Pins power LH men’s wrestling over Bloomsburg, 40-1

LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Division I Lock Haven University men’s wrestling team (4-6, 3-1 MAC) won nine bouts, including five by bonus points, as they soared past longtime local-rival Bloomsburg University (3-9, 0-4 MAC), 40-1, Thursday night in Mid-American Conference (MAC) action.  

 

Leading the way for Lock Haven, Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton), Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/ Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)), Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) and Brad Morrison (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) all recorded pins as the Bald Eagles notched their eighth straight win over the Huskies.  

 

In the night’s opening bout, No. 6 Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)) set the pace with a takedown in the opening 20 seconds and went to work piling up the takedowns. Leading 9-2 after two periods, Noto pushed for the major decision and grabbed the 15-4 victory.  

 

After allowing an early takedown, Strickland flexed his muscles to secure the night’s opening pin. The No. 33-ranked 133-pounder executed a slick reversal to start the second period and was in perfect position to notch the fall on Bloomsburg’s Michael Cassidy at the 3:45 mark.  

 

Trailing 10-0 after just two bouts, the Huskies grabbed their lone win of the night at 141 pounds. After a team deduction, LHU led 10-2.  

 

At 149 pounds, Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford High School) got locked into a war with Bloomsburg’s Cade Balestrini. Tied at 3-3, Stonecheck rode out the entire second period, which proved decisive, as the sophomore edged out the 6-5 decision thanks to the riding time point.  

 

Eyler notched the second pin of the night for LHU at 157 pounds when he jumped all over John Reho in the first period. Eyler secured an early takedown and muscled his way into position for the fall at the 2:31 mark, The Haven’s fastest pin of the night.  

 

At 165, Billy Talmadge (Branchville, N.J./High Point) was impressive for The Haven. The redshirt sophomore, normally a 149-pounder for head coach Scott Moore, jumped to 165 and powered his way through a late takedown to secure a 4-1 win to put LHU ahead 22-1 after the Huskies were again deducted a team point.  

 

Stoltzfus kept the party going at 174 pounds and made quick work of Anthony DeRosa. The Bald Eagle’s sophomore worked his way into an early takedown and cranked DeRosa before showing him the lights at 2:37.  

 

LHU led 28-1 headed into the final three bouts.  

 

Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) gave up an early takedown at 184, but battled back and led 4-2 heading into the final period. In the third, Fegley imposed his will and glued Bruno Stolfi to the mat for the final two minutes and notched the 5-2 win.  

 

In the comeback of the night, Morrison fell behind 8-0 quickly in the opening period. The freshman battled back to 10-5 in the second period, before catching Tanner Culver in a smooth reversal and capitalizing for the immediate pin to the delight of the Thomas Fieldhouse crowd.  

 

Isaac Reid (Saltsburg, Pa./Kiski) closed out the night in clinical fashion for the Bald Eagles. Reid set the tone from the opening and had secured a takedown just seconds into the match. The redshirt sophomore went on to rack up over four minutes of riding time and four pins as he cruised his way to a 10-5 decision to cap an incredible 40-1 victory for The Haven.  

 

On the night, the high-flying Bald Eagles locked in four pins, one major decision and nine individual wins as the reigning MAC champions put on a show and remain an undefeated 3-0 on their home mat.  

 

For Lock Haven, the busy stretch continues Friday at 7 p.m. when the Bald Eagles host Navy in non-conference dual action. That match is Military Appreciation Night in Mat-Town U.S.A. and all active or former service members receive free admission.  

 

Bout-by-Bout Results:  

125: #6 Anthony Noto (LHU) major dec. Bronson Garber (BU) / 15-4 / LHU 4-0  

133: #33 Gable Strickland (LHU) pinned Michael Cassidy (BU) / (3:45) / LHU 10-0  

141: Josh Mason (BU) dec. Ty Linsenbigler (LHU) / 8-3 / LHU 10-3  

149: Nick Stonecheck (LHU) dec. Cade Balestrini (BU) / 6-5 / LHU 13-2  

157: Ashton Eyler (LHU) pinned John Reho (BU) / (2:31) / LHU 19-2  

165:  Billy Talmadge (LHU) dec. Trenton Harder (BU) / 4-1 / LHU 22-1  

174: Tyler Stoltzfus (LHU) pinned Anthony DeRosa (BU) / (2:37) / LHU 28-1  

184: Colin Fegley (LHU) dec. Bruno Stolfi (BU) / 5-2 / LHU 31-1  

197: Brad Morrison (LHU) pinned Tanner Culver (BU) / (3:29) / LHU 37-1  

285: Isaac Reid (LHU) dec. Shane Noonan (BU) / 10-5 / LHU 40-1  

Final Team Score: Lock Haven 40 Bloomsburg 1  

 

Attendance: 717  

 

Notes:  

149: Bloomsburg deducted one team point for control of the mat  

165: Bloomsburg deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike