Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling Set for this Weekend's EIWA Championships
3/4/2010 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 4, 2010
Following the EIWA Championships
TV: Live coverage of the finals on Service Electric 2 Sports (in the Lehigh Valley)
Radio: Live coverage of the finals on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 (in the Lehigh Valley)
Internet Broadcast: Live video of the entire tournament online at Lehighsports.com
Online Results: Live results updated regularly at Lehighsports.com
About the EIWA Championships
This year's EIWA Championships, the 106th, are hosted by Lehigh, March 6-7, and will take place at Stabler Arena. A total of 13 teams are in the EIWA. Cornell has won the team championship the last three years, while Lehigh won it the previous five years. Tournament seeds and brackets are expected to be released Friday evening.
Tournament Schedule
Saturday, March 6
Session 1 (preliminaries) - 10 a.m.
(quarterfinals/consolations) - approx. 12 p.m.
(second round consolations) - approx. 2 p.m.
Session 2 (semifinals) - approx. 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 7
Session 3 (consolation semifinals/place finals) - 10 a.m.
Session 4 (championship finals) - 3 p.m.
Bucknell's EIWA Championships History
Bucknell first joined the EIWA in 1999-2000 and has wrestled at the EIWA Championships six times. The first year the Bison competed they were not awarded team points. Since then, they have finished 10th, 12th, ninth, eighth and tied for third.
Bucknell's EIWA Team Finishes
2000: no team points awarded
2001: 10th (30 points)
2002: 12th (12.5)
2007: 9th (40)
2008: 8th (43.5)
2009: t-3rd (79)
Bucknell Individuals at EIWA Championships
Six of Bucknell's projected wrestlers at the EIWA Championships have previous postseason experience. Those six grapplers have combined for a 35-25 career mark at the EIWA Championships. Bucknell has never had an individual champion at EIWAs.
Current Bucknell Individuals at EIWA Championships
• David Marble (Career at EIWAs: 8-6)
- 2007: 2-3 (6th place at 133)
William Simpson (Army), W, 9-4
Joseph Baker (Navy), W, 7-5 (sv)
Matthew Valenti (Penn), L, TF 16-1
Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh), L, 5-4
Joseph Baker (Navy), L, MD 10-2
- 2008: 3-1 (2nd place at 133)
Stephen Sabreen (F&M), W, TF 19-2
Bryan Ortenzio (Penn), W, 8-4
Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh), W, 5-3
Joseph Baker (Navy), L, 5-4
- 2009: 3-2 (4th place at 133)
Ross Baldwin (Brown), W, TF 19-3
Bryan Ortenzio (Penn), W, 7-3
Joe Baker (Navy), L, 8-3
Jasen Borshoff (American), W, 6-3
Matt Fisk (Lehigh), L, 4-2 (sv)
• Kevin LeValley (Career at EIWAs: 5-5)
- 2008: 2-2 (149 pounds)
Mark Bloom (Brown), W, MD 11-1
Trevor Chinn (Lehigh), L, 7-4
Christopher Clarke (American), W, MD 11-2
Anthony Constantino (Columbia), L, 3-2
- 2009: 3-3 (6th place at 149)
Kellen Bradley (Rutgers), W, 10-3
Trevor Chinn (Lehigh), L, 8-3
Daniel Kolodzik (Princeton), W, Fall (3:40)
D.J. Meagher (Cornell), W, 9-4
Kyle Borshoff (American), L, 3-1 (sv)
Cesar Grajales (Penn), L, 4-2
• Brantley Hooks (Career at EIWAs: 3-4)
- 2007: 1-2 (157 pounds)
Devin Mesanko (Columbia), L, 6-5
Mike Alvarez (Princeton), W, MD 10-2
Christian Snook (Army), L, 8-1
- 2008: 2-2 (157 pounds)
Dave Nakasone (Lehigh), L, MD 18-6
Kyle Heselpoth (East Stroudsburg), W, 7-4
Martin Everin (Princeton), W, 7-5
Robert Hitschler (Penn), L, 5-4
• Andy Rendos (Career at EIWAs: 9-4)
- 2007: 3-1 (3rd place at 165)
Frankie Colletta (Harvard), W, MD 12-1
Michael Cannon (American), L, 5-3
Ricky Turk (Columbia), W, MD 16-7
Shawn Kitchner (Brown), W, 10-7
- 2008: 3-2 (4th place at 165)
Chris Musser (Brown), W, 8-2
Justin Jacobs (Navy), W, Fall (3:48)
Mack Lewnes (Cornell), L, 7-2
Mike Galante (Lehigh), W, 6-5 (tb)
Michael Cannon (American), L, 5-2
- 2009: 3-1 (2nd place at 165)
Brian Rowan (Army), W, MD 12-0
Christopher Stout (American), W, 9-2
Mike Galante (Lehigh), W, MD 8-0
Mack Lewnes (Cornell), L, 5-3
• Shane Riccio (Career at EIWAs: 10-4)
- 2007: 2-2 (174 pounds)
Mike Whalen (Rutgers), W, 3-1
Matt Stolpinski (Navy), L, MD 12-1
Bran Crudden (Brown), W, 6-1
Rudy Rueda (American), L, TF 16-1
- 2008: 3-2 (5th place at 174)
Travis Erdman (Princeton), W, 6-3
Justin Herbert (F&M), W, 8-4
