Bucknell University Athletics
Busy Weekend on the Road Ahead for Bucknell Wrestling
1/26/2012 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 26, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell wrestling team will wrap up a stretch of eight consecutive dual matches away from Davis Gym this weekend when it competes at George Mason Friday evening, and Sunday at Oklahoma State against the host Cowboys and Binghamton. Sunday's duals will be particularly difficult as Oklahoma State is ranked No. 2, according to Intermat, and No. 1 in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. Binghamton is No. 22 in the Intermat poll and No. 19 in the NWCA/USA Today ranking.
The Bison (2-11, 2-1 EIWA) are coming off a 25-15 loss at No. 13 Lehigh last Saturday. Bucknell led 15-11, but the Mountain Hawks claimed the final three bouts on a forfeit and two major decisions.
Freshman 125-pounder Austin Miller and senior 157-pounder John Regan extended their own personal winning streaks to four matches in the win over Lehigh. Miller has won six of his last eight bouts and leads the Bison in victories with his 15-8 overall mark. Regan's winning streak has extended his season record to 12-8 and puts him just two victories shy of 50 in his career.
Junior 165-pounder Corey Lear and sophomore 174-pounder Stephen McPeek also posted wins vs. Lehigh. Lear pinned his opponent, his sixth bonus-point victory this year in just 13 bouts. He owns an 8-5 overall mark, while McPeek's 13-13 record puts him one victory ahead of his freshman-year total of 12.
George Mason brings a 5-12 record into Friday's 7:30 p.m. dual. The Patriots lost all four matches at the Colonial Athletic Association Duals. Frankie McLaughlin IV leads George Mason in wins this year with an 18-5 mark at 174 pounds.
Bucknell will travel to Stillwater, Okla., after Friday's dual. It is the second straight year the Bison will wrestle at the Cowboys' Gallagher-Iba Arena. Bucknell lost by a 39-3 margin to the No. 2 squad in the nation last November in the first meeting between the two teams. The Bison will open the day wrestling against Oklahoma State at 5 p.m. and then face Binghamton at 7 p.m. All times are Eastern.
Oklahoma State is currently 8-0 on the year and 3-0 against Big 12 opponents. The Cowboys will host North Carolina State Friday evening. Eight Oklahoma State wrestlers are ranked in the Intermat top 20 in their individual weight class. Five of those eight grapplers are listed in the top 10, including three that stand No. 2 in their weight class.
Binghamton, which at No. 19 in the NWCA/USA Today poll is the highest it has ever been, is 11-2 this year and has four wrestlers appear in the Intermat national rankings. The Bearcats are coming off a 3-0 record at the CAA Duals.
Bucknell enters the weekend with a 3-0 all-time mark against Binghamton, a 2-0 record opposite George Mason and an 0-1 tally vs. Oklahoma State. The Bison last faced the Bearcats in 2006-07 and won 27-8, while their last meeting with the Patriots was in 2009-10 and resulted in a 28-12 Bucknell victory.
Bison first-year assistant coach Harry Zander, a 2008 graduate of George Mason, will return to his alma mater as a visitor on Friday. He posted a 78-44 career record with 45 pins during his four years as a Patriot.
Bucknell will return home for the first time in nearly two months a week from Sunday when it hosts American inside Davis Gym at 12 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on Bison Vision.
Bucknell's Projected Lineup (2011-12 record)
125: Austin Miller (15-8)
133: Shawn Armato (2-14)
141: Derrik Russell (8-12)
149: Alex Pellicciotti (9-8)
157: John Regan (12-8)
165: Corey Lear (8-5)
174: Stephen McPeek (13-13)
184: Jamie Westwood (7-13)
197: Joe McMullan (7-5)
285: Tyler Lyster (7-16)
Weekend Schedule
Friday, Jan. 27
Bucknell at George Mason, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 29
Bucknell at No. 2 Oklahoma State, 5 p.m.
Bucknell vs. No. 22 Binghamton, 7 p.m.
