Bucknell University Athletics
Former Bison Wrestler Kevin LeValley to Wrestle at Next Month's U.S. Olympic Team Trials
3/31/2012 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 31, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials are just three weeks away and former Bucknell wrestler Kevin LeValley will be in action. The 2011 Bucknell graduate qualified for the Trials based on a third-place finish in the 66kg/145.5-pound weight class at November's New York Athletic Club International.
This year's U.S. Olympic Team Trials will take place at Iowa's Carver-Hawkeye Arena April 21-22 and serve as a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Team. More than 200 athletes will be competing at the event. The top finisher in each weight class earns a berth to the Olympics.
LeValley, Bucknell's all-time wins leader (127), was a two-time All-American during his Bison career. A freestyle wrestler, LeValley is one of 11 athletes in his weight class to have already secured spots in the U.S. Olympic Trials, according to the website www.iowacitytolondon.com.
Currently a member of the Minnesota Storm Wrestling Club, LeValley is taking graduate classes at the University of Minnesota and helped coach the Gophers to a second-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Additionally, LeValley is an assistant director at School of Champions, an instructional wrestling program for junior high and high school students in Minnesota.
LeValley, as a senior in 2010-11, became just the second Bucknell wrestler to claim an EIWA individual title when he won the 149-pound bracket in Sojka Pavilion. He posted a 76-11 record over his final two campaigns and those 11 losses were by a combined 21 points.
A three-time EIWA placewinner and NCAA qualifier, LeValley is one of just five Bucknell wrestlers to post at least two 30-win campaigns and his 42 victories in 2009-10 established a new school record. He was 20-10 against ranked foes his junior and senior years, while also becoming the first grappler at Bucknell to win an individual Midlands Championships crown and win at the NWCA All-Star Classic.
LeValley climbed as high as No. 2 in the national rankings as a senior. He finished his career with 59 dual wins, a 22-8 EIWA dual mark and nine career pins.