Matt Stolpinski (Navy), L, 2-0
Alex Caruso (Lehigh), L, 3-1
Justin Herbert (F&M), W, 7-2
- 2009: 5-1 (3rd place at 174)
Ryan Mergen (Army), W, 4-1
Scott Giffin (Penn), L, 9-8
Andy Olsen (Harvard), W, 6-2
Justin Herbert (Franklin & Marshall), W, 9-6
Luke Rebertus (Navy), W, 3-1
Alex Caruso (Lehigh), W, 3-2
• Jay Hahn (Career at EIWAs: 0-2)
- 2008: 0-2 (197 pounds)
Thomas Shovlin (Penn), L, MD 16-6
Nick Sommerfeld (Columbia), L, 9-5
• Derrik Russell, John Regan, Rob Waltko, Joe McMullan
- Career: 0-0
NCAA Qualifiers from EIWA Championships
The EIWA will have 41 automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championships, which will take place March 18-20 in Omaha, Neb. Forty-six additional at-large qualifiers who do not earn automatic berths will be selected at the conclusion of all conference tournaments. The at-large qualifiers will be announced March 10.
| EIWA Automatic NCAA Qualifiers by Weight Class |
|
| 125: 4 | 165: 6 |
| 133: 5 | 174: 4 |
| 141: 3 | 184: 4 |
| 149: 4 | 197: 4 |
| 157: 4 | Hwt: 3 |
Bucknell's NCAA Qualifiers
Since the reinstatement of its program prior to the 2006-07 season, Bucknell has had seven different wrestlers combine for NCAA berths. Last year the Bison set a program record with six NCAA qualifiers. Seniors David Marble and Andy Rendos will attempt to become the first four-time NCAA participants at Bucknell since Bobby Ferraro accomplished the feat from 1992-95. The Bison program has had 60 all-time individual NCAA berths.
2009 EIWA Championships
The remarkable resurgence of the Bucknell wrestling program continued in a big way at last year's EIWA Championships, as a Bison squad made up of only three classes of recruited grapplers finished in a tie for third place with Penn. The upstart squad came home with a program record seven placewinners, and five wrestlers secured automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, with two others that were up for at-large consideration. The third-place finish was Bucknell's highest in a conference tournament since winning the 1995 ECWA title in Davis Gym.
Ranked Bison
Entering last year's EIWA Championships, only one Bison was ranked nationally by Intermat (Andy Rendos - No. 12 at 165). This year, four Bucknell wrestlers show up in the rankings. David Marble (No. 17 at 133), Kevin LeValley (No. 7 at 149) and Shane Riccio (No. 15 at 174) join Rendos (No. 10 at 165).
Wins Record
Bucknell went 12-6 overall during dual competition this year. The 12 victories tied the school record for wins that was established by the 2006-07 squad. This is just the ninth time in program history a Bison squad has reached double figures in wins.
Undefeated EIWA Record
Bucknell finished the regular season 6-0 against EIWA competition, marking its first undefeated conference record since going 5-0 in 1987-88 as part of the East Coast Conference. The Bison had never before had an unblemished conference mark of 6-0 or better.
Four-Year Wins
This year's senior class will graduate with the most team dual wins of any seniors in Bucknell history. The Bison have piled up 44 victories the last four years. The previous high in any four-year stretch was 38 from 1987-88 to 1990-91.
Winning Record
Bucknell finished above .500 for the second consecutive season. The Bison, who went 11-9 last year, had not finished above .500 in back-to-back years since 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Ranked Opponents
Bucknell faced seven ranked opponents last year, and a total of 15 the previous three years. This season, the Bison wrestled against four ranked foes. The Bison were 0-4 in those matches and have not defeated a ranked opponent since February 2007. Bucknell did wrestle current No. 21 Rutgers in November and won, but the Scarlet Knights were unranked at the time.
Strong Schedule
The six teams Bucknell lost to this year were very strong, combining for an 86-34-2 overall record. The 12 squads the Bison defeated were a combined 89-113-4.
Individual Ranked Opponents
Bucknell wrestlers will see plenty of ranked opponents at the EIWA Championships. The 10 Bison entrants in the EIWAs combined to go 18-35 when facing a ranked individual this season. Kevin LeValley (8-4) and Andy Rendos (3-1) were the only Bison to post records of better than .500 against ranked opposition.
