LHU Men’s Wrestling opens NCAA Championship; Noto posts First-Round victory
KANSAS CITY, MO – The No. 24 Lock Haven men’s wrestling team opened the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship today (Thurs., March 21), and it was returning All-American Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima), who led the way for the Bald Eagles in Session 1.
Noto was one of three Bald Eagles to compete today as both Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) and Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) joined him on the mats on Day 1 of three at the national championship.
Noto, the No. 12 seed at 125 pounds, opened the tournament with a hard-fought win over No. 21 Brandon Kaylor of Oregon State. Behind a first-period takedown, Noto led 3-0 after one period and he stretched the lead to 5-3 after two. Despite both wrestlers pushing the action at times in the third period, the bout ended with Noto winning – 5-3.
Noto was fourth at the NCAA Championship last season and he improved to 18-2 on the season with the first-round victory.
Strickland, seeded No. 27, fell to No. 6 Vito Arugua of Cornell by major decision (17-4) in the first round at 133 pounds. Arugua is the defending national champion.
Henson, the No. 12 seed at 141 pounds, fell to No 21 Josh Edmond of Missouri, 4-1, in sudden victory.
In tonight’s championship second round, Noto will square off with No. 28 Diego Sotelo of Harvard.
Tonight, Strickland will take on No. 11 Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) in consolation first round action, and Henson will meet No. 29 Greyson Clark of Purdue.
Today (Thursday) is the first of three days of competition at the 2024 NCAA Championship as the national tournament is scheduled for March 21-23 (Thurs. – Sat.) at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Session 2 at the 2024 NCAA DI Championship will start tonight at 7 p.m. EST (6 p.m. CDT) and will air live on ESPN.
Lock Haven Results
125: #12 Anthony Noto
First Round vs. #21 Brandon Kaylor (Oregon State) – W, dec., 5-3
Season Record: 18-2 | Career Record: 83-9
133: #27 Gable Strickland
First Round vs. #6 Vito Arujau (Cornell) – L, major dec., 17-4
Season Record: 32-12 | Career Record: 80-40
141: #12 Wyatt Henson
First Round vs. #21 Josh Edmond (Missouri) – L, dec., 4-1 (SV)
Season Record: 35-3 | Career Record: 54-17
