Bucknell University
#15 Wyoming
Bucknell Wrestling Splits on First Day of Virginia Duals
1/7/2011 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 7, 2011
Note: Watch Kevin LeValley's championship match from last week's Midlands Championships Saturday on the Big Ten Network at 4 p.m.
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell wrestling team competed at the Virginia Duals on Friday and posted a 1-1 record as it nearly upset No. 15 Wyoming and then bounced back to earn the split of its two matches with a 21-17 victory over UNC Greensboro. The Bison led virtually their entire opening match against the nationally ranked Cowboys, including entering the final bout, but lost by a 19-16 margin.
Bucknell (3-5) will now face Edinboro Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in the consolation bracket quarterfinals. The Fighting Scots also went 1-1 on Friday, defeating Old Dominion, 22-12, and losing to top-seeded Penn State, 37-12.
Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon), Brantley Hooks (Spartanburg, S.C./James F. Byrnes) and Jay Hahn (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) each posted perfect 2-0 records for the Bison on Friday. The No. 4-ranked LeValley, who improved to 17-0 on the season, needed to defeat a pair of ranked foes to keep his record unblemished.
Bucknell led the Wyoming (1-3) match throughout as the Cowboys didn't take their first lead (15-13) until a pin at 184 pounds. A decision by Hahn at 197 put the Bison back in front (16-15), but Joe O'Farrell posted a major decision against Conor Sweeney (Gladstone, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) at heavyweight to clinch the match for Wyoming.
Bucknell claimed four of the first five bouts and led 13-3 halfway through. However, the turning point in the match came at 174 pounds where Dallas Hintz barely defeated 2009 NCAA qualifier David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local), 4-3. Thompson held a 3-2 lead late in the bout, but a takedown seconds before the final buzzer put Hintz in front for the win.
LeValley and Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) each earned wins over ranked wrestlers as Wyoming had four ranked competitors in its lineup. Reber defeated No. 19 Tyler Cox, 9-7, at 125 pounds, while LeValley scored a 3-2 decision over No. 20 Cole Dallaserra at 149.
The loss to Wyoming dropped the Bison to the consolation bracket of the 16-team field where they faced UNC Greensboro (2-7), which had lost its first-round matchup with EIWA foe Lehigh, 33-6.
Bucknell had to dig out of an early 7-0 hole against the Spartans, who posted victories at both 125 and 133. Eric Harris (Green River, Wyo./Green River), LeValley, Hooks and Corey Lear (Orangeville, Pa./Benton Area) won four consecutive bouts to stake the Bison to a 14-7 advantage. Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Hahn added victories as Bucknell held a 10-point edge entering the final bout.
Hooks (157), Lear (165) and Hahn (197) each posted wins by major decision, leading to the victory.
LeValley faced the Spartans' lone ranked competitor and defeated No. 16 Ivan Lopouchanski, 12-5. LeValley is now 5-0 against ranked foes this year.
Bison head coach Dan Wirnsberger, who picked up his 47th win in five years at Bucknell, switched his lineup considerably from Friday's first match to the second. There were new faces at 133 (Derrik Russell instead of Alex Pellicciotti), 174 (Stephen McPeek instead of Thompson) and 184 (Waltko instead of Joe McMullan) in the nightcap vs. the Spartans.
Following its victory over Bucknell, Wyoming proceeded to lose to Lehigh, 25-9, in the quarterfinals.
If Bucknell defeats Edinboro Saturday morning, it will face the winner of Virginia and Arizona State at 4 p.m. The consolation final, which decides fifth place in the two-day Virginia Duals, is slated for 6 p.m.
No. 15 Wyoming 19, Bucknell 16
*125: Derek Reber (B) dec. No. 19 Tyler Cox (W), 9-7
133: Alex Pellicciotti (B) maj. dec. Kasey Garnhart (W), 11-1
141: Chase Smith (W) dec. Eric Harris (B),5-3
149: No. 4 Kevin LeValley (B) dec. No. 20 Cole Dallaserra (D), 3-2
157: Brantley Hooks (B) dec. Jimmy Belleville (W), 5-3
165: No. 6 Shane Onufer (W) dec. Corey Lear (B), 2-1
174: Dallas Hintz (W) dec. David Thompson (B), 4-3
184: No. 2 Joe LeBlanc (W) pinned Joe McMullan (B), 1:01
197: Jay Hahn (B) dec. Lee Helbig (W), 9-7
Hwt.: Joe O'Farrell (W) maj. dec. Conor Sweeney (B), 12-2
* Starting weight
Bucknell 21, UNC Greensboro 17
*125: Robert Gribschaw (G) dec. Derek Reber (B), 8-6
133: Jamel Johnson (G) maj. dec. Derrik Russell (B), 14-3
141: Eric Harris (B) dec. Michael Crowley (G), 9-3
149: No. 4 Kevin LeValley (B) dec. No. 16 Ivan Lopouchanski (G), 12-5
157: Brantley Hooks (B) maj. dec. Cody Rodebaugh (G), 12-1
165: Corey Lear (B) maj. dec. Travis Sheehy (G), 17-4
174: Byron Sigmon (G) maj. dec. Stephen McPeek (B), 17-4
184: Rob Waltko (B) dec. Brett Miller (G), 11-8
197: Jay Hahn (B) maj. dec. Caylor Williams (G), 14-2
Hwt.: Peter Sturgeon (G) pinned Conor Sweeney (B), 0:06
* Starting weight
