LHU’s Noto earns fourth at NCAA Championships

TULSA, Okla. – Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) closed his remarkable run at the 2022-23 NCAA Division I National Championships with a Saturday fourth-place showing as the All-American’s brilliant three-day run highlighted the Lock Haven University men wrestling team’s showing on the sport’s biggest stage.

Noto, already an All-American after Friday night’s heroics in the blood round, opened Saturday with a thrilling win in sudden-victory. In the consolation semifinals, Noto used a sudden-victory takedown to knock off No. 3 seed Liam Cronin of Nebraska, 3-1. Cronin was the Big Ten runner-up at 125 pounds this season. Noto and Cronin were tied 0-0 after one, and Noto’s second-period escape had the Bald Eagle up 1-0 heading into the third. Cronin tied the match at 1-1 with a quick escape in the third.

In the third-place bout, Noto faced No. 10 seed Brandon Courtney of Arizona State, the 2021 national finalist. Again, the match went to sudden victory as the two were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. In sudden victory, Courtney scored the match-deciding takedown. With the loss, Noto – the No. 8 seed at 125 pounds – finished fourth overall

Noto clinched All-American status Friday night with a 2-0 effort in the blood round.

In earning All-American status, Noto became the 44th NCAA Division I All-American for the Bald Eagles, and the first since 2019 when both Chance Marsteller and Kyle Shoop soared to All-American honors on the mats.

In Consolation Round 4 action, Noto secured All-American honors with a 3-1 victory over No. 13 seed Dean Peterson of Rutgers. Noto scored a takedown as time expired in the first period and added a quick escape in the second to advance in the consolation round, and secure his status as a 2023 Division I All-American.

After locking up All-American accolades, Noto returned to the mats Friday in Consolation Round 5/Quarterfinal action and he rolled to another impressive victory. Noto capped a 2-1 day with a dominating 8-3 win over No. 28 Killian Cardinale (West Virginia). After a scoreless first period, Cardinale took a 1-0 lead on an early second-period escape, but Noto quickly went up 2-1 on a takedown. The Bald Eagle led 2-1 after two, and Noto pulled away in the third with two more takedowns which stretched the difference to 8-3.

Noto opened Friday’s action in the morning quarterfinals where he fell to top-seed Spencer Lee of Iowa.

Lee, a three-time NCAA champion won by major decision despite a strong effort from the Bald Eagle, which included a sensational second period. Noto was the first this tournament to force Lee to wrestle an entire match. Lee led Noto, 10-0 after the first period today, but starting on top in the second – Noto quickly turned Lee, and the Bald Eagle recorded four near-fall points. After the second period, which was highlighted by Noto’s tough ride, Lee led 11-4, before pulling away late for the major.

Back on Thursday – Day 1 of the three-day NCAA Championships – Noto went a perfect 2-0 to earn his spot in Friday’s 125-pound quarterfinals.

Noto opened the championships on Day 1 with a 5-2 First Round win over No. 25 seed Joe Prata of Oklahoma. Thursday in Round 2, Noto used a late takedown to edge out No. 9 seed Eric Barnett of Wisconsin, 5-4.

Noto entered the quarterfinal bout on Friday morning riding a 20-match win streak and the quarterfinal loss to Lee was his first since Dec. 19, 2022.

Noto finished his run to fourth-place and All-American status with a 5-2 record at the 2023 NCAA Championships. This was his second straight appearance at the NCAA Tournament, and he’s now 6-4 lifetime at the national championships.

The Bald Eagle finished the season with a sensational 34-4 record and Noto is now 65-7 in this remarkable two-year LHU career.

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
Quarterfinals vs. #1 Spencer Lee (Iowa), L, major dec. 14-4
Consolation Round 4 vs. #13 Dean Peterson (Rutgers) W, dec. 3-1
Consolation Round 5/Quarterfinals vs. #28 Killian Cardinale (West Virginia) W, dec. 8-3
Consolation Semifinals vs. #3 Liam Cronin (Nebraska) W, dec. 3-1 SV
Third-Place Match vs. #10 Brandon Courtney (Arizona State) L, dec. 4-2 SV
-2023 NCAA Tournament Record: 5-2 // Career NCAA Tournament Record: 6-4
-2023 Season Record: 34-4 // Career Record: 65-7