Lock Haven wrestling tabbed as Mid-American Conference preseason No. 1
CLEVELAND – The nationally-ranked Division I Lock Haven men’s wrestling team is set to open the 2023-24 season this Sunday at the Princeton Open and the Bald Eagles looked primed for big things on the mats.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC) this week released the preseason rankings and the Bald Eagles have been tabbed as the favorite, as they look to three-peat.
All 10 of Lock Haven’s projected starters are also ranked among the top-eight in the MAC’s preseason individual rankings.
Seven Bald Eagles find themselves ranked among the top-three at their respective weight class including top-ranked Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima), Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) and Avery Bassett (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West).
Noto, a returning All-American and last season’s Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Year, is ranked No. 1 at 125 pounds. Strickland and Bassett are ranked No. 1 at 133 and 165, respectively.
Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) will enter the season ranked No. 2 at 184.
Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg), Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) and Isaac Reid (Saltsburg, Pa./Kiski) are all ranked No. 3.
Henson is ranked No. 3 at 141. Henson, a transfer, was national qualifier last season while competing at Oklahoma.
Stoltzfus is ranked No. 3 at 174 and Reid is ranked No. 3 at 285.
Along with Noto, both Strickland and Stoltzfus were NCAA Division I national qualifiers a year ago for The Haven.
The Bald Eagles will officially open the 2023-24 season Sunday at the Princeton Open. Live coverage links for the tournament are available at GoLHU.com and more information regarding the start of the season will be posted at GoLHU.com in the coming days.
2023-24 MAC Conference Pre-Season Rankings
Projected Team Scores / Finishers –
1. Lock Haven, 126.5
2. Central Michigan, 119
3. Cleveland State, 86.5
4. Rider, 82.5
5. Ohio, 81
6. Clarion, 73.5
7. George Mason, 70.5
8. Northern Illinois, 54
9. SIUE, 47
10. Buffalo, 42
11. Kent State, 32
12. Edinboro, 32
13. Bloomsburg, 28.5
Lock Haven’s Preseason MAC Rankings
125: Anthony Noto, No. 1
133: Gable Strickland, No. 1
141: Wyatt Henson, No. 3
149: Nick Stonecheck, No. 8
157: Connor Eck, No. 6
165: Avery Bassett, No. 1
174: Tyler Stoltzfus, No. 3
184: Colin Fegley, No. 2
197: Brad Morrison, No. 8
285: Isaac Reid, No. 3
