Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling to Face No. 22 Nebraska, No. 2 Oklahoma State this Weekend
11/25/2010 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 25, 2010
Live Coverage of Weekend Matches
Bucknell vs. South Dakota State:
• Live Results: www.nwcaonline.com
Bucknell vs. Nebraska:
• Live Results: www.nwcaonline.com
• Live Video (free): www.huskers.com
Bucknell vs. Oklahoma State:
• Live Video: www.okstate.com
About Bucknell
The Bucknell wrestling program was discontinued following the 2001-02 season, but was brought back in 2005 thanks in large part to a generous donation from Bill Graham '62. The first season of competition for the program after the reinstatement was 2006-07. The Bison have posted a 44-35-2 record over the last four years.
Bucknell in 2010-11
The three matches this weekend mark Bucknell's first dual competitions of the season. The Bison, who were 12-6 in duals last year to tie a program record for victories, did compete at the Navy Classic last week and finished second of seven teams. Corey Lear claimed the 165-pound individual title. A number of Bucknell wrestlers also competed unattached at the Michigan State Open two weeks ago. Kevin LeValley (149 pounds) and Derek Reber (125 pounds) captured individual crowns.
About South Dakota State (Saturday at 11 a.m. Eastern - Lincoln, Neb.)
Bucknell and South Dakota State have never met. The Jackrabbits bring a 1-2 record into the weekend. They wrestled UW-Parkside (L, 28-18), Northwestern (L, 41-0) and UW-Whitewater (W, 24-13) at the Northwestern duals two weeks ago. This will be South Dakota State's second straight week competing in Nebraska as it wrestled at the Kaufman-Brand Open, hosted by Nebraska-Omaha, last Saturday, and had three placewinners.
About Nebraska (Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern - Lincoln, Neb.)
Bucknell and Nebraska have never met. The Huskers enter the weekend ranked 22nd nationally and are 1-1 on the young season. Nebraska split a pair of matches at the Buckeye Duals this past Sunday, losing to No. 20 Pittsburgh, 22-10, but defeating host and No. 11 Ohio State, 24-11. Bucknell will be Nebraska's first opponent on Saturday. The Huskers will then face South Dakota State at 3 p.m. (Eastern).
About Oklahoma State (Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern - Stillwater, Okla.)
Bucknell and Oklahoma State have never met. The Cowboys are tied for second in the national rankings with Boise State. Sunday's match will mark Oklahoma State's first dual in 2010-11. Like South Dakota State, the Cowboys competed at the Kaufman-Brand Open last weekend and posted six individual champions. Oklahoma State enters the 2010-11 campaign nine wins shy of 1,000 in the history of the program.
All-American Kevin LeValley
Bucknell senior Kevin LeValley is currently ranked fifth nationally at 149 pounds. He had a breakout season in 2009-10 and has accomplished quite a bit in the last year, including becoming the fifth Bison to ever earn All-America honors.
Kevin LeValley's Accomplishments
• 2010 All-American (7th at 149 pounds)
• School single-season record 42 wins in 2009-10
• Ranks sixth on program's all-time wins list (97)
• Competed at University World Championships in Torino, Italy, in October 2010
• Became first Bison to win a match at NWCA All-Start Classic (6-0 dec. vs. Edinboro's Torsten Gillespie) in November 2010
• Placed second at 2010 EIWA Championships to earn second consecutive berth to NCAA Championships
Goodbye Class of 2010
Bucknell's 2009-10 senior class of David Marble, Andy Rendos and Shane Riccio helped the Bison to a school-record 44 wins (44-35-2) over their four years. That trio combined for 340 individual victories, 11 NCAA appearances, two All-America certificates, 11 EIWA placewinners, 20 NCAA victories and a 69-14 record in EIWA duals. Marble, Rendos and Riccio were the first senior class for the Bison since the reinstatement of the program. Marble has returned to the program and is in his first year as an assistant coach with the Bison.
.500 Record
Bucknell, in 2010-11, will be aiming for its third consecutive above-.500 finish. The Bison have not finished above .500 in three straight years since 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Navy Classic
Seventeen Bison competed at the Navy Classic this past Saturday and 10 of them were placewinners as Bucknell placed second in the seven-team field. Highlighting the day was a first-place finish by sophomore Corey Lear in the 165-pound bracket. Additionally, Derek Reber (125), Alex Pellicciotti (133) and Brantley Hooks (157) advanced to the championship bout of their weight classes.
Unattached Wrestling at Michigan State Open
Many Bison have already piled up so many victories thanks to competing at the Michigan State Open (Nov. 13) as unattached wrestlers. Kevin LeValley (149) and Derek Reber (125) each won his weight class.
Wirnsberger Second on Wins List
Bucknell head coach Dan Wirnsberger has guided the Bison to 44 victories over the last four years. He now ranks second on the Bucknell all-time wins list, trailing only longtime Bison mentor Bobby Ferraro, who posted a 169-175-6 mark from 1974-97.
NCAA Berths
Bucknell has had seven different wrestlers (Eric Lapotsky, Kein LeValley, David Marble, Derek Reber, Andy Rendos, Shane Riccio, David Thompson) combine for 16 NCAA appearances over the last four years. Four Bison competed at NCAAs last March.
Multiple All-Americans
Both current senior Kevin LeValley (7th at 149) and 2010 graduate Andy Rendos (6th at 165) were All-Americans last year. It marked the first time the Bison had multiple All-Americans in the same season. Rendos is the second two-time All-American in program history, while LeValley became the fifth overall All-American, joining Tom Marchetti, Bryan Burns, Bobby Ferraro and Rendos.
EIWA Success
Bucknell has finished in the top five at the EIWA Championships each of the last two years (t-3rd in 2009, 4th in 2010). In 2010, Andy Rendos became the program's first-ever EIWA individual champion. The Bison had a school-record eight placewinners last March.
Bucknell's EIWA Team Finishes
2000: no team points awarded
2001: 10th of 14 (30 points)
2002: 12th of 13 (12.5)
2007: 9th of 14 (40)
2008: 8th of 14 (43.5)
2009: t-3rd of 14 (79)
2010: 4th of 13 (103.5)
Unbeaten in EIWA
Bucknell posted a 12-6 overall record in 2009-10 and was 6-0 against EIWA foes. The Bison tied the program record for overall wins, and were undefeated in conference matches for the first time since going 5-0 in 1987-88 as part of the East Coast Conference.
2011 EIWA Championships
Bucknell's Sojka Pavilion will host the 107th EIWA Championships March 5-6. It is the first time the Bison will be the host school for the prestigious event. It will be the second wrestling competition to ever be held in the eight-year-old Sojka Pavilion, Bucknell's primary basketball venue. The Bison hosted 23-time NCAA champion Iowa and Rutgers in the facility in November 2009. Fans can order tickets to the EIWA Championships by calling 570-577-1000 or visiting www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice.
Bucknell vs. Ranked Opponents
Bucknell has wrestled 19 ranked opponents over the last four years and is 1-18 in those matches. The lone win over that span was a 17-16 victory over No. 25 Columbia in February 2007.
Up Next
Bucknell will host No. 15 Lehigh in Davis Gym next Friday, Dec. 3, in its home opener. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Bison Vision.
