Bucknell University
Midlands Championships
Bucknell's Kevin LeValley Wins 149-Pound Title at Midlands Championships
12/30/2010 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 30, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - Bucknell wrestling senior Kevin LeValley was the No. 1 overall seed in the 149-pound bracket at the Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern, and he lived up to that billing on Thursday, becoming the first Bison to win an individual title at the prestigious event. LeValley upended sixth-seeded Cole Schmitt of Wisconsin, 4-0, in the finals to finish the two-day event with a perfect 5-0 mark.
LeValley breezed into the semifinals on Wednesday, posting two major decisions and a tech fall. He won the three bouts by a combined 42-3 margin.
The 2010 All-American was just as successful on Thursday, defeating Minnesota's Dylan Ness, 10-6, in the semifinals before shutting out Schmidt in the finals.
With his five wins over the last two days, LeValley, who is ranked third in the nation, improved to 15-0 this year. Schmitt was ranked 18th nationally, making him the third nationally ranked foe LeValley has beaten this season.
LeValley was one of eight top-10 wrestlers to capture titles at the Midlands Championships. Seven of the weight classes were won by wrestlers listed in the top five nationally.
LeValley has been impressive at the Midlands Championships the last two years. Last December he finished third in the 149-pound bracket, best among all Bison.
In the 2010 calendar year, LeVally posted a 36-4 record, including 24-1 in the regular season. His last regular-season loss came last Jan. 8 at the Virginia Duals.
LeValley was not the only Bison in action on Thursday as sophomore Corey Lear and senior Jay Hahn were alive in the consolation brackets of their weight classes. Both entered the day one win shy of a top-eight finish, but both lost their first bout of the day and were eliminated. Lear faced 11th-seeded Ethan Headlee of Pittsburgh and was pinned, while Hahn lost by a 9-6 decision to No. 20 Brent Haynes of Missouri.
Eight other Bucknell wrestlers competed on Wednesday, but were eliminated from the double-elimination tournament.
The Bison finished 18th in the team standings (out of 44), one spot ahead of fellow EIWA member American. Missouri claimed the team title, while Wisconsin and Lehigh rounded out the top three.
A television broadcast of the Midlands championship matches will air on tape delay on the Big Ten Network, with the debut coming at 4 p.m. (Eastern) on Saturday, Jan. 8.
Bucknell will next be in action next weekend, Jan. 7-8, at the Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. The Bison will find out their opening-round opponent early next week.
Bucknell Results (only wrestlers who competed on Thursday - see Dec. 29 recap for complete Bucknell results)
149: No. 3 Kevin LeValley (No. 1 seed), Sr., Hugo, Colo.
Dec. 29:
1st Round: W, tech. fall Matt Mauseth (Wisconsin-Lacrosse), 16-0 (4:50)
2nd Round: W, maj. dec. Matt Ballweg (Iowa), 13-2
Quarterfinals: W, maj. dec. Zac Cibula (Rider), 13-1
Dec. 30:
Semifinals: W, dec. Dylan Ness (Minnesota - unattached), 10-6
Finals: W, dec. No. 18 Cole Schmidt (Wisconsin), 4-0
LeValley wins 149-pound bracket
165: Corey Lear, So., Orangeville, Pa.
Dec. 29:
1st Round: W, dec. Trevor Hall (Cal Bakersfield), 7-4
2nd Round: L, dec. No. 16 Brandon Hatchett (Lehigh), 7-1
Consolation 2nd Round: W, dec. JT Rice (Eastern Michigan), 6-0
Consolation 3rd Round: W, dec. Luke Miller (Ohio Northern), 5-1
Dec. 30:
Consolation 4th Round: L, fall Ethan Headlee (Pittsburgh), 2:07
Lear Eliminated
197: Jay Hahn (No. 9 seed), Sr., Malvern, Pa.
Dec. 29:
1st Round: W, maj. dec. Ryan Malo (Williams), 12-4
2nd Round: W, dec. Alex Thomas (Clarion), 7-5 (sv1)
Quarterfinals: L, dec. Nathan Patrick (Sunkist Kids), 9-4
Dec. 30:
Consolation 4th Round: L, dec. No. 20 Brent Haynes (Missouri), 9-6
Hahn Eliminated
