Bucknell University
#13 Lehigh
Bucknell Wrestling Falls Short in Upset Bid at No. 13 Lehigh, 25-15
1/21/2012 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 21, 2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Bucknell wrestling team led No. 13 Lehigh by four points with three bouts remaining, but the Mountain Hawks posted two major decisions and a forfeit victory in the three heaviest weight classes to come back and defeat the Bison by a 25-15 margin Saturday afternoon at Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. Austin Miller, John Regan, Corey Lear and Stephen McPeek posted wins for Bucknell, which was facing its second top-15 opponent this season.
It was a match of runs as Lehigh won three straight bouts, followed by three straight victories for Bison grapplers and then three more for the Mountain Hawks after Miller's decision at 125 gave Bucknell an early 3-0 advantage.
Lehigh (8-4, 4-1 EIWA), which had three ranked wrestlers in its lineup, posted four wins by major decision and one at 184 pounds by forfeit. The Bison registered one bonus-point victory, a pin by Lear at 165 pounds, marking his second career dual-match victory over a Mountain Hawk.
Miller, who leads Bucknell (2-11, 2-1 EIWA) in wins this year as a freshman, improved to 15-8 on the season thanks to a 7-3 victory over Alex Abreu to start the match. It was the fourth consecutive win for Miller following a 3-0 performance at the Virginia Duals.
After wins by Lehigh at 133, 141 and 149, Regan got the Bison back on the winning side with a 4-1 decision over Brian Tanen at 157. Regan, who also posted his fourth consecutive victory, had wrestled at 149 his last eight bouts.
Lear gave Bucknell its second lead of the match at 12-11 as he pinned Sean Bilodeau in 2:23. Four of his eight wins this year have come by pin, and it was his 12th career win by fall.
McPeek extended the Bison lead to 15-11 with a tight 7-6 decision at 174 over Kevin Bailey.
Bucknell's heavier weights struggled as Joe McMullan lost at 197 and freshman Tyler Lyster dropped a 12-4 major decision to defending national champion Zach Rey at heavyweight.
The Bison will be back in action next Friday when they wrestle at George Mason at 7:30 p.m. Bucknell will also travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face nationally ranked Binghamton and Oklahoma State on Sunday, Jan. 29.
No. 13 Lehigh 25, Bucknell 15
125 - Austin Miller (Bucknell) dec. Alex Abreu (Lehigh) 7-3
133 - Mason Beckman (Lehigh) major dec. Shawn Armato (Bucknell) 18-6
141 - No. 15 Steve Dutton (Lehigh) major dec. Derrik Russell (Bucknell) 10-2
149 - Anthony Salupo (Lehigh) dec. Alex Pellicciotti (Bucknell) 5-3
157 - John Regan (Bucknell) dec. Brian Tanen (Lehigh) 4-1
165 - Corey Lear (Bucknell) Fall Sean Bilodeau (Lehigh) 2:23
174 - Stephen McPeek (Bucknell) dec. Kevin Bailey (Lehigh) 7-6
184 - No. 4 Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) won by forfeit
197 - Kadeem Samuels (Lehigh) major dec. Joe McMullan (Bucknell) 16-8
285 - No. 3 Zach Rey (Lehigh) major dec. Tyler Lyster (Bucknell) 12-4
Attendance - 1,265
Referee - Joe Bartell
