Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Navy Classic
Bucknell Wrestling Finishes Second at Navy Invitational
11/20/2010 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 20, 2010
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Corey Lear (Orangeville, Pa./Benton Area) won the 165-pound title and three other Bison posted second-place finishes in their weight classes as the Bucknell wrestling team opened the 2010-11 campaign Saturday with a runner-up team finish at the Navy Classic. The Bison, who had 10 total placewinners (top six), totaled 78 points, while host Navy claimed first place with seven individual champions and 135.5 total points.
Lear's path to his title was rather easy as his closest match was a 4-1 decision over Franklin & Marshall's Anthony Bongarzone in his opening bout. He then posted a 14-2 major decision in the quarterfinals, a 7-2 decision in the semifinals and a commanding 9-2 decision in the finals over Navy's Mason Bailey. Lear entered the bracket as the No. 2 seed.
Sophomore Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area), freshman Alex Pellicciotti (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) and senior Brantley Hooks (Spartanburg, S.C./James F. Byrnes) also advanced to the finals of their respective weight classes, and each ended with runner-up finishes.
Reber, who went 31-12 as a freshman two years ago and won the Michigan State Open wrestling unattached last weekend, improved to 6-1 on the young season as he faced three Navy wrestlers in the 125-pound bracket. After defeating Jericho Urmenita and Allen Stein, he lost to top-seeded Aaron Kalil, 6-1, in the final.
Pellicciotti was impressive in his collegiate debut, recording two pins and a 7-2 decision as he advanced to the finals at 133 pounds.
Hooks had a little more work to do on the way to the finals at 157 pounds as he posted three victories by decision to set up a meeting with Navy's Bryce Saddoris, who is ranked ninth nationally according to Intermat. Hooks competed well, but lost a 7-5 decision to Saddoris.
Other placewinners for the Bison included Zac Hancock (3rd, 141 pounds), Adam Healey (5th, 141 pounds), David Thompson (4th, 174 pounds), Joe McMullan (5th, 184 pounds), Rob Waltko (6th, 184 pounds) and Jay Hahn (3rd, 197 pounds). Hahn was the winner of the 197-pound weight class at the 2009 Navy Classic.
Bucknell did compete without 2010 All-American Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon), who will be competing in Sunday's NWCA All-Star Classic in Fresno, Calif. LeValley will face Edinboro's Torsten Gillespie.
The Bison will next be in action as a team next weekend when they wrestle duals at No. 15 Nebraska (Nov. 27 at 1 p.m.) and No. 3 Oklahoma State (Nov. 28 at 3 p.m.).
Final Team Standings
1. Navy - 135.5
2. Bucknell - 78.0
3. Bloomsburg - 61.0
4. West Virginia - 48.0
5. George Mason - 21
6. Franklin & Marshall - 19.5
7. Campbell - 9.5
Bucknell Placewinners
125: Derek Reber (2nd)
133: Alex Pellicciotti (2nd)
141: Zac Hancock (3rd), Adam Healey (5th)
157: Brantley Hooks (2nd)
165: Corey Lear (1st)
174: David Thompson (4th)
184: Joe McMullan (5th), Rob Waltko (6th)
197: Jay Hahn (3rd)
