Bucknell University
#8 American
Bucknell Wrestlng Ends Regular Season with 25-14 Loss at No. 8 American
2/20/2011 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 20, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bucknell's Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) won the lone matchup of ranked opponents, but American claimed six of 10 bouts overall as the No. 8 Eagles defeated the Bison by a 25-14 score Sunday evening at Bender Arena. The loss snapped a three-match winning streak for Bucknell, which finished the regular season 7-11 overall and 2-5 against EIWA opponents.
LeValley, who is ranked fourth nationally at 149 pounds, claimed a 9-6 decision over eighth-ranked Ganbayar Sanjaa to improve to 26-1 this season and 119-38 in his four-year career. He surpassed Bobby Ferraro on Bucknell's all-time wins list and is now in sole possession of second place, just two victories behind former teammate Andy Rendos.
A 2010 NCAA qualifier, LeValley is now 7-1 against ranked opponents this year and has won 26 of his last 27 dual matches. He is 6-1 in EIWA duals this season. Sanjaa brought a 20-3 record into Sunday's top-10 battle with LeValley.
American (14-7, 3-2 EIWA) had five ranked wrestlers in its lineup, including three top-10 grapplers, while Bucknell had just LeValley. The Eagles ranked wrestlers - No. 14 Matt Mariacher (141), Sanjaa (149), No. 1 Steve Fittery (157), No. 18 Daniel Mitchell (197) and No. 3 Ryan Flores (Hwt.) - combined for four of American's six victories. Three of those wins were for bonus points, including pins by Mariacher at 141 and Flores at heavyweight.
Alex Pellicciotti (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area) posted the Bison's only bonus-point win with a 17-1 tech fall against Kevin Tao at 133 pounds. It took Pellicciotti just 2:27 to accumulate the 15+-point advantage. It marked his second consecutive bonus-point victory, following a pin in Saturday's win at Brown.
Veterans David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local) and Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) won back-to-back decisions at 174 and 184 that brought Bucknell to within 16-14 with two bouts remaining. However, American totaled nine team points at 197 and heavyweight.
Thompson's decision was by an 8-5 score, while Waltko posted a 13-8 win. It was the third straight victory for Thompson and the fifth in a row for Waltko, who is now 15-13 this year.
American was the seventh ranked foe the Bison faced in 2010-11. Bucknell was a solid 7-4 opposite unranked opponents.
The Bison will next be in action in two weeks when they host the EIWA Championships, March 5-6, in Sojka Pavilion. Fans can call 570-577-1000 to purchase tickets to the highly anticipated event.
No. 8 American 25, Bucknell 14
*125: Thomas Williams (A) dec. Derek Reber (B), 4-2
133: Alex Pellicciotti (Bu) tech fall Kevin Tao (A), 17-1 (2:31)
141: No. 14 Matt Mariacher (A) pinned Adam Healey (B), 1:57
149: No. 4 Kevin LeValley (B) dec. No. 8 Ganbayar Sanjaa (A), 9-6
157: No. 1 Steve Fittery (A) maj. dec. Brantley Hooks (B), 18-7
165: Patrick Graham (A) dec. Corey Lear (B), 5-3
174: David Thompson (B) dec. Tanner Shaffer (A), 8-5
184: Rob Waltko (B) dec. Thomas Barreiro (A), 13-8
197: No. 18 Daniel Mitchell (A) dec. Jay Hahn (B), 6-4
Hwt: No. 3 Ryan Flores (A) pinned Joe McMullan (B), 1:59
* starting weight
