Bald Eagles see four wrestlers ranked in the first NCAA coaches’ rankings of 2022

RecordStaffJanuary 24, 2022Last Updated: January 24, 2022

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Photo courtesy Lock Haven University athletics

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has released its first coaches’ rankings for the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and the Lock Haven University wrestling team saw four of its wrestlers ranked in the top-33 at their respective weight classes.

The four ranked wrestlers for Lock Haven are locked into a tie with Central Michigan and Clarion as joint-most from the Mid-American Conference.

Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)) comes in at No. 21 in the 125-pound weight class. Noto is 23-1 on the season and has now won 20 consecutive bouts. The Bald Eagles redshirt-freshman is also the highest ranked wrestler from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at 125.

Next up for LHU is Ben Barton (Louisville, Ky./Trinity (Campbell)), who is ranked No. 31 at 157-pounds. The redshirt-senior is 15-7 on the year and his major decision over Clarion’s Chanz Shearer on Saturday night was crucial to the Bald Eagles victory.

At 165-pounds, The Haven saw Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)) jump to No. 24. Eyler is 22-8 on the season and riding a 12-match win streak, and is the highest-ranked MAC wrestler. Eyler secured a ranked win over No. 33 Cam Pine of Clarion on Saturday in his most recent bout.

Isaac Reid (Saltsburg, Pa./Kiski) rounds out the quartet of Bald Eagles and is ranked No. 26 at 285-pounds. Reid is 11-1 on the year after his electric major decision over Clarion’s Ty Bagoly on Saturday night gave Lock Haven the 17-16 win over the longtime rival.

The coaches ranking is one of several criteria that will be evaluated by the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee during the at-large selection and seeding process along with head-to-head competition, quality wins, Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), conference tournament placement, results versus common opponents and win percentage.

A full description of the entire selection process for the 2022 Division I Wrestling Championships is available at ncaa.org. https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/10/23/division-i-wrestling.aspx

The 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships take place March 17-19 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit as the event returns to Michigan for the first time since being held in Auburn Hills, Michigan, in 2007.