Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling Makes Trek to No. 7 Lehigh Friday
2/5/2009 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 5, 2009
About Friday's Match vs. Lehigh
Bucknell will begin a season-ending three-match road trip against EIWA foes Friday at No. 7 Lehigh. The two teams will meet at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall at 7 p.m. The Bison are 2-1 on the road this year, with their lone road loss coming at No. 1 Iowa last Friday. Bucknell has had success toward the end of the year each of the last two seasons. In fact, the Bison have combined to go 4-1-1 in its final three matches the last two years. Lehigh, which has been idle since Jan. 24, will be wrestling at home for the third time in a six-match homestand to end the season. The Mountain Hawks will also host Army, Franklin & Marshall and Penn before the EIWA Championships the first weekend in March.
About Lehigh
Lehigh is ranked No. 7 in the nation and owns a stellar 19-1 record. The Mountain Hawks' lone loss was to nationally ranked Central Michigan in the championship match of the Virginia Duals. Lehigh, which has piled up 20 wins in a season just twice in program history, has six wrestlers that are listed in the top 20 of their respective weight classes. Despite the six ranked grapplers, just one (David Craig - No. 9 at 184) is in the top 10.
Bucknell vs. Lehigh
Bucknell and Lehigh have met five times with the Mountain Hawks winning all five matchups. The two squads met in the consolation round of the Virginia Duals last year, with Lehigh winning 16-15 on criteria. Bucknell has not wrestled at Lehigh since November of 1998. The two programs have never met in Lewisburg.
Bucknell-Lehigh Series
Feb. 5, 1974 - Lehigh 39, Bucknell 0 (at Lehigh)
Jan. 22, 1975 - Lehigh 33, Bucknell 7 (at Lehigh)
Jan. 21, 1976 - Lehigh 31, Bucknell 10 (at Lehigh)
Nov. 20, 1998 - Lehigh 37, Bucknell 6 (at Lehigh)
Jan. 11, 2008 - Lehigh 16, Bucknell 15 (at Virginia Duals)
Last Meeting: Lehigh 16, Bucknell 15 (Jan. 11, 2008)
125: José Matos (B) dec. Mitch Berger, 6-5
133: Seth Ciasulli (L) dec. David Marble, 6-2
141: Luke Chohany (B) dec. Jeff Santo, 9-3
149: Trevor Chinn (L) dec. Kevin LeValley, 3-2
157: Dave Nakasone (L) dec. Brantley Hooks, 3-1
165: No. 19 Andy Rendos (B) dec. Mike Galante, 6-0
174: Alex Caruso (L) dec. Rob Waltko, 13-6
184: Shane Riccio (B) dec. Kadeem Samuels, 6-0
197: Alex Iacocca (L) maj. dec. Charlie Wonsettler, 15-6
Hwt.: George Hingson (B) dec. Justin Allen, 7-3
Last Weekend
Bucknell went 1-1 last weekend. The Bison traveled to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on No. 1 Iowa and lost 40-3. Forty-one hours later Bucknell returned to the mat at home against Columbia and defeated the Lions 28-12. The Bison built a 28-3 lead before Columbia posted a decision at 197 and earned a forfeit victory at heavyweight. The win over the Lions helped the Bison snap just their second losing streak of the season.
Three-Year Wins Record
With 12, 9 and 9 wins over the last three years, Bucknell has 30 victories over that span. That equals the program record for victories in a three-year stretch. From 1987-88 to 1989-90, the Bison went 30-12. Bucknell will be going for its eighth season with at least 10 wins vs. Lehigh.
Ranked Opponents
Bucknell has faced six ranked opponents this season and is 0-6 in those matches. It marks the second consecutive year the Bison have wrestled at least five ranked teams. The Bison are a solid 9-2 against unranked foes.
.500 Record in Conference
With a win against Lehigh, Bucknell will guarantee itself at least a .500 record against EIWA competition for the third consecutive year. The Bison have a 10-9-1 mark opposite EIWA foes since the resumption of the program prior to the 2006-07 season.
Success vs. EIWA
Andy Rendos and Derek Reber will be putting their perfect records against EIWA competition on the line Friday at Lehigh. Both Bison are 5-0 in EIWA duals, while David Marble is also undefeated with a 4-0 mark.
Common Opponents
Bucknell and Lehigh have faced five common opponents this season. The teams have both gone up against Brown, Central Michigan, Drexel, Kent State and Navy. The Bison are 2-3 against those opponents, while the Mountain Hawks are 4-1.
Starting Lineups
Bucknell has utilized 13 different starting lineups in its 17 dual matches this season. Last weekend against No. 1 Iowa and Columbia Bucknell used the same starting lineup in back-to-back matches for the first time since late November. With Scott Sechler expected to be in the lineup at 157 vs. Lehigh, it will be the 14th different lineup for the Bison.
Individual Ranked Opponents
Bucknell is expected to face six ranked wrestlers when it takes on Lehigh Friday. The Bison have experience facing ranked individuals as Friday's probable starters have wrestled 43 matches against ranked foes. However, those Bison are just 5-38 in those bouts, with David Marble and Andy Rendos combining for all five victories. Rendos posted the most impressive win by a Bucknell grappler when he defeated then-No. 1 Nick Marable of Missouri in November.
Bucknell's Probable Starters vs. Ranked Opponents (USA Today/Intermat/NWCA)
125 - Derek Reber (0-5)
133 - David Marble (3-7)
141 - Adam Healey (0-3)
149 - Kevin LeValley (0-5)
157 - Scott Sechler (0-0)
165 - Andy Rendos (2-4)
174 - Shane Riccio (0-5)
184 - David Thompson (0-5)
197 - Rob Waltko (0-2)/Nathan Jones (0-2)
Top 10
Both David Marble and Andy Rendos now appear among the top 10 in Bucknell history in victories. Rendos stands eighth in program history with 77 wins, while Marble is ninth with 73. Additionally, Rendos, who is 20-1 against unranked opponents this year, ranks sixth in program annals with a .778 career winning percentage. Marble is 10th in that category with a .716 career winning percentage.
Wirnsberger in Second Place on Bucknell Wins List
Bucknell head coach Dan Wirnsberger has moved into second place on the Bison career wins list with 30. In three seasons of competition, Wirnsberger has an overall mark of 30-28-2 at Bucknell. He recently coached his 100th career match (Dec. 19 vs. Wagner) and is 56-50-2 in his coaching career, which has been split between Bloomsburg and Bucknell.
Closing in on Pins List
Andy Rendos recently recorded his seventh pin of the year (vs. Columbia), upping his career total to 18. He is now just one pin shy of tying Robert Greenly, Doug Mays and Gene Santoli for 10th on the Bison career list. Only one Bucknell grappler (Brian Pitzer) has joined the list since 1995.
Difficult Losses
Bucknell's 17 opponents have a combined record of 132-127-5 this year. However, the Bison have lost to a handful of quality teams as the eight opponents they have lost to are a combined 94-36-2.
Record of Bucknell's Opponents
All - 132-127-5
Teams Bucknell has lost to: 94-36-2
Teams Bucknell has defeated: 38-91-3
Up Next
Bucknell will continue its season-ending three-match road trip next Sunday, Feb. 15, at EIWA foe American. That match is slated for 1 p.m. The Bison defeated the Eagles 30-14 inside Davis Gym last February.
