Bucknell University
Navy
Bucknell Wrestling Concludes Virginia Duals with 18-12 Loss to Navy
1/10/2009 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 10, 2009
HAMPTON, Va. - Despite wins from all three of its 2008 NCAA qualifiers and freshman Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg), the Bucknell wrestling team lost 18-12 to EIWA foe Navy Saturday to conclude action at the Virginia Duals. The Bison held a pair of leads in the match that featured all 10 wins by decision and three lead changes, but the Mids claimed the final three bouts for their final six-point margin.
It was a close match as four of the 10 bouts were decided by two points or less, including three by just one point. Navy did not seal the victory until heavyweight Tyler Mayer defeated Nathan Jones (Sidney, Ohio/Troy Christian), 10-3, in the final individual match.
The loss eliminated Bucknell from the two-day bracketed event, while Navy is still alive to finish as high as fifth in the 16-team field. The Mids will next face Old Dominion on Saturday afternoon with a berth in the fifth-place match on the line.
The Bison, who are now 6-6 on the season, jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind wins from Reber and No. 20 David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central) at 125 and 133, respectively. Reber has now earned wins in nine of his last 11 matches with both losses coming to ranked opponents.
Navy (4-2) answered Bucknell's early success with three consecutive wins. Adam Healey (Wilkes Barre, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) lost to Matt Pagan by a 3-1 decision at 141 and Tyler Riccio (Warren, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan Regional) dropped a 7-0 decision to Joel Ahern at 157. In between those two losses Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) battled No. 5-ranked Bryce Saddoris, but lost by a tight 4-3 score. Half of LeValley's eight losses this season have come to ranked foes.
The Bison retook the lead at 12-9 with back-to-back wins by No. 13 Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) and Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills). Riccio completed the Virginia Duals with a 3-0 record.
Navy then swept the three heaviest weight classes to post the victory. The Mids led 15-12 entering the final match and a decision by Jones would have tied the score.
Bucknell will next be in action next Saturday, Jan. 17, when it travels to Providence, R.I., to face Brown in an EIWA match at 7 p.m.
Navy 18, Bucknell 12
*125: Derek Reber (B) dec. Prescott Garner (N), 7-6
133: No. 20 David Marble (B) dec. Aaron Kalil (N), 10-6
141: Matt Pagan (N) dec. Adam Healey (B), 3-1
149: No. 5 Bryce Saddoris (N) dec. Kevin LeValley (B), 4-3
157: Joel Ahern (N) dec. Tyler Riccio (B), 7-0
165: No. 13 Andy Rendos (B) dec. Matt DeMichiel (N), 6-2
174: Shane Riccio (B) dec. Mike Billings (N), 7-2
184: Casey Caldwell (N) dec. David Thompson (B), 6-5
197: Phillip Neese (N) dec. Jay Hahn (B), 6-2
HWT: Tyler Mayer (N) dec. Nathan Jones (B), 10-3
* starting weight
Team Records
Bucknell - 6-6
Navy - 4-2