Bucknell's EIWA Entrants vs. Ranked Opponents (Intermat)
125 - Derrik Russell (0-3)
133 - David Marble (2-5)
141 - John Regan (0-3)
149 - Kevin LeValley (8-4)
157 - Brantley Hooks (0-5)
165 - Andy Rendos (3-1)
174 - Shane Riccio (4-4)
184 - Rob Waltko (0-5)
197 - Jay Hahn (1-4)
Hwt. - Joe McMullan (0-1)
March Success for Rendos
Last year 165-pounder Andy Rendos finished second at the EIWA Championships. He followed up that success with a fifth-place showing at the NCAA Championships, becoming the first Bison All-American since 1995. He joined former Bucknell greats Tom Marchetti, Bryan Burns and Bobby Ferraro as the only wrestlers in school history to reach All-America status.
LeValley on a Roll
Junior 149-pounder Kevin LeValley broke the Bucknell single-season wins mark earlier this year, is 34-5 and has claimed nine victories in a row. His last six wins (2 TF, 2 MD, 2 Dec.) have come by a combined 63-1 score. The Hugo, Colo., native has not lost consecutive bouts all season and is a solid 8-4 against ranked opponents. All five of his losses have come by decision by a combined 10 points.
Century Mark
All three Bison seniors (David Marble, Andy Rendos, Shane Riccio) crossed the 100-win plateau for their careers earlier this season, ballooning the century club from two members (Bobby Ferraro, Tom Marchetti) to five. Rendos currently ranks second on the list with 112 wins, while Marble (106) is tied for third with Bucknell Athletics Hall of Famer Tom Marchetti. Riccio (105) ranks fifth.
30-Win Seasons
Senior Shane Riccio joined an exclusive club with a win in Bucknell's final dual against American. The 174-pounder joined Bobby Ferraro and Brian Pitzer as the only Bison to capture two 30-win seasons during their careers. Riccio is currently 30-8 one year after posting a 33-16 mark.
Starting Lineups
Bucknell used 10 different starting lineups this year. The Bison used all 10 lineups in their first 11 dual matches, but did not use a new after an early January meeting with UC Davis at the Virginia Duals. Each of Bucknell's final four duals featured the same lineup. Last year, the Bison used 15 different starting lineups in 20 dual matches.
Eight Straight EIWA Duals for LeValley
Junior Kevin LeValley has won his last eight EIWA duals, dating back to last year. He finished a team-best 6-0 this year and won his final two bouts against EIWA foes last year. His last loss came Feb. 6, 2009, to Lehigh's Trevor Chinn, who was ranked 14th nationally at the time.
Impressive EIWA Dual Record for Rendos
Andy Rendos closed out his EIWA dual career with a 26-2 record. The senior was 5-0 this year and claimed his final 14 EIWA duals. His last loss came to American's Mike Cannon in 2008. The only other EIWA dual loss for Rendos came his freshman year to Harvard's Matt Button in overtime.
Impressive Numbers
Bucknell's three seniors have combined for the following in their careers:
• 323 individual wins
• Eight NCAA appearances
• One All-America certificate
• 44 team wins (44-35-2 overall record)
• Eight EIWA placewinners
• 13 NCAA victories
• 69-14 individual record in EIWA duals
Streaking
Brantley Hooks (5), Kevin LeValley (9), David Marble (9) and Andy Rendos (4) all enter the EIWA Championships on individual winning streaks.
Quick Facts
• Bucknell faced four ranked teams this year. The Bison were 0-4 in those matches and have not defeated a ranked opponent since upending then-No. 25 Columbia in February 2007. Bucknell has lost 16 in a row to ranked foes.
• Bucknell tied the program record for wins in a season with 12 this year.
• Bucknell head coach Dan Wirnsberger ranks second in program history with 44 wins. He owns a 44-35-2 record in his four seasons at the helm of the Bison.
• Bucknell has seen its conference record improve from 3-3-1 in 2006-07 to 4-4 in 2007-08 to 5-3 in 2008-09 to 6-0 this year.
• Bucknell's wrestling program was brought back to varsity status prior to the 2006-07 season, four years after it was discontinued.
| 2009-10 EIWA Standings | ||
| Team | EIWA W-L-T | Overall W-L-T |
| Bucknell | 6-0 | 12-6 |
| Lehigh | 5-0-1 | 16-3-1 |
| Cornell | 5-0-1 | 9-4-1 |
| Rutgers | 6-2 | 19-6-1 |
| Penn | 4-2 | 10-6 |
| Navy | 2-2 | 6-2 |
| Princeton | 4-4 | 9-10 |
| Columbia | 3-4 | 8-10-1 |
| Army | 2-3 | 7-4 |
| Brown | 2-8 | 4-13 |
| Harvard | 1-8 | 2-14-1 |
| American | 0-3 | 7-10 |
| Franklin & Marshall | 0-4 | 0-11-1 |
Up Next
Bucknell's NCAA qualifiers will participate in the NCAA Championships March 18-20 in Omaha, Neb. Last year, the Bison sent a program-record six wrestlers to the event, bringing their all-time total to 60.
