Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling Gears Up to Face James Madison at Home on Friday Night
2/1/2007 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 1, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - In a rematch from earlier in the season, the Bucknell wrestling team will take to the mat on Friday evening against James Madison, beginning at 7 p.m. in Davis Gym. Following the dual-meet, the Bison will hold an autograph session, open to all fans in attendance.
Back on Nov. 11, the Bison faced the Dukes and came away with a 24-9 victory at Drexel's Daskalakas Athletic Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Bucknell, who is 3-2 against JMU all-time since the teams first met in 1994-95, is currently 9-8 on the season, while James Madison carries a duals record of 6-19 into the meet.
Despite already having faced each other, two of the probable starters for the Orange and Blue and six for the Dukes, did not see action in the earlier matchup. This includes Eric Lapotsky (Mount Carmel, Pa./Mount Carmel Area) and Jack Conroy (Westport, Conn./Green Farms Academy), who wrestle at 197 and 149, respectively, for Bucknell. Lapotsky is the current pins leader in the EIWA with 15 and is second on the Bison roster in duals wins with 14. Overall, he holds a record of 20-4 and is sixth in the EIWA at his weight.
In the initial meeting between the squads, Bucknell freshman Greg Hart (Bedminster, N.J./Bernards), who is currently ranked sixth in the EIWA with an overall record of 11-11, picked up a 4-2 decision over Louis Sweet at 125, but this time is slated to face Nhat Nguyen.
David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central), who wrestles at 133 pounds and is second on the Bison roster in overall wins with 21, suffered a 8-6 defeat against JMU's Brandon Luce back in November, but is projected to take on Stephen Gunther in his bout on Friday evening.
Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway) will be looking to match the Bucknell single season dual-meet wins record as the 165-pounder, who is 18th nationally according to this week's InterMat/NWCA/NWMA Division I Individual Rankings, will take on Jeff Jacobs. Last time out against the Dukes, Rendos posted a technical fall in his bout with Jon Divello. Rendos carries a 15-2 duals record into the meet and is tied for fourth in the EIWA in overall wins with 24.
Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) will look to keep things going after having won nine of his last 10 bouts, including the last seven in a row. Riccio, who is 17-8 overall (9-5 duals), helped Bucknell to its earlier victory over the Dukes with a major decision over Kwaku Duffour-Donkor, but this time will most likely face Ivan Lagares at 174.
The remaining four weights, 141, 157, 184 and 285, should feature rematches from the teams' last meeting, with the Bison having posted wins in three of those previous bouts.
Bucknell will next travel to No. 22 Navy on Saturday, Feb. 10, to take on the Midshipmen at 7 p.m., and will return home to play host to Wagner at 1 p.m. the following day.
