Tyler Stoltzfus, Bald Eagles roll to 25-11 victory over George Mason

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: January 22, 2022

Courtesy of Lock Haven University

Bonus points helped propel Lock Haven to a conference win over the visiting Patriots.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Behind seven victories including three with bonus points, the Lock Haven University (7-5, 2-1 MAC) men’s wrestling team rolled past visiting George Mason University (6-5, 0-1 MAC) by a 25-11 score on Friday night in a Mid-American Conference (MAC) dual at Thomas Fieldhouse.

The win for Lock Haven was its 15^th all-time out of as many matches and marked the return of MACtion to Thomas Fieldhouse. Lock Haven last wrestled in front of the home faithful in a conference dual in February 2020.

Anthony Noto (Lima, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima (NC State)) kept things going in his first season in the Crimson and White with a 10-4 victory in the evening’s opening bout at 125 pounds. Noto, the 23^rd-ranked wrestler in the nation, used four takedowns, an escape and a riding time bonus point to put the Bald Eagles in front by a 3-0 score. The win was Noto’s 22^nd of the year.

Lock Haven secured its first bonus point victory of the evening at 133 pounds. Gable Strickland (Benton, Pa./Benton) tallied five takedowns and added a riding time bonus point after posting a 1:35 advantage to roll to a 16-8 major decision victory over Michael Rapuano. The Bald Eagles owned a 7-0 lead after the opening two bouts.

After falling at 141 and 149 pounds, the Bald Eagles regained the match lead for good behind an impressive effort from 33^rd-ranked Ben Barton (Louisville, Ky./Trinity (Campbell)) at 157 pounds. Barton tallied nine takedowns and ran up a 3:32 advantage to earn the riding time point in securing a 20-6 major decision win to propel Lock Haven to an 11-8 match lead.

Ashton Eyler (Millersburg, Ohio/Claymont High (Iowa Central CC)) kept things going for The Haven with a hard-fought victory at 165 pounds. Eyler owned a 2-1 lead after the opening three minutes of action and added an escape point in the second period to take a 3-1 lead into the third period. George Mason’s Tyler Kocak chose bottom to start the period and Eyler rode out the third period to earn a riding time point, securing a 4-1 victory. The win for Eyler was his 22^nd of the season and extended the Lock Haven lead to 14-8.

At 174 pounds, Tyler Stoltzfus (Mifflinburg, Pa./Saint Joseph’s Academy) earned his 14^th win of the year with a 6-1 victory. Stoltzfus earned a pair of takedowns and added a bonus point with a 2:51 riding time advantage to pick up the win. Lock Haven led the bout by a 17-8 score with three bouts remaining.

George Mason grabbed a win at 184 pounds but the Bald Eagles bounced back with a pair of wins to round out the evening.

Parker McClellan (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) earned a hard-fought 4-2 victory at 197 pounds to secure the dual meet victory for the Bald Eagles. McClellan picked up a takedown and added an escape to take a 3-2 lead into the second period. After a scoreless second period, the Altoona, Pa. native added a third-period escape to pick up his 12^th win of the year.

At 285 pounds, 28^th-ranked Isaac Reid (Saltsburg, Pa./Kiski) earned an impressive 18-3 tech fall victory to wrap up the win for the Bald Eagles. Reid used six takedowns, a first-period tilt, a penalty-point via stalling and a 4:34riding time advantage to cruise to his 11^th win of the season. The victory rounded out a 25-11 win for Lock Haven.

Lock Haven owned a 30-11 advantage in takedowns on the evening and was victorious in seven of the ten bouts contested in the team dual.

One extra bout was contested as well. Extra bouts do not count towards the dual meet’s score but are official NCAA results for the individuals. Lock Haven’s Brinton Simington posted a 3-1 decision victory over George Mason’s Drew Dickson.