Noto’s Crown leads LH men’s wrestling at David Lehman F&M Open
LANCASTER, Pa. – On a long and jam-packed day of wrestling, the Lock Haven men’s wrestling team opened 2023 with a strong showing at the 2023 David Lehman F&M Open hosted by Franklin & Marshall on Friday in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In a crowded field of over 500 wrestlers, the Bald Eagles stood out with six total place winners. The Haven also crowned Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)) champion at 125 pounds.
As a team the Bald Eagles made a run at the overall title but placed third with 143.5 points behind only North Carolina and Princeton. It marks The Haven’s best result at the open since its first appearance in 2017.
Noto cruised to the title, racking up a 5-0 record behind one pin, one tech fall and one major decision. In the championship bout, the redshirt sophomore picked up a 6-2 victory over North Carolina’s 33rd-ranked Jack Wagner.
At 157 pounds, Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/ Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)) came up just short in the finals against No. 4 Austin O’Connor of North Carolina. Eyler power his way to second place with a 4-1 record, including one pin and a major decision.
Avery Bassett (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West (George Mason)), Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford High School) and Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) each grabbed fourth place finishes.
Fegley was 4-2 at 184, Bassett went 4-1 at 165 before a medical forfeit ended his day, and Stonecheck capped a 5-2 day dropping a decision in the third-place bout at 149.
Wrapping up the place winners for the Bald Eagles was Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) who grabbed fifth place at 174 pounds.
The Bald Eagles open up the Mid-American Conference (MAC) schedule on Friday, Jan. 20 with a home showdown against Cleveland State. That dual is set to get underway at 7 p.m.
