Trenton, NJ - March 8, 2025: The Lock Haven University wrestling team remained perfect in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) after winning the championship Saturday afternoon at the Cure Insurance Arena. Lock Haven scored 121.5 points to the second place finisher Central Michigan who scored 113. It was Haven’s third title in the last four years.
Lock Haven was led by Anthony Noto (133), Wyatt Henson (141), and Gavin Hoffman (285) who all took home first place in their respective classes. Tucker Hogan (197) placed second, Avery Bassett (174) placed third, Caden Dobbins (165) placed third, Colin Fegley (184) placed fourth, and Lucas Kapusta (149) placed sixth.
Close behind Lock Haven and Central Michigan in the team standings were Edinboro and George Mason.
The MAC Championship, hosted this year by Rider University, saw thirteen teams compete. Pennsylvania had four teams competing to include Bloomsburg, Clarion, Edinboro, and Lock Haven.
Twenty-three spots for individual wrestlers to move on to Nationals were also at stake. The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships are March 20-22 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Lock Haven came into the MAC Championship as the favorite. They finished the regular season 7-0 in the East Division and 14-5 overall. Northern Illinois won the West Division, going 6-1 in the MAC and 7-3 overall. The two divisional winners did not face each other in the regular season. Northern Illinois placed 7th Saturday with 49.5 points.
The four Pennsylvania teams combined for 20 pre-seed wrestlers. Five of those wrestlers were either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Lock Haven had the No. 1 seed at 133, 141, and the 197 pound weight classes.
Noto was a NC State transfer and is from Lima, NY. Henson is from Waynesburg, PA High School. Hogan is from Daniel Boone, PA High School and Hoffman was an Ohio State transfer and from Montoursville, PA High School.
George Mason’s Evan Maag, a red-shirt sophomore at 165 pounds and Notre Dame Green Pond High School graduate, went 1-1 in the tournament. He placed sixth overall. Maag was injured in his second bout Friday and he had to forfeit that bout. He had to forfeit his next two bouts as well and did not return. He is questionable for NCAA’s should he receive an at-large bid. Maag was the No. 2 seed heading into the tournament and was the highest seeded wrestler in the MAC from PIAA District XI. Maag was an NCAA qualifier in 2024 as a red-shirt freshman.
Clarion University’s Adrian Gacek, a red-shirt freshman at 184 pounds and Parkland High School graduate, faired the best of all District XI wrestlers in the MAC tournament. Gacek went 2-2 beating Adrien Cramer of Central Michigan 4-1 and receiving a forfeit against JR Reed of Cleveland State. As only a freshman, his future is bright.
Bloomsburg University’s Luke Thomas, a sophomore at 165 and a Bethlehem Catholic High School graduate, Nick Foster, a sophomore at 174 and a Nazareth High School graduate, and Kolby Flank, a senior at 184 and a Wilson High School graduate, all went 0-2 in the tournament for the Huskies. Thomas was battling a shoulder injury.
