to the No. 1 seed Sammy Alvarez (Rider).
No. 7 seed Dobbins (165), went 2-1 on Friday with a pair of decisions. His only loss came in the quarterfinals via a 7-4 decision by No. 2 seed Evan Maag.
No. 3 seed Bassett (174) also finished Friday 2-1 with a tech fall. Bassett’s dropped a narrow, 12-11, decision to the top-seed Michael Wilson (Rider).
Fegley, the No. 2 seed at 184 Ibs. Rounds out the group of 2-1 wrestlers. Fegley’s two wins came from tech falls, with his lone defeat coming from a 6-2 decision by No. 7 seed Jared McGill (Edinboro).
Following Day 1 action, the Bald Eagles (85 points) sit second overall in the 13-team standings. Lock Haven trails Central Michigan (98) by just seven points heading into the final day.
Lock Haven entered the tournament having won two of the previous three MAC team titles.
The 2025 MAC Championship will continue tomorrow (Saturday, March 8). 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: Branden Wentzel
First Round vs. #6 seed Ben Monn (George Mason), L, dec., 1-0
Consolation Round 2 vs. #5 seed Chris Vargo (Edinboro), L fall (2:52)
0-2
133: #1 seed (No. 16 nationally) Anthony Noto
First Round vs. BYE
Quarterfinals vs. TJ England (Ohio), W, tech fall 21-6 (3:14)
Semifinals vs. #4 seed Colton Camacho (Edinboro), W, major dec. 12-1
2-0
141: #1 seed (No. 17 nationally) Wyatt Henson
First Round vs. Anthony Lucinsky (Buffalo), W, tech fall, 17-1 (3:28)
Quarterfinals vs. #8 seed Dominic Hargrove (George Mason), W, tech fall 18-2 (5:17)
Semifinals vs. #4 seed Danny Martinez (SIUE), W, major dec. 13-2
3-0
149: #5 seed Lucas Kapusta
First Round vs. Connor Saylor (Cleveland State), W, fall (4:54)
Quarterfinals vs. #4 seed Billy Meiszner (Kent State) W, fall (5:32)
Semifinals vs. #1 Sammy Alvarez (Rider), L, fall (2:39)
2-1
157: #4 seed Nick Stampoulos
First Round vs. John Altieri (Clarion), W, tech fall, 18-2 (4:05)
Quarterfinals vs. #5 seed Landen Johnson (Northern Illinois), L, dec. 10-6
Consolation Round 2 vs. Ryan Burgos (Edinboro), L, fall (1:22)
1-2
165: #7 seed Caden Dobbins
First Round vs. Brett Smith (Northern Illinois), W, dec. 6-2
Quarterfinals vs. #2 seed Evan Maag (George Mason), L, dec. 7-4
Consolation Round 2 vs. Bradley Gillum (SIUE), W, dec. 5-2
2-1
174: #3 seed (No. 30 nationally) Avery Bassett
First Round vs. Luke Odom (SIU Edwardsville), W, fall (1:48)
Quarterfinals vs. #1 seed Michael Wilson, L, dec. 12-11
Consolation Round 2 vs. Hunter Andel (Kent State), W, tech fall 15-0
2-1
184: #2 seed (No. 24 nationally) Colin Fegley
First Round vs. Kolby Flank (Bloomsburg), W, tech fall, 16-1 (5:40)
Quarterfinals vs. #7 seed Jared McGill (Edinboro), L, dec. 6-2
Consolation Round 2 vs. Holden Martin (Kent State), W, tech fall 17-2
2-1
197: #1 seed (No. 29 nationally) Tucker Hogan
First Round vs. BYE
Quarterfinals vs. #8 seed Joey Lyons (Cleveland State), W, dec, 4-2
Semifinals vs. #5 seed Blake Schaffer (Kent State), W, major dec. 9-1
2-0
285: #2 seed (No. 17 nationally) Gavin Hoffman
First Round vs. Tyler McCatharn (Bloomsburg), W, fall (4:35)
Quarterfinals vs. #7 seed Brentan Simmerman (Kent State), W, dec. 9-2
Semifinals vs. #2 seed Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State), W, dec. 3-2
3-0
