Noto powers way to NCAA Quarterfinals; Strickland wins in Consolation Round
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second consecutive year, Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) has punched his ticket to the NCAA quarterfinals as his perfect 2-0 day highlighted the No. 24 Lock Haven men’s wrestling team’s opening day of action at the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship.
Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) picked up a win in the consolation round tonight and advanced to Day 2 action tomorrow.
Tonight (Thurs., March 21), in championship second-round action, Noto, the No. 12 seed at 125 pounds, picked up a dominating 9-2 victory over No. 28 Diego Sotelo of Harvard. The win capped a perfect 2-0 day for the Bald Eagle and pushed Noto into the national quarterfinals tomorrow (Fri.).
For Noto, a returning All-American, it will mark his second straight NCAA DI quarterfinal appearance.
Noto’s victory over Sotelo also avenged a loss from earlier in the season. Noto entered the national tournament with just two losses, and one came at the hands of Sotelo during a dual on January 11.
During session one earlier today, Noto downed No. 21 Brandon Kaylor of Oregon State, 5-3.
With the two wins today, Noto improved to 19-2 on the season and he’s now 84-9 for his career. Noto, who was fourth at the NCAA Championship a year ago, is now 8-4 in three national tournament appearances.
After dropping his opening bout of the tournament, Strickland pushed his way to Day 2 after winning his 133-pound consolation first-round bout tonight. He did it in thrilling fashion as he upset No. 11 Zeth Romney (Cal Poly), 2-1, in sudden victory. Strickland, the No. 27 seed, is making this second straight NCAA tournament appearance, and the win tonight marked his first ever at the national tournament.
Strickland opened today’s action earlier today with a loss to No. 6 seed and returning national champion Vito Arugua of Cornell.
For the season, Strickland is 33-12 (81-40 career).
Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) was the third Bald Eagle in action today. Henson, the No. 12 seed at 141, opened the day with a session-one loss to No. 21 Josh Edmond of Missouri. Tonight, Henson was edged out by No. 29 Greyson Clark of Purdue, 10-9. After the 0-2 day, Henson bowed out of the 2024 NCAA tournament.
Henson’s second straight NCAA championship appearance highlighted a remarkable season that saw the Bald Eagle finish 35-4 with 19 tech falls. The 19 tech falls this season set a new single-season school record.
Today marked the first of three days of competition at the 2024 NCAA DI Championship and action will continue tomorrow (Fri., March 22) with Session 3 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Noto is set to meet No. 4 Matt Ramos of Purdue in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Strickland will take on No. 21 Ethan Oakley of Appalachian State in the consolation second round action.
Session 3 on Friday is set for 12 p.m. EST (11 a.m. CDT) and will air live on ESPNU.
Lock Haven Results
125: #12 Anthony Noto
First Round vs. #21 Brandon Kaylor (Oregon State) – W, dec., 5-3
Second Round vs. #28 Diego Sotelo (Harvard) – W, dec., 9-2
Day 1, 2-0
Season Record: 19-2 | Career Record: 84-9
133: #27 Gable Strickland
First Round vs. #6 Vito Arujau (Cornell1 – L, major dec., 17-4
Consolation First Round vs. #11 Zeth Romney (Cal Poly) – W, dec. 2-1 (SV)
Day 1, 1-1
Season Record: 33-12 | Career Record: 81-40
141: #12 Wyatt Henson
First Round vs. #21 Josh Edmond (Missouri) – L, dec., 4-1 (SV)
Consolation First Round vs. # 29 Greyson Clark (Purdue) – L, dec. 10-9
Day 1, 0-2
Season Record: 35-4 | Career Record: 54-18
# = NCAA Tournament Seed
