LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The wait is over, and the nationally-ranked Lock Haven men's wrestling team is set for its highly anticipated 2023-24 home-opening dual on Friday, Jan. 19. The Bald Eagles will host Buffalo at 7 p.m. in what will also serve as The Haven's first Mid-American Conference (MAC) match of the season.  
 
Lock Haven will also travel to Bloomsburg for a MAC dual on Sunday, Jan. 21 to cap a busy weekend of action.
 
Promotions:
Prior to the start of Friday's (Jan. 19) home match, the official dedication ceremony for the Ron '66 and Jo Ann Bowes Wrestling Room will take place. On September, 15, 2023, it was announced that the Bowes' made a $500,000 gift to the Lock Haven wrestling programs, and in doing so - exceeded $1.5 million bestowed on The Haven.
 
With that, and in honor of their continued and remarkable generosity, the Lock Haven Department of Athletics announced that the men's and women's wrestling room located in Thomas Fieldhouse will be renamed in honor of Ron '66 and Jo Ann Bowes and their lifelong commitment to Lock Haven athletics and the institution. The wrestling room where both the men's and women's teams train will now be known as The Ron & Jo Ann Bowes Wrestling Room.
 
The dedication ceremony is set for approximately 6:50 p.m. on Friday in Thomas Fieldhouse.
 
A pre-match social is set for 5 p.m. in the Durwachter Alumni Conference Center. The cost of Friday's social is $10 and registration is open at GoLHU.com.
 
Friday's match with Buffalo will also serve as Veterans Night with free admission to all veterans. The match is also Lock Haven's Youth Night and an autograph session will take place post-match.
 
Setting the stage:
Lock Haven will open MAC action on Friday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. vs. Buffalo. It marks the first home dual of the 2023-24 season for the Bald Eagles and the first of four home duals during the second half of the season.
 
The Haven is 3-6 overall in dual action on the season and the Bald Eagles are coming off an impressive 3-1 run at the Davidson Duals last week. Lock Haven opened the Davidson Duals with a 30-14 win over Gardner-Webb, giving head coach Scott Moore his 75^th dual victory at The Haven.
 
Buffalo enters Friday's MAC East-West crossover dual with a 7-10 overall record and the Bulls are 2-1 in MAC action. Buffalo has lost two straight and most recently fell to Binghamton, 31-3, on Jan. 13.
 
Sunday's match at Bloomsburg marks Lock Haven's MAC Eastern Division opener. Bloomsburg is 4-8 overall, 0-2 in MAC action and the Huskies most recently fell to Clarion, 36-6, on Jan. 12.

Lock Haven Projected Dual Lineup:
125: #10 R-Jr. Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) 10-1
// OR 125: Fr. Logan Sallot (Erie, Pa./McDowell) 3-7
133: Jr. Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) 18-9
141: #12 R-So. Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) 24-1
// OR 141: R-Sr. Zack Zeamer (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) 2-7
149: Jr. Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford) 9-9
// OR 149: R-So. Ty Linsenbigler (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) 13-7
157: Jr. Connor Eck (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) 22-13
// OR 157: R-So. DaShawn Farber (Bethlehem, Pa./Nazareth) 9-5
165: R-Fr. Eric Alderfer (Harleysville, Pa./Faith Christian Academy) 7-10
// OR 165: R-Fr. J.T. Hogan (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) 7-9
174: Jr. Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph's Academy) 2-3
184: R-Jr. Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) 10-10
// OR 184: So. Cael Black (Warren, Pa./Eisenhower) 8-13
197: So. Brad Morrison (Landisburg, Pa./West Perry) 4-10
285: So. Ethan Miller (York, Pa./Central York) 4-14

National Rankings:
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, InterMat released updated national rankings and both Anthony Noto and Wyatt Henson were ranked. Noto, a returning All-American is ranked No. 10 this week at 125 pounds. He's 10-1 on the season. Henson, a first-year Bald Eagle who was a national qualifier last season, is ranked No. 12 at 141 pounds. He's 24-1 on the season with 10 tech falls. Nine of Henson's 10 tech falls have come vs. Division I opponents, and he's ranked No. 3 overall in tech falls in DI so far this season.
 
As a team, Lock Haven is ranked 21^st in the nation this week in WIN Magazine's Jan. 15 rankings.
 
No. 1 in the MAC:
Last week (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.
 
Up Next // at Bloomsburg:
Following Friday's home match with Buffalo, Lock Haven will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 21 when the Bald Eagles make the short trek east to take on longtime local-rival Bloomsburg. The match Sunday with the Huskies is set for 1 p.m.  
 
Looking Ahead:
Next week will prove to be another busy stretch for The Haven. Lock Haven will open the week on Thursday, Jan. 25 by hosting George Mason in MAC action. The match is set for a 7 p.m. start in Thomas Fieldhouse. On Friday, Jan. 26, the Bald Eagles will travel to Rider for a MAC dual, before hosting the Mat-Town Open II tournament on Sunday, Jan. 28.
 
Thursday's (Jan. 25) home match with George Mason marks Community Night to honor Mike Millward '84. A number of special events are planned. Click Here for more information. On, Jan. 25, The Haven's Thomas Fieldhouse will also host matches featuring local junior high and high school powers Central Mountain and Bald Eagle Area. Please note, more information will be available and updated regarding Community Night 2024 at GoLHU.com early next week.
 
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.