Wrestling

Lock Haven Finishes Perfect in MAC Play to Capture East Division Title

Thursday Wrestling results
Cleveland State 21, Kent State 15
Navy 46, Bloomsburg 0
Lock Haven 31, Edinboro 11
 
Recaps courtesy of Athletic Communications Departments

Cleveland State 21, Kent State 15
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State toppled Kent State 21-15 in front of a sellout crowd of 2,400 people inside Woodling Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

The Vikings jumped out to a 4-0 advantage behind a 16-3 major decision by Ben Aranda at 125-pounds. Jake Manley followed with a 10-8 decision to make it 7-0.

Kent State answered back with the next three matches to take a 12-7 advantage after the 157-pound contest.

Tate Geiser picked up a massive 19-4 technical fall at 165-pounds to even the match at 12-12. The Golden Flashes quickly went ahead by three behind a 10-4 decision at 174-pounds.

In one of the most exciting contests of the night, Gavin Ricketts pulled out a 4-1 sudden victory at 184-pounds, tying the match at 15-15. Joey Lyons then picked up a 5-1 decision at 197-pounds to make it 18-15.

No. 29 Daniel Bucknavich capped off the evening with a 2-0 shutout at 285-pounds as the Green and White won 21-15.

The Vikings return to the mat on Saturday to conclude the dual season with a match at Rider starting at noon.


Lock Haven 31, Edinboro 11
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – 
The Lock Haven men's wrestling team used another lopsided conference victory to secure the 2024-25 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Eastern Division regular season dual championship as the Bald Eagles soared by visiting Edinboro (8-6, 2-5 MAC), 31-11, tonight (Thursday, Feb. 20).  
 
Behind the perfect 7-0 run through MAC duals, the Bald Eagles secured their third MAC East regular season title and first since Lock Haven won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.
 
The victory also capped a perfect run at home and Lock Haven finished the 2024-25 season with a perfect 6-0 record in Thomas Fieldhouse.
 
The win, Lock Haven's 10th straight, helped the Bald Eagles finish 14-5 overall. The 14 wins are the most in a season since Lock Haven won 17 (17-4) duals during the 2001-02 season.
 
It also marked the first time since the 2018-19 season that Lock Haven finished undefeated in conference duals.
 
Back in 2018-19, Lock Haven finished 6-0 in conference duals, as it marked the Bald Eagles' final season in the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL). The Haven was also a perfect 5-0 at home that year.
 
Tonight's match marked Senior Day 2025 for Lock Haven and prior to the match, the Bald Eagles honored: Avery BassettWyatt FoxColin FegleyGavin HoffmanAnthony NotoTyler Stoltzfus and Nick Stonecheck.
 
On the night, Lock Haven won eight of 10 bouts, and picked up three tech falls to along with one major decision.
 
Noto (133 lbs.), Henson (141 lbs.), Nick Stampoulos (157 lbs.), Caden Dobbins (165 lbs.), Bassett (174 lbs.), Fegley (184 lbs.), Tucker Hogan (197 lbs.) and Hoffman (285 lbs.) all posted wins for The Haven.
 
Stampoulos, Fegley and Hogan all won by tech fall, and Hoffman won by major decision.
 
The 133-bout featured a pair of nationally-ranked opponents and Noto, ranked No. 17th, put Lock Haven on the board with a hard-fought 17-11 victory over No. 31 Colton Camacho.
 
Henson, ranked No. 17 at 141, tied the dual at 6-6 with a 9-6 decision over Anthony Ferraro. At 157 pounds, Stampoulos teched Colin Roberts, 19-3, in 5:21.
 
Dobbins put Lock Haven into the lead for the first time in the match with a 6-1 victory over Max Kirby at 165 pounds. Leading 14-11, the Bald Eagles never looked back.
 
At 174, 27th ranked Bassett downed Brody Evans, 7-3. Fegley, ranked No. 26 at 184, teched Hunter Hutcheson, 20-3, in just 4:45. At 197, 30th ranked Hogan downed Nick Lodato by tech fall, 19-3 (4:44). Hoffman, ranked No. 17 at 285, closed out the night with a 11-2 major decision.
 
Attendance: 803
 
Up Next for Lock Haven:
The 2024-25 Mid-American Conference Championship event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8 and will be hosted by Rider at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey.