Trio of Bald Eagles advance at 2025 Men’s Wrestling National Championship
PHILADELPHIA – Three members of the Lock Haven men’s wrestling team advanced to day two of the NCAA DI Men’s Wrestling Championship following the completion of the first two sessions on Thursday, inside the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Anthony Noto (133), Wyatt Henson (141) and Gavin Hoffman (285) all finished day one 1-1 with a pair of major decisions and will compete in the consolation second round during session three of the NCAA Championship on Friday morning.
During session one, Hoffman and Henson rolled to victories in their opening round matches at 285 and 141 pounds with a pair of major decisions. The duo earned the Bald Eagles four team points and The Haven finished the morning session in 22nd out of 53 schools.
No. 16 Henson took down No. 17 Shannon Hanna (Campbell) 9-1, while Hoffman made quick work of No. 19 Cory Day (Binghamton), winning 10-2.
Henson’s lone defeat on the day came at the hands of the No. 1 seed Broke Hardy (Nebraska). Henson will wrestle in the second round of the consolation bracket tomorrow morning against the 15th seed Joseph Olivieri from Rutgers.
Hoffman, seeded 14th at heavyweight, was edged out in the second round by the third seed Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) and will continue his journey tomorrow morning when he takes on Cornell’s No. 29 Ashton Davis in the consolation second round.
The No. 16 seed at 133 pounds, Noto, was edged 9-8 in his opening match by No. 18 Julian Farber (Northern Iowa), but quickly bounced back in the consolation opening round by defeating No. 31 Kade Moore (Missouri) with an 8-2 decision.
Noto, a returning two-time All-American, will take on Pennsylvania’s 16th-seeded Ryan Miller in the consolation second round tomorrow morning.
Avery Bassett (30th, 174) fell in his opening match to No. 3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State), before fending off elimination in the consolation pig tail by defeating No. 32 Jack McGill (Columbia) by a 4-3 decision.
Bassett’s run came to an end in the consolation first round with a loss to No. 19 Jared Simma (Northern Iowa). The senior ends the season with an impressive 27-10 record and his first NCAA Championship appearance.
Colin Fegley (184) and Tucker Hogan (197) rounded out the group of six Bald Eagles to compete on the national stage today and were seeded 30th at 184 pounds and 29th at 197 pounds, respectively. The duo bowed out of the tournament following session-two’s action.
Fegley went 22-12 as a red-shirt senior and earned his first NCAA Championship appearance.
Hogan qualified to the championship as only a freshman after going 22-6 during his first collegiate season.
The six Lock Haven men’s wrestlers that took the mat today are the most The Haven has sent to the National Championship since also sending six in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019.
Today marked the first of three days of competition at the 2025 NCAA DI Championship and action will continue tomorrow (Fri., March 21) with Session 3 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Session 3 on Friday is set for 12 p.m. and will air live on ESPNU.
Lock Haven Results
133: #15 Anthony Noto
First Round vs. #18 Julian Farber (Northern Iowa) – L, dec., 9-8
Consolation First Round vs. #31 Kade Moore (Missouri) – W, dec., 8-2
Day 1 Record: 1-1
Next up: Consolation Second Round vs. # Ryan Miller (Pennsylvania)
141: #16 Wyatt Henson
First Round vs. #17 Shannon Hanna (Campbell) – W, major dec., 9-1
Second Round vs. #1 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) – L, tech fall, 19-3 (6:17)
Day 1 Record: 1-1
Next up: Consolation Second Round vs. Joseph Oliveri (Rutgers)
174: #30 Avery Bassett
First Round vs. #3 Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) – L, tech fall, 18-1 (5:09)
Consolation Pig Tail vs. #32 Jack McGill (Columbia) – W, dec., 4-3
Consolation First Round vs. #19 Jared Simma (Northern Iowa) – L, major dec., 11-0
Day 1 Record: 1-2
184: #30 Colin Fegley
First Round vs. #3 Max McEnelly (Minnesota) – L, tech fall, 19-4 (3:52)
Consolation Pig Tail vs. TJ McDonnell – L, tech fall, 19-4 (5:27)
Day 1 Record: 0-2
197: #29 Tucker Hogan
First Round vs. #4 Josh Barr (Penn State) – L, major dec., 9-1
Consolation First Round vs. #20 Camden McDanel (Nebraska) – L, major dec.,13-2
Day 1 Record: 0-2
285: #14 Gavin Hoffman
First Round vs. #19 Cory Day (Binghamton) – W, major dec., 10-2
Second Round vs. #3 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) – L, dec., 4-0
Day 1 Record: 1-1
Next up: Consolation Second Round vs. #29- Ashton Davis (Cornell)
# = NCAA Tournament Seed
