Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Liberty
Bucknell Wrestling Overcomes Early Deficit, Defeats Liberty 30-15
1/23/2010 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 23, 2010
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Back-to-back overtime decisions by Rob Waltko and Jay Hahn and bonus-point victories by all three of its ranked wrestlers helped Bucknell to its third consecutive victory as it defeated Liberty 30-15 Saturday afternoon at the Vince Center. The Bison improved to 8-5 overall and 3-0 on the road this season.
The first three bouts of the match resulted in pins, and there were four pins overall on the day. The Bison dropped two of the first three bouts and trailed 12-6 after the 141-pound match.
David Marble, the No. 17 wrestler in the country at 133 pounds, kept Bucknell in the match early with a pin of Liberty's (6-7) Joe Pantaleo in 4:50.
Kevin LeValley, who is ranked No. 7 at 149 pounds, brought the Bison to within 12-11 with a 16-0 tech fall victory. It was his career-high 30th win of the season and moved him into a tie with Bryan Burns for 10th place on the Bucknell career list with 81 victories.
A 5-3 overtime loss by Brantley Hooks marked the final loss by a Bison as Bucknell claimed the final five individual bouts, starting with a pin by Corey Lear at 165 pounds that gave the Bison the lead (17-15) for good. It was the 20th win of the season for Lear, who is 7-1 in his last eight bouts.
No. 17 Shane Riccio extended the lead to 21-15 with a 12-3 major decision at 174, the fourth bonus-point win of the day for Bucknell. However, the match was still in doubt with three bouts to go. Waltko then posted a 9-7 sudden-victory decision at 184 and Hahn clinched the match with a 5-3 overtime decision of his own.
Joe McMullan got the Bison to 30 team points for the fourth time this year with a close 6-5 decision at heavyweight. McMullan earned the riding-time point, which proved to be the difference in the final score.
Bucknell, which opened a five-match road trip Saturday, will continue with its busy weekend Sunday at Old Dominion. Starting time for that match is 2 p.m.
Bucknell 30, Liberty 15
*125: Jonathan Childress (L) pinned Derrik Russell (B), 1:16)
133: No. 17 David Marble (B) pinned Joe Pantaleo (L), 4:55
141: Scott Clymer (L) pinned John Regan (B), 4:03
149: No. 7 Kevin LeValley (Bu) tech. fall Joey Montgomery (L), 16-0 (6:00)
157: Shaun Smith (L) dec. Brantley Hooks (B), 5-3(sv)
165: Corey Lear (B) pinned Chad Porter (L), 5:32
174: No. 17 Shane Riccio (B) maj. dec. Brad Clark (L), 12-3
184: Rob Waltko (B) dec. Nick Knowles (L), 9-7(sv)
197: Jay Hahn (B) dec. Jacobi Johnson (L), 5-3(sv)
Hwt: Joe McMullan (Bu) dec. Andrew Wilson (L), 6-5
*Starting weight
Team Records: Bucknell 8-5. Liberty 6-7
