Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling Recruiting Class Receives Top-20 Rankings from InterMat and W.I.N. Magazine
6/14/2006 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
June 14, 2006
W.I.N. Rankings
InterMat Rankings
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell's incoming wrestling recruiting class for the 2006-07 season is among the Nation's best according to the Wrestling International Newsmagazine (W.I.N.) and InterMat Division I recruiting class rankings which were recently announced. The Bison are 14th on W.I.N.'s 25-team list, second among the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association squads that were ranked, and 19th on InterMat's 30-team list, third among EIWA schools.
The Orange and Blue find themselves in select company in both rankings, second to only five-time conference champion Lehigh out of EIWA teams on the W.I.N. list, while sitting third behind the Mountain Hawks and perennial power Cornell in the InterMat top-30. Lehigh's group of recruits is second according to W.I.N. and was dubbed No. 1 by InterMat. Cornell received a No. 15 ranking from W.I.N. and was eighth on the InterMat list. Other EIWA teams that made appearances on the lists were Rutgers, Harvard and Army with Penn receiving an honorable mention nod.
Bison head coach Dan Wirnsberger's class of 21 is one of the largest recruiting classes in all of Division I and the top recruits for the Orange and Blue include Fargo All-American Mike Powers who is ranked 66th on the InterMat top recruits of 2005-06 list, New York state champion Dave Marble, PIAA AA state champion Andy Rendos, NHSCA All-Americans Brantley Hooks and Shane Riccio, Greg Hart, who took third at the New Jersey state championships and, Tom Barger, who finished third at the Pennsylvania state championships.
Founded in 1947, the Bucknell wrestling program was designated for club-varsity status following the 2001-02 season, but largely through former Bison wrestler Bill Graham's generous donation that also helped fund Bison women's athletics programs, it was announced in May 2004 that wrestling would return as Bucknell's 27th varsity sport in 2005-06. The wrestling program will make its return to varsity competition for the 2006-07 season as a member of the EIWA.
