LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The nationally-ranked Lock Haven men's wrestling team is set for a return to dual action, and it will be a busy two days for the Bald Eagles as they head to the 2024 Davidson Duals, hosted by Davidson College on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 11-12.
 
In all, Lock Haven (0-5) is set for four duals. The Haven will open the two-day tournament on Thursday, Jan. 11 vs. Gardner-Webb at 1 p.m., before a 3 p.m. match with Harvard. On Friday, Jan. 12, Lock Haven will take on Little Rock at 10 a.m. and the Bald Eagles will close the Davidson Duals vs. the host Wildcats at noon on Friday.
 
For Lock Haven, it will mark the first dual competition since the Bald Eagles took part in the Collegiate Duals on Dec. 19.
 
This week, Lock Haven is ranked No. 20 in the team national rankings.
 
The Bald Eagles are still in search of their first dual win of the season and they should benefit from a lineup that is back to nearly full strength for the first time this season.
 
Leading the way is top-ranked Anthony Noto at 125 pounds. Noto, an All-American last season, now has 73 wins at The Haven as he moves closer to that prestigious 100-win mark.
 
It's a dynamic 1-2-3 punch from the start for Lock Haven. Returning national-qualifier Gable Strickland is enjoying a strong recent run of success at 133 and he's coming off a second-place showing at the Franklin & Marshall Open. Strickland's recent dominance which included a top-25 upset-win has him listed in some national media polls. Wyatt Henson, ranked 13^th nationally at 141, is expected to make this official Lock Haven dual debut Thursday. The first-year Bald Eagle was a national qualifier last season for Oklahoma.
 
At 149, Nick Stonecheck is coming off a strong start to 2024. He and Colin Fegley (184) both placed among the top-five at the F&M Open last week. Fegley returned to the lineup before the holiday break, as did Tyler Stoltzfus (174). At 165, Avery Bassett is projected to compete for the Bald Eagles for the first time since mid-November.
 
National Rankings:
On Tuesday, Jan. 9, InterMat released updated national rankings and the Bald Eagles were ranked No. 20. A total of three Bald Eagles were listed in the individual weight-by-weight national rankings including returning All-American Anthony Noto, who continues to sit atop the 125-weight class. He's a perfect 8-0 on the season. Wyatt Henson, the reigning Mid-American Conference (MAC) Wrestler of the Week, is now 20-1 on the season and jumped to No. 13 at 141 pounds. Isaac Reid is ranked No. 28 at 285.
 
No. 1 in the MAC:
Earlier today (Wednesday, Jan. 10), the Mid-American Conference released its January rankings and the two-time defending MAC Champion Bald Eagles continue to headline the conference. Lock Haven is projected to finish first and is ranked No. 1 in the MAC ahead of No. 2 Central Michigan, No. 3 Ohio, No. 4 Cleveland State and No. 5 Rider, who rounds out the top-five.
 
Anthony Noto, Gable Strickland and Wyatt Henson are ranked No. 1 in the MAC at 125, 133 and 141, respectively. In all nine of 10 projected starters are ranked among the top-10 in the MAC for The Haven. In all, six Bald Eagles are ranked among the top-five including No. 2 Avery Bassett (165), No. 3 Colin Fegley (184) and No. 5 Tyler Stoltzfus (174). 

- Full January MAC Rankings

Lock Haven Projected Davidson Duals Lineup:
125: #1 R-Jr. Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) 8-0
133: Jr. Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) 15-8
141: #13 R-So. Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) 20-1
// OR 141: R-Sr. Zack Zeamer (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) 2-7
// OR: 141: So. Wyatt Fox (Etters, Pa./Red Land) 7-8
149: Jr. Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford) 6-9
// OR 149: R-So. Ty Linsenbigler (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) 13-6
// OR 149: R-So. DaShawn Farber (Bethlehem, Pa./Nazareth) 9-5
157: Jr. Connor Eck (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) 19-13
// OR 157: R-Fr. J.T. Hogan (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) 5-9
//OR 157: R-Fr. Eric Alderfer (Harleysville, Pa./Faith Christian Academy) 7-9
165: Jr. Avery Bassett (Middleburg, Pa./Midd-West) 9-4
174: Jr. Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph's Academy) 1-2
184: R-Jr. Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) 8-8
// OR 184: So. Cael Black (Warren, Pa./Eisenhower) 8-11
197: So. Brad Morrison (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) 4-10
285: So. Ethan Miller (York, Pa./Central York) 3-11
 
MAC Athlete of the Week:
On Tuesday, Jan. 9, Wyatt Henson was named the MAC Eastern Division Wrestler of the Week. The honor comes after his dominance at the 2024 David H. Lehman Franklin & Marshall Open on Jan. 5. Henson soared through a talented field to claim the 141-pound title, his fourth individual tournament title of the 2023-24 season. He was a perfect 5-0 with two tech falls and a major decision at F&M.
 
For Henson, it marked the second time this season where he's been named MAC East Wrestler of the Week and it's the fourth time this season a Bald Eagle has won the award. Henson, the two-seed, rattled off back-to-back techs to start the day as he downed Brandon Sauter (Franklin & Marshall), 17-2 (2:48) and Mason Clark (Columbia), 20-5 (3:15). After advancing by medical forfeit in the quarterfinals, Henson took down No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh), 7-2 in the semifinals, and he capped off his brilliant effort with a lopsided 14-4 major decision in the 141-pound finals over Carter Bailey of Lehigh.
 
Lock Haven's 2023-24 MAC Wrestler of the Week Award Winners:
Jan. 9 – Wyatt Henson
Jan. 3 – Anthony Noto
Nov. 21 – Wyatt Henson
Nov. 14 – Anthony Noto
 
A Champion at Edinboro:
Competing unattached on Sunday, Jan. 7, freshman Lucas Kapusta won the 149-pound title at Edinboro's Bobby Kauffman Open. Kapusta was 3-0. He opened the day with a major decision and downed Buffalo's (UNA) Nick Stampoulos, 5-1 in the finals.
 
Up Next:
Following the Davidson Duals, Lock Haven will return home to host Buffalo in MAC action on Friday, Jan. 19. The match is set for 7 p.m. in Thomas Fieldhouse and is the first of four duals at home during the second half of the season.
 
Next week's match vs. Buffalo on Jan. 19 marks the dedication ceremony for the Ron & Jo Ann Bowes Wrestling Room. The Bald Eagles will also host a pre-match social, it's Veterans Night with free admission for all veterans, and it is Youth Night.
 
The full 2023-24 Lock Haven men's wrestling schedule is available at GoLHU.com and it includes a full list and more information on all match day promotions.