LHU Men’s Wrestling opens MAC slate Friday night vs. Buffalo

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 19, 2024

Courtesy of Lock Haven Athletics

No. 21 Bald Eagles open MAC dual schedule at home Friday night; Buffalo escapes Mat-Town with 23-12 conference victory

Lock Haven officially unveils Ron ’66 and Jo Ann Bowes Wrestling Room during pre-match ceremony.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The nationally-ranked Lock Haven men’s wrestling team returned home to host Buffalo (8-10, 3-1 MAC) in the Bald Eagles first Mid-American Conference (MAC) dual of the season and the Bulls won the conference match, 23-12, tonight (Friday, Jan. 19) in Thomas Fieldhouse.

Lock Haven got wins from Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton), No. 12 Wyatt Henson (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) and Nick Stonecheck (Alpharetta, Ga./Buford).

Prior to the match, the official dedication ceremony for the Ron ’66 and Jo Ann Bowes Wrestling Room was held. 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.

Strickland, nationally-ranked in some media polls, put Lock Haven on the board with a 16-4 major decision over Buffalo’s Tommy Maddox at 133 pounds. Strickland led 10-3 after two periods and put the match away with a takedown and two near-fall points in the third.

Henson won his 23^rd straight match and it came by way of another dominating tech fall. Tonight, he rolled by Caleb Brooks 21-6 in just 4:09. Henson racked up seven takedowns in just over four minutes as he put on a clinic in his official Lock Haven home dual debut.

Stonecheck made it three straight Haven wins as he posted a hard-fought 6-4 win at 149 pounds. After a scoreless first period, Stonecheck led Kaleb Burgees 1-0 after two on a second-period escape. Twice the two exchanged reversals in the third, and Stonecheck hung on for the win.

Stonecheck’s win pushed the Lock Haven lead to 12-4, but it was all Buffalo from there. The Bulls benefitted from bonus points at 125 and 197.

Connor Eck (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem), Eric Alderfer (Harleysville, Pa./Faith Christian Academy), Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) and Colin Fegley (Mahanoy, Pa./Mahanoy) all dropped narrow and hard-fought bouts.

Tonight’s dual, the first home match of the season for Lock Haven, also served as Veterans Appreciation and Youth Night. It’s the first of four home duals during the second half of the season.

With the loss, Lock Haven moves to 3-7 overall and the Bald Eagles start MAC action 0-1.

As a team, Lock Haven entered the match ranked No. 21 nationally in the latest (Jan. 15) WIN Magazine rankings.

Bout-by-Bout Results

Buffalo 23 – No. 21 Lock Haven 12

125: Max Elton (Buffalo) major dec. Logan Sallot (Lock Haven), 10-1 / Buffalo, 4-0

133: Gable Strickland (Lock Haven) major dec. Tommy Maddox (Buffalo), 16-4 / Tied, 4-4

141: #12 Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) tech fall Caleb Brooks (Buffalo), 21-6 (4:09) / Lock Haven, 9-4

149: Nick Stonecheck (Lock Haven) dec. Kaleb Burgees (Buffalo), 6-4 / Lock Haven, 12-4

157: Nick Stampoulos (Buffalo) dec. Connor Eck (Lock Haven), 7-3, Lock Haven, 12-7

165: Hunter Shaut (Buffalo) dec. Eric Alderfer (Lock Haven), 7-4 SV / Lock Haven, 12-10

174: Jay Nivison (Buffalo) dec. Tyler Stoltzfus (Lock Haven), 3-2 / Buffalo, 13-12

184: Chase Kranitz (Buffalo) dec. Colin Fegley (Lock Haven), 7-5 / Buffalo, 16-12

197: Sam Mitchell (Buffalo) major dec. Cael Black (Lock Haven), 15-3 / Buffalo, 20-12

285: Magnus Bibla (Buffalo) dec. Ethan Miller (Lock Haven), 11-6 / FINAL – Buffalo, 23-12

*Rankings:

Team, WIN Magazine (Jan 15)

Individual, InterMat (Jan. 16)

Records:

Buffalo (8-10, 3-1 MAC)

Lock Haven (3-7, 0-1 MAC)

Attendance: 1,007

Up Next:

Lock Haven will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 21when the Bald Eagles make the short trek east to take on longtime local-rival Bloomsburg. The MAC 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. 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.