Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Army
Bucknell Wrestling Falls to Army, 21-15
11/24/2008 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 24, 2008
Results |
Photo Gallery 
| Bucknell-Army Highlights
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Nationally ranked wrestlers David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville) and Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) posted victories for Bucknell, but the Bison wrestling team fell to Army by a 21-15 score Monday night at Davis Gym. A combined four ranked wrestlers competed in the dual and all four won as the Black Knights' Matthew Kyler and Richard Starks also posted victories at 149 and 197, respectively.
Bucknell (0-2, 0-1 EIWA), which won at four weight classes, mounted a comeback midway through the match to cut an 11-3 deficit to 14-12 with three bouts left. Jay Hahn (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley), wrestling at 197 pounds, had a chance to give the Bison the lead for the first time since Marble opened with a hard-fought 6-4 overtime victory over Whitt Dunning at 133 pounds. Hahn faced Starks, who is ranked 16th nationally, but lost by a 4-3 score. An escape early in the third period put Hahn up 3-2, but Starks posted a takedown in the final minute. A visibly exhausted Hahn gave it everything he had, but was unable to convert a late escape that would have knotted the score at 4-4. Instead of the Bison going up 15-14, Army took a 17-12 advantage into the final two bouts.
A 19-8 major decision by Michael Sprigg at heavyweight over Sean LoCurto (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City), who is listed at 197 pounds but was forced to move up a weight class, sealed the match for the Black Knights, who improved to 3-1-1 overall and 2-0 against EIWA foes.
After Marble's opening victory, during which he needed the riding time advantage to force overtime, Bucknell lost three consecutive bouts, including two by major decision, as Army built an 11-3 lead.
At 165 pounds, Rendos, who like Marble is ranked 14th nationally, brought the Bison closer as he recorded the lone pin of the night. After building a 10-1 lead, Rendos pinned Michael Gorman in 4:34. It was his 66th career victory and his fifth pin of the season.
Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) then lost to Ryan Mergen by a 5-2 decision at 174 pounds as Army opened a 14-9 lead.
David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local) then kept the Bison alive with a 4-0 decision at 184. Thompson used three escapes and riding time en route to his sixth win of the season.
Another shutout closed out the match. With the result at heavyweight already determining the final outcome, Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) faced Lance Penhale at 125. The bout was scoreless until the third period when Reber registered one point on an escape and earned another for riding time advantage for a 2-0 victory. He is now 2-0 in dual competition with a pair of shutouts.
Overall, Bucknell posted four individual victories to six for Army. However, the Black Knights had three major decisions, while the Bison had just one bonus point win with Rendos' pin.
Bucknell, which is now 0-8 all-time against Army, will compete at the Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., this Saturday, Nov. 29. The Bison will face No. 17 Central Michigan, No. 24 Virginia and Appalachian State at the event.
