Bucknell University
#11 American
Middle Weight Classes Lead Bucknell Wrestling in 23-13 Loss to No. 11 American
2/5/2012 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 5, 2012
| BUY PHOTOS
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Corey Lear rallied late to defeat a nationally ranked opponent and John Regan posted a convincing 15-5 major decision as the Bucknell wrestling team fought hard against No. 11 American, but lost by a 23-13 score Sunday afternoon at Davis Gym. The Bison, who forfeited at heavyweight, won four of the nine bouts contested with all four victories coming consecutively at 149, 157, 165 and 174.
The match started with the forfeit at heavyweight, which occurred because junior captain Joe McMullan was out with an injury and normal heavyweight Tyler Lyster moved down to McMullan's 197, and Bucknell (3-14, 2-2 EIWA) trailed 17-0 four bouts in. The Bison would cut the deficit to 17-13 entering the final two matches.
Lear's win at 165 pounds was the most exciting of the day. Facing Ganbayar Sanjaa, the No. 3-ranked wrestler in the country at 157 who was wrestling up a weight class, Lear trailed 4-3 with less than 30 seconds left in the third period. In quick succession, he earned a point on a second stall warning whistled on Sanjaa, a takedown and a two-point near fall that happened just before the final buzzer. Sanjaa, who led 4-1 in the first period, earned the riding time point, but it was meaningless as Lear registered the 8-5 decision.
The victory by Lear followed an easy major decision at 157 by Regan, who is now 7-1 in his last eight bouts. He finished with six takedowns, a reversal and the riding time point to win 15-5, his seventh bonus-point win of the year, and the only one by a Bison on Sunday.
Alex Pellicciotti got Bucknell on the board with a 6-5 win over Kevin Tao at 149. Pellicciotti defeated Tao by tech fall in last year's dual between the two teams, but the score was much closer on Sunday as he needed the riding time point for the win.
Stephen McPeek closed the scoring for the Bison with a 13-9 decision at 174 pounds. He defeated Phillip Barreiro in the highest-scoring match of the day by outscoring him in every period. McPeek led 4-2 at the end of the first period, 9-6 at the end of the second period and by the final 13-9 score.
Bucknell still had a chance at victory entering the final two bouts, but Jamie Westwood (184) and Lyster (197) both dropped decisions by a combined 11-2 score. Westwood was plagued by a bloody nose during his bout, which was stopped numerous times for the training staff to give him attention.
American (6-6, 1-1 EIWA) had four ranked wrestlers in its lineup and three posted victories. No. 15 Matt Mariacher (141), No. 19 Daniel Mitchell (197) and No. 1 Ryan Flores (285) earned victories, while No. 3 Sanjaa lost to Lear.
Bucknell, which will wrap up its home schedule next Sunday, Feb. 12, against Penn, will wrestle at Army (Tuesday) and Lock Haven (Friday) this week as the regular season draws to a close.
No. 11 American 23, Bucknell 13
285: No. 1 Ryan Flores (A) wins by forfeit
125: Thomas Williams (A) dec. Austin Miller (B), 4-3.
133: Corey Borshoff (A) maj. dec. Bob Hauser (B), 9-0.
141: No. 15 Matt Mariacher (A) maj. dec. Derrik Russell, 10-2.
149: Alex Pellicciotti (B) dec. Kevin Tao (A), 6-5.
157: John Regan (B) maj. dec. Mark Cirello (A), 15-5.
165: Corey Lear (B) dec. No. 3 Gan bayar Sanjaa (A), 8-5.
174: Stephen McPeek (B) dec. Phillip Barreiro (A), 13-9.
184: Thomas Barreiro (A) dec. Jamie Westwood (B), 6-1.
197: No. 19 Daniel Mitchell (A) dec. Tyler Lyster (B), 5-1.
