Bucknell University Athletics
Lapotsky's Upset of No. 1 Seed Highlights Outstanding Day for Bison Wrestlers at NCAA Championships
3/16/2007 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 15, 2007
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Freshman Eric Lapotsky upset No. 1-seeded Maxwell Askren of Missouri in the 197-pound consolation bracket, highlighting a very successful opening day for Bucknell's three-man contingent at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Lapotsky and fellow freshmen Andy Rendos and David Marble are still alive in the consolations brackets heading into day two on Friday.
In the opening round of the championship bracket, Lapotsky suffered an 8-3 setback to Nick Roy of Michigan. Roy posted the first points and led all the way with a riding time point. Then in the first round of wrestlebacks, Lapotsky rebounded by pinning James Gibson of Edinboro in only 1:28.
That set the stage for the upset of the day for the Bison contingent, Lapotsky's 5-2 win over Askrin. Lapotsky trailed 2-0 heading into the second period of that bout. He chose bottom to start the second stanza, then picked up a reversal and three back points to surge ahead. Lapotsky rode Askrin for the entire third period to send the top seed home with an 0-2 record.
At 165 pounds, freshman Andy Rendos recorded a 12-4 major decision over Brian Perry of Stanford in his first bout of the day. Perry scored first in the match with a takedown. Rendos escaped but was taken down again, then picked up a reversal to pull within one point at the end of the first period. Rendos escaped to begin the second and knot the score at 4-4 and followed up with a takedown to jump in front 6-4. Rendos remained in control for the remainder of the bout and picked up the riding time point to score the major decision.
In round two, Rendos ran into the No. 3 seed in Eric Tannenbaum of Michigan and fell 12-4.
At 133 pounds freshman David Marble won his first-round bout 15-7 over Tyler Gillashaw of Cal State Fullerton. Marble jumped on the board first and held control for most of the match. He punctuated the major decision with a third-period reversal and more than two minutes of riding time.
In his second-round match, Marble went head-to-head with the No. 1 seed, Nick Simmons of Michigan State, and fell 7-0. Simmons scored a reversal for an early lead and padded it with a near-fall.
All three Bucknell wrestlers will be back in action on day two of the NCAA Championships, seeking to become the program's fifth All-American. Lapotsky will face Jared Villers of West Virginia in his next match at 197 pounds. Next up for Rendos is No. 8 seed Steve Anceravage of Cornell, while Marble will next take on Eric Albright of Virginia.
