Anthony Noto advanced to tomorrow's quarterfinals as his perfect 2-0 day highlighted day one of the NCAA Championships for the LHU men's wrestling team.
TULSA, Okla. - Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) went a perfect 2-0 and advanced to the quarterfinals to highlight the opening day of the 2022-23 NCAA Division I Championships for the Lock Haven University men's wrestling team.
Tonight, in Session 2 action, Noto ? the No. 8 seed at 125 pounds ? used a late takedown to edge out No. 9 seed Eric Barnett of Wisconsin, 5-4. Noto and Barnett were scoreless after one period, but the Badger led 3-1 after two. Noto tied the bout at 3-3 with a third-period reversal, but Barnett countered with an escape, and led 4-3. As the exciting Round 2 bout advanced to the final seconds, Noto scored a thrilling late takedown to seal the victory.
With the win, Noto improved to 2-0 on the day and at the tournament. Noto will meet No. 1 seed Spencer Lee of Iowa tomorrow (Fri.) morning in the quarterfinals.
Noto opened the championships with 5-2 win earlier today in Session 1. In the First Round earlier today, Noto picked up a 5-2 win over No. 25 seed Joe Prata of Oklahoma.
Today's 2-0 mark pushed Noto's win streak to 20 straight, a run that dates back to Dec. 19. Noto, now a two-time NCAA qualifier is now 3-2 lifetime at the national tournament and he's 31-2 this season.
Noto was one of four Bald Eagles in action today.
The trio of Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton), Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/ Claymont High), and Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph's Academy) represented The Haven today, but each went 0-2, and bowed out of the NCAA tournament after Day 1.
Strickland, the No. 28 seed at 133, made his NCAA tournament debut today. He went 0-2 in his first national championship after falling to the No. 5 seed in the First Round and the No. 12 seed in Consolation Round 1 action tonight.
Eyler, the No. 31 seed at 157, dropped both of his bouts today which ended his run at the NCAA tournament. The Bald Eagle ended his remarkable two-year Haven career as a two-time NCAA qualifier. In today's First Round opener, Eyler dropped a hard-fought bout to the top-seed and he was edged out tonight in a tight decision in Consolation Round 1 action.
Making his NCAA championship debut at 174 pounds, Stoltzfus went 0-2 and wrapped up his tournament run. The No. 31 seed opened the tournament with a tremendous effort vs. the No. 2 seed, but was edged out, and the Bald Eagle fell in the Consolation Round tonight.
The 2022-23 NCAA Division I National Championships, got underway today (Thursday) and run through Saturday, March 18 at the BOK Center in Tulsa Oklahoma. Session 3 at the NCAA Tournament, which includes the quarterfinal round, is set for a 12 p.m. EST start tomorrow (Friday) and will be televised live on ESPNU. Full championship schedule details and live coverage options are available at GoLHU.com.