UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Lock Haven men's wrestling team (0-1) kicked off the 2022-23 dual schedule with a visit to local foe and No. 1 ranked Penn State University (1-0) on Friday night in Rec Hall. The non-conference contest served as the season-opening dual for both sides, and the hosts were able to secure the 44-3 win.
 
Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)) kicked off the dual at 125 pounds and put on a show against Penn State's Gary Steen. Noto wasted no time securing a takedown in the opening period to take a 2-0 lead. After an acrobatic tumble resulted in another takedown, Noto took a 4-1 lead into the second period. The 13^th-ranked Noto escaped early and notched two more flashy takedowns to lead 9-2 after the second period. The Bald Eagles 125-pounder continued his dominance in the third and latched onto two more takedowns to open the dual with a 13-4 major decision victory in front of a sold-out Rec Hall to push Lock Haven ahead 4-0.
 
The Nittany Lions grabbed bonus points at 133, 141 and 149 as the nation's top team jumped out to a 15-4 lead.
 
At 157, Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/ Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)) and Terrell Barraclough got locked into a gritty bout which saw a scoreless opening period. Barraclough secured a reversal early in the second, and just edged out Eyler 3-1, as the Nittany Lions took an 18-3 lead into the intermission.
 
Out of the break, Penn State gathered bonus points in each of the remaining bouts and pulled away for the 44-3 victory.
 
Bout-by-Bout Results:
125: #13 Anthony Noto (LHU) major dec. Gary Steen (PSU) / 13-4 / LHU 4-0
133: #1 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) tech falled Gable Strickland (LHU) / 23-8 (6:55) / PSU 5-4
141: #13 Beau Bartlett (PSU) major dec. Ty Linsenbigler (LHU) / 9-0 / PSU 9-4
149: #25 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) pinned Connor Eck (LHU) / (6:32) / PSU 15-4
157: Terrell Barraclough (PSU) dec. #28 Ashton Eyler (LHU) / 3-1 / PSU 18-3
165: #18 Alex Facundo (PSU) tech falled Aiden Gaugler (LHU) / 27-12 (5:35) / PSU 23-3
174: #1 Carter Starocci (PSU) major dec. Tyler Stoltzfus (LHU) / 19-5 / PSU 27-3
184: #1 Aaron Brooks (PSU) tech falled Colin Fegley (LHU) / 26-9 (6:32) / PSU 32-3
197: #1 Max Dean (PSU) pinned Brad Morrison (LHU) / (2:03) / PSU 38-3
285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU) pinned Ethan Miller (LHU) / (1:21) / PSU 44-3
 
Final Team Score: Penn State 44 Lock Haven 3
*157 LHU deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike
 
Attendance: 6,542
 
The Road Ahead:
Lock Haven is right back in action against another top-10 opponent tomorrow afternoon when they face off against No. 8 NC State. The neutral site matchup is hosted at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pa., and is set for a 3 p.m. start.