LHU’s Noto leads Bald Eagle to split day at Virginia Duals

HAMPTON, VA – The Lock Haven University men’s wrestling team (4-5) dropped a dual with the No. 18 University of Oklahoma, 24-15, before picking up a 28-20 dual win over the University of Virginia on Friday afternoon in the 41st annual Virginia Duals at the Hampton Coliseum.

Dual 1: L, 24-15

In a matchup with the No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners, No. 27 Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)) got the Bald Eagles off to a strong start at 125 with an 8-3 decision over the Sooners 23rd-ranked Joey Prata. A decisive second period saw Noto take a 7-2 lead, which he would ride out in the third period for the impressive win.

Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) kept the Bald Eagles early momentum going with a second-period fall over Caleb Tanner. Despite trailing 2-0 early, the freshman bounced back and secured a huge pin to move the LHU lead to 9-0.

After dropping a trio of matches to the Sooners, Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)) got Lock Haven back on track and continued his hot form with a decision victory over the 28th-ranked 165-pounder Joe Grello. After a scoreless opening period, Eyler rode Grello the entire second period and secured four near-fall points late to take a 4-0 lead into the third. Eyler escaped early in the third and brought home a 5-3 win to put LHU back in front 12-11.

Oklahoma built up a 24-12 lead over the next three matches before Isaac Reid (Saltsburg, Pa./Kiski) picked up an impressive win. After a tense opening four minutes and trailing 1-0, the Bald Eagle 285-pounder muscled his way into a takedown late in the second period. An escape early in the third period and secured Reid a 3-1 victory over the 27th-ranked Josh Heindselman. Reid’s victory notched the third Bald Eagle to score a win over a ranked opponent, but it was not enough as LHU fell by a score of 24-15 to No. 18 Oklahoma.

Bout-by-bout Results:
125: #27 Anthony Noto (LHU) dec. #23 Joey Prata (OU) / 8-3 / LHU 3-0
133: Gable Strickland (LHU) pinned Caleb Tanner (OU) / 3:45 / LHU 9-0
141: Jacob Butler (OU) major dec. Tyler Dilley (LHU) / 14-4 / LHU 9-4
149: Dom Demas (OU) major dec. Connor Eck (LHU) / 14-5 / LHU 9-8
157: #16 Justin Thomas (OU) dec. Ben Barton (LHU) / 4-1 / OU 11-9
165: Ashton Eyler (LHU) dec. #28 Joe Grello (OU) / 5-3 / LHU 12-11
174: Anthony Mantanona (OU) pinned Tyler Stoltzfus (LHU) / 4:02 / OU 17-12
184: #21 Darrien Roberts (OU) dec. Colin Fegley (LHU) / 3-1 / OU 20-12
197: #11 Jake Woodley (OU) major dec. Parker McClellan (LHU) / 9-0 / OU 24-12
285: #33 Isaac Reid (LHU) dec. #27 Josh Heindselman (OU) / 3-1 / OU 24-15
Final Team Score: OU 24 LHU 15

Dual 2: W, 28-20

LHU ended the day picking up a win over the University of Virginia. Noto got the Bald Eagles rolling again, this time with a dominating 18-5 major decision. Noto improved to 2-0 on the day and 19-1 on the year and gave the Bald Eagles the 4-0 lead.

The Bald Eagles benefitted from a forfeit at 149 and LHU took a 10-3 lead. Following a Cavalier win at 157, a pair of Virginia forfeits at 165 and 174 gave the Bald Eagles a 22-10 lead. Virginia scored bonus points at 184 and 197, but once more forfeited at 285 and the Bald Eagles came away with the 28-20 dual victory.

Bout-by-Bout Results:
125: #27 Anthony Noto (LHU) major dec. Patrick McCormick (UVA) / 18-5 / LHU 4-0
133: #14 Brian Courtney (UVA) dec. Gable Strickland (LHU) / 5-0 / LHU 4-3
141: Tyler Dilley (LHU) win on UVA forfeit / LHU 10-3
149: Jarod Verkleeren (UVA) major dec. DaShawn Farber (LHU) / 14-5 / LHU 10-7
157: Jake Keating (UVA) dec. Ben Barton (Lock Haven University) / 10-6 / LHU 10-10
165: Ashton Eyler (LHU) win on UVA forfeit / LHU 16-10
174: Tyler Stoltzfus (LHU) win on UVA forfeit / LHU 22-10
184: Michael Battista (UVA) major dec. Colin Fegley (LHU) / 19-6 / LHU 22-14
197: #14 Jay Aiello (UVA) pinned Parker McClellan (LHU) / 2:22 / LHU 22-20
285: #33 Isaac Reid (LHU) win on UVA forfeit / LHU 28-20
Final Team Score: LHU 28 UVA 20

The Road Ahead:
LHU returns home to host Mid-American Conference (MAC) foes George Mason on Friday (Jan. 21) and Clarion on Saturday (Jan. 22). Both duals are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.