LHU’s Noto advances to NCAA Quarterfinals

TULSA, Okla. – Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) went a perfect 2-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals to highlight the opening day of the 2022-23 NCAA Division I Championships for the Lock Haven University men’s wrestling team.

In Thursday night’s Session 2 action, Noto – the No. 8 seed at 125 pounds – used a late takedown to edge out No. 9 seed Eric Barnett of Wisconsin, 5-4. Noto and Barnett were scoreless after one period, but the Badger led 3-1 after two. Noto tied the bout at 3-3 with a third-period reversal, but Barnett countered with an escape, and led 4-3. As the exciting Round 2 bout advanced to the final seconds, Noto scored a thrilling late takedown to seal the victory.

With the win, Noto improved to 2-0 on the day and at the tournament. Noto will meet No. 1 seed Spencer Lee of Iowa Friday in the quarterfinals.

Noto opened the championships with 5-2 win over No. 25 seed Joe Prata of Oklahoma.

The 2-0 mark pushed Noto’s win streak to 20 straight, a run that dates back to Dec. 19. Noto, now a two-time NCAA qualifier is now 3-2 lifetime at the national tournament and he’s 31-2 this season.

Noto was one of four Bald Eagles in action.

The trio of Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton), Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/ Claymont High), and Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) represented The Haven but each went 0-2, and bowed out of the NCAA tournament after Day 1.

Strickland, the No. 28 seed at 133, made his NCAA tournament debut today. He went 0-2 in his first national championship after falling to the No. 5 seed in the First Round and the No. 12 seed in Consolation Round 1 action tonight.

Eyler, the No. 31 seed at 157, dropped both of his bouts today which ended his run at the NCAA tournament. The Bald Eagle ended his remarkable two-year Haven career as a two-time NCAA qualifier. In today’s First Round opener, Eyler dropped a hard-fought bout to the top-seed and he was edged out tonight in a tight decision in Consolation Round 1 action.

Making his NCAA championship debut at 174 pounds, Stoltzfus went 0-2 and wrapped up his tournament run. The No. 31 seed opened the tournament with a tremendous effort vs. the No. 2 seed, but was edged out, and the Bald Eagle fell in the Consolation Round tonight.

The 2022-23 NCAA Division I National Championships, got underway today (Thursday) and run through Saturday, March 18 at the BOK Center in Tulsa Oklahoma. Session 3 at the NCAA Tournament, which includes the quarterfinal round, is set for a 12 p.m. EST start tomorrow (Friday) and will be televised live on ESPNU. Full championship schedule details and live coverage options are available at GoLHU.com.

Lock Haven Bout-by-Bout Results

125: Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima), Redshirt-Sophomore, No. 8 seed
First Round vs. #25 Joey Prata (Oklahoma), W dec. 5-2
Second Round vs. #9 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), W, dec. 5-4
-2023 NCAA Tournament Record: 2-0 // Career NCAA Tournament Record: 3-2
-2023 Season Record: 31-2 // Career Record: 62-5

133: Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton), Sophomore, No. 28 seed
First Round vs. #5 Kai Orine (North Carolina State), L pin (4:05)
Consolation Round 1 vs. #12 Chris Cannon (Northwestern), L major dec. 12-0
-2023 NCAA Tournament Record: 0-2 // Career NCAA Tournament Record: 0-2, debut in 2023
-2023 Season Record: 31-11 // Career Record: 48-28

157: Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/ Claymont High), Redshirt-Senior, No. 31 seed
First Round vs. #2 Levi Haines (Penn State) L, dec. 10-3
Consolation Round 1 vs. #18 Derek Gilcher (Indiana) L, dec. 6-3
-2023 NCAA Tournament Record: 0-2 // Career NCAA Tournament Record: 0-4
-2023 Season Record: 29-15 // Career Record: 61-25

174: Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy), Sophomore, No. 31 seed
First Round vs. #2 Mikey Labriola (Nebraska) L, dec. 9-6
Consolation Round 1 vs. #18 Tate Picklo (Oklahoma) L, major dec. 11-3
-2023 NCAA Tournament Record: 0-2 // Career NCAA Tournament Record: 0-2, debut in 2023
-2023 Season Record: 32-14 // Career Record: 55-28

*# = NCAA Tournament Seed