Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling's Kevin LeValley Finishes First at University World Team Trials
5/29/2010 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
May 29, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell All-American wrestler Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) claimed the 66-kilogram title at the Fila University World Team Trials on Friday night in his home state, earning him a guarantee of at least a wrestle-off for a spot in October's University World Games in Torino, Italy.
LeValley, who became just the fifth different Bison wrestler to claim All-America honors this past March when he finished seventh at 149 pounds at the NCAA Championships, pinned two-time All-American Jimmy Kennedy of the Illini Wrestling Club in the championship match on Friday to win the title.
"This is an exciting continuation for Kevin and our program," said Bucknell head coach Dan Wirnsberger. "He showed that his hard work and dedication made him one of the best in the country when he became an All-American. Beating the quality of competition Kevin faced shows that he is on track to do even more amazing things in his senior season, but first we are excited to see him prove himself among the best in the world this summer and next fall."
LeValley needed to win just two matches to advance to the championship match against Kennedy. He defeated first-round opponent Tyler Untrauer of the Falcon Wrestling Club by tech fall and then posted a shutout decision over Jeff Jaggers from NYAC in the semifinals. Kennedy received a first-round bye and needed to defeat only one other wrestler before matching up with LeValley.
The school record-holder with 42 wins this past season, LeValley will enter his senior campaign next fall with 93 career victories, good for sixth in Bucknell history. LeValley never lost two consecutive matches last year despite facing 16 nationally ranked opponents. He posted a 5-2 record at the NCAA Championships and placed second at the EIWA Championships.
Each country is authorized to enter one wrestler and one reserve in each weight category in October's University World Games in Italy. The weeklong event runs Oct. 24-30, 2010. Competitors must be born between Jan. 1, 1982 and Dec. 31, 1992. LeValley owns the spot in the University World Games in Italy unless Penn State's Bubba Jenkins places in the top three at next month's U.S. World Team Trials. If Jenkins earns a top-three showing he can challenge LeValley to a wrestle-off for the University World Games position.
LeValley helped the Bison to a 12-6 record, including 6-0 against EIWA competition, in 2009-10. Bucknell. The 12 victories equaled a school record and it was the program's first unbeaten conference mark since 1987-88. The Bison finished in the top four at the EIWA Championships for a second consecutive year and placed 27th at the NCAA Championships.
