Bucknell University
Lock Haven
Bucknell Wrestling Downs Lock Haven, 26-13
2/4/2011 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 4, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) set the tone with an early pin and Bucknell posted four bonus-point victories as the Bison wrestling team doubled up Lock Haven, 26-13, Friday evening in Davis Gym. The win marked the second in a row for Bucknell over the Bald Eagles, who won the first 16 meetings in the series that began in 1947.
Bucknell (5-10) faced 13-0, 12-0 and 12-0 deficits in each of its last three matches, but Reber made sure the Bison got on the board early on Friday as he recorded his third pin of the season in the opening bout. He put Tyrus Nickoli on his back in 4:24 after dominating en route to a 10-1 lead. The win helped Reber improve to 13-11 this season.
Lock Haven (5-9) did come back and take a 7-6 lead with two straight victories, but three straight wins by Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) at 149, Brantley Hooks (Spartanburg, S.C./James F. Byrnes) at 157 and Corey Lear (Orangeville, Pa./Benton Area) at 165 gave the Bison the lead for good. LeValley, who won for the 23rd time in 24 tries this year, posted an easy 17-4 major decision, while Lear registered his second pin of the year after building a 10-0 lead. He nearly recorded a first-period pin, but it was not awarded, despite pleas from the Bucknell bench.
The swing bout in the match proved to be at 157 pounds where Hooks won by a tight 3-2 margin to give Bucknell a 13-7 lead. The bout did not feature much action and only two escapes were scored in the first 5+ minutes. Finally, Hooks scored on an emphatic takedown that surprised his opponent, Seth Creasy, with just over a minute to go. Hooks then staved off a possible last-second takedown by Creasy and prevailed by the final one-point margin. The victory was the 82nd of Hooks' career, moving him into a tie for 10th place on the program's all-time list with Mike Van Doren.
Stephen McPeek (Southlake, Texas/Bishop Lynch) nearly made it four Bucknell wins in a row at 174 pounds, but Mike Khoury scored a takedown in the final seconds just before the two wrestlers went out of bounds for a 3-1 win. That Lock Haven win made the Bison advantage 19-10.
Bucknell extended its lead in the heavier weight classes as Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) won by a 9-2 decision at 184 and Jay Hahn (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) posted an easy 14-3 major decision at 197. It was his fifth win in his last six bouts as he improved to 22-7 on the year.
LeValley's win at 149 pounds marked his 15th consecutive victory inside Davis Gym, while Bucknell has now claimed six consecutive February duals dating back to the 2008-09 campaign.
Bucknell's 26 points were its most since defeating Drexel 34-9 on Dec. 17. The Bison also evened their home record this year at 3-3.
Bucknell will close out the home dual portion of its schedule Thursday, Feb. 10, against EIWA foe Army. The match will be broadcast on Bison Vision and it will be Senior Night.
Bucknell 26, Lock Haven 13
*125: Derek Reber (B) pinned Tyrus Nickoli (L), 4:24
133: John Trumbetti (L) dec. Alex Pellicciotti (B), 12-10 (sv1)
141: Matt Bonson (L) maj. dec. Zac Hancock (B), 10-2
149: No. 6 Kevin LeValley (B) maj. dec. Owen Wilkinson (L), 17-4
157: Brantley Hooks (B) dec. Seth Creasy (L), 3-2
165: Corey Lear (B) pinned Dylan Caprio (L), 4:39
174: Mike Khoury (L) dec. Stephen McPeek (B), 3-1
184: Rob Waltko (B) dec. Jacob Bachman (L), 9-2
197: Jay Hahn (B) maj. dec. Derek Caldwell (L), 14-3
Hwt: Harry Turner (L) dec. Joe McMullan (B), 6-4
*Starting weight
