Setting the Stage:

Head coach Scott Moore and the Bald Eagles return home to Thomas Fieldhouse tomorrow (Feb. 11) night at 7:00 p.m. for a crucial dual with Cleveland State. Lock Haven and the Vikings ride into Friday night’s showdown in the No. 1 and 2 spots in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division at 4-0 and 3-0, respectively, in MAC East duals.

On Sunday (Feb. 13), LHU cap the regular season with a dual against longtime-rival Edinboro at 1:00 p.m. With two wins over the weekend, the Bald Eagles will lay claim to their first MAC East Division title since their introduction to the conference in the 2019-20 season.

LHU in the NCAA Rankings:

*as of January 21, 2022

125: #21 Anthony Noto

157: #31 Ben Barton

165: #24 Ashton Eyler

285: #26 Isaac Reid

Last Time Out:

The Haven picked up a road win over MAC foe Rider on Sunday, February 6th. Seven total wins, three of which came by bonus points, propelled LHU past the Broncs by a 24-10 score.

Bald Eagles red-hot form:

The Haven rolls into the weekend having won five straight dual matches, most recently over Rider and Clarion. LHU sits at 8-5 overall, 4-1 in the MAC and 4-0 in the East Division.

Individually, a trio of Bald Eagles boast a double-digit winning streak. 125-pounder Anthony Noto leads the way having won 21 straight bouts, with a stellar 24-1 record. At 165, Ashton Eyler has been on a tear since winning the Lehman Open and currently sits at 16 wins in a row. Isaac Reid has picked up 10 straight for LHU at 285-pounds, and Ben Barton has notched eight wins in a row.

Opponent History:

The Bald Eagles meet the Vikings of Cleveland State for the 41st time on Friday in a series which LHU hold a 29-11 all-time record. Lock Haven has picked up three wins in a row over the Vikings, and most recently LHU picked up a dominant 36-3 win in 2019.

In a matchup dating back to 1947, the Bald Eagles travel to Edinboro for the 55th meeting between the two. LHU holds a slight 29-25 advantage in the rivalry, including the last two in a row and a 25-13 victory in 2020, which was the first dual between the two as MAC opponents.

Lock Haven University Wrestling Projected Lineup

February 11th vs Cleveland State

125: #21 R-Fr. Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)) 24-1

133: Fr. Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) 15-11

141: Fr. Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford) 9-8

// or 141 – R-Fr. Tyler Dilley (Saint Mary’s, Pa./Saint Mary’s) 8-9

149: Fr. Connor Eck (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) 17-15

// or 149 – Fr. DaShawn Farber (Bethlahem, Pa./Nazareth) 12-11

157: #31 R-Sr. Ben Barton (Louisville, Ky./Trinity (Campbell)) 20-7

165: #24 Jr. Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)) 27-8

174: Fr. Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) 19-12

// or 174 – Brinton Simington (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) 5-8

184: R-Fr. Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) 8-12

197: Jr. Parker McClellan (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) 13-12

// or 197 – Cory Johnston (Irvona, Pa./Glendale) 1-4

285: #26 R-So. Isaac Reid (Saltsburg, Pa./Kiski) 15-1

Cleveland State University

125: R-Fr. Logan Heil (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) 10-8

133: R-Fr. Jake Manley (Grand Rapids, Ohio/Ostego) 7-9

141: R-Fr. Hunter Olson (Chesterland, Ohio/St. Vincent St. Mary’s (Campbell)) 1-7

149: #30 R-So. Marcus Robinson (Arkansas City, Kan./Arkansas City (Buffalo)) 15-3

157: R-Fr. Daniel Patten (Stow, Ohio/Stow-Munroe Falls) 10-5

165: #31 R-So. Riley Smucker (Smithville, Ohio/Smithville (Appalachian State)) 16-2

174: R-So. Anthony Rice (Steubenville, Ohio/Steubenville) 3-13

184: #31 R-So. DeAndre Nassar (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) 12-3

// or 184 – R-So. Jax Leonard (Louisville, Ohio/Louisville) 1-3

197: Jr. Ben Smith (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) 14-4

285: R-Jr. John Kelbly (Smithville, Ohio/Smithville) 5-10

// or 285 – R-Fr. Daniel Bucknavich (Grafton, Ohio/Midview) 4-7

The Road Ahead: 

Following the conclusion of the dual slate against Edinboro, the Bald Eagles turn their attention to the postseason. On March 4th & 5th, LHU travels to Athens, Ohio for the 2022 MAC Championships hosted by Ohio University.