Bucknell University Athletics
Wrestling's Corey Lear Named Bison Athlete of the Week
12/24/2012 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 24, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior 165-pound wrestler Corey Lear (Orangeville, Pa./Benton Area) was named the Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday thanks to his one-point victory over No. 3 Tyler Caldwell of No. 2 Oklahoma State in Sojka Pavilion on Dec. 17. That victory occurred just over 24 hours after Lear knocked off No. 16 Nick Moore of No. 5 Iowa.
Lear, who earned his first career Bison Athlete of the Week honor, scored a crucial reversal in the third period against Caldwell en route to a 4-3 win. It was just the second loss of the season for Caldwell, who entered the bout with a 63-19 career record.
One day earlier at the Grapple at the Garden in Madison Square Garden, Lear defeated Moore by a 5-2 decision thanks to a pair of third-period takedowns.
Lear's recent results, which also include a 5-3 decision over then-No. 16 Ryan LeBlanc of Indiana, helped him climb to No. 14 in the latest Amateur Wrestling News rankings. A four-year starter and a 2012 NCAA qualifier, Lear is in the midst of his best season yet. He is 16-3 on the season, including 5-0 in duals, and has won 11 consecutive bouts.
Lear entered the season with just two career wins over ranked foes and he already has three this month alone. He has posted four wins by fall and is 7-1 in bonus-point bouts this season. The Orangeville, Pa., native won the Lock Haven Mat Town Open, finished third at the Navy Classic and placed fourth at the Michigan State Open.
With 16 wins already this season, Lear is just two shy of last year's final tally of 18-11. He is also just nine victories shy of former teammate Brantley Hooks for 10th place on Bucknell's all-time wins list. Lear is 78-38 in his four-year career, while Hooks piled up 87 victories during his time as a Bison.
Lear was joined in the winner's circle against both Iowa and Oklahoma State by sophomore teammate Tyler Lyster (Wanamassa, N.J./Ocean Township). Lyster recorded Bucknell's first-ever pin in a dual against the Hawkeyes and followed that with a 4-2 decision opposite the Cowboy's 197-pounder.
Bucknell, which is 2-3 on the season against a very difficult schedule, will be back in action Jan. 6 when it travels to Michigan State and Central Michigan. The Bison will next wrestle at home Jan. 18 when they take on Columbia in Davis Gym.
