Bucknell University
#1 Iowa
No. 1 Iowa Defeats Bucknell in Wrestling, 40-3
1/30/2009 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 30, 2009
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Bucknell wrestling team traveled to Iowa to take on the No. 1 Hawkeyes Friday evening and lost by a 40-3 margin in front of 5,525 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) picked up the lone win for the Bison, who fell to 8-8 and will wrap up their home slate Sunday at 1 p.m. against Columbia.
Riccio was one of just two Bucknell wrestlers who did not draw a ranked opponent as Iowa had eight ranked grapplers in its lineup, including seven who are ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight classes. By comparison, the Bison had two ranked wrestlers in their lineup.
Wrestling at 174 pounds, Riccio won for the ninth time in his last 10 bouts as he defeated Colby Covington by a 7-2 decision. The score was tied 2-2 with one minute remaining in the second period, but a pair of reversals over the final three minutes helped Riccio improve to 24-12. He added one point with the riding time advantage.
Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area), who is ranked No. 15 nationally at 165 pounds came close to joining Riccio in the win column, but came up just short. The junior was leading No. 3 Ryan Morningstar 1-0 midway through the third period, but was whistled for a pair of stall warnings 12 seconds apart, giving Morningstar a point. Morningstar then earned an escape with one minute left to take a 2-1 lead and held on for his 20th win this season.
Bucknell's other ranked wrestler, David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central), who is No. 20 at 133 pounds, lost by major decision to No. 2 Daniel Dennis, 14-4. It was just the seventh loss of the season for Marble and all seven have come to ranked opponents.
At 149, Bucknell's Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo/Limon) fought hard, but was eventually pinned by No. 1 Brent Metcalf in 4:20. LeValley was trailing just 6-4 at the time of the pin.
Iowa, which has won 21 national titles in the last 34 years, improved to 18-0 this season with the win.
The Bison will return home on Sunday (Feb. 1) afternoon to wrap up their home schedule against EIWA foe Columbia. Bucknell lost to the Lions by a 21-16 score on the road last year.
No. 1 Iowa 40, Bucknell 3
*125: No. 4 Charlie Falck (I) dec. Derek Reber (B), 9-3
133: No. 2 Daniel Dennis (I) maj. dec. No. 20 David Marble (B), 14-4
141: No. 2 Alex Tsirtsis (I) pinned Adam Healey (B), 1:22
149: No. 1 Brent Metcalf (I) pinned Kevin LeValley (B), 4:20
157: Matt Ballweg (I) maj. dec. Tyler Riccio (B), 8-0
165: No. 3 Ryan Morningstar (I) dec. No. 15 Andy Rendos (B), 2-1
174: Shane Riccio (B) dec. Colby Covington (I), 7-2
184: No. 3 Phillip Keddy (I) maj. dec. David Thompson (B), 14-0
197: No. 19 Chad Beatty (I) tech. fall Rob Waltko (B), 26-11 (6:20)
HWT: No. 7 Dan Erekson (I) won by forfeit
* starting weight
Team Records
Bucknell – 8-8
Iowa – 18-0
