Bucknell University
Buffalo
Stolfi Clinches Win for Bison Wrestling vs. Buffalo at Virginia Duals
1/11/2013 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 11, 2013
HAMPTON, Va. - Sophomore heavyweight Joe Stolfi capped off a banner day by riding out Justin Heiserman for the entire third period to score a 2-1 decision and clinch a 20-16 victory for the Bucknell wrestling team over Buffalo on Friday at the Virginia Duals. Earlier in the day Stolfi's pin accounted for the team's points in a 31-6 loss to 19th-ranked Virginia.
The Buffalo match featured wild momentum swings, as Bucknell won the first four bouts, the Bulls came back and took the next four, and then a dominant performance by Tyler Lyster at 197 pounds and Stolfi's clutch effort at heavyweight helped the Bison pull out the win.
Austin Miller got it started with a 3-1 decision over Max Soria at 125 pounds. Paul Petrov won 10-5 over Justin Farmer at 133, and Derrik Russell followed with a narrow 2-1 verdict over Erik Galloway at 141. By the time 149-pounder Adam Healy finished off a 6-2 win over Andrew Schutt, the Bison lead was 12-0.
With 14th-ranked 165-pounder Corey Lear and veteran 174-pounder Stephen McPeek sidelined, Bucknell sent out three freshmen and a sophomore at the next four weight classes, and Buffalo recorded four wins totaling 16 points.
But Lyster put the Bison back in front 17-16 with a 15-0 technical fall over Jarred Lux, and Stolfi locked up the victory with his clutch ride-out in the third period against Heiserman. Bucknell avenged a 19-13 loss to Buffalo at last year's Virginia Duals.
"I'm really proud of Joe for the way he came through for us," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger. "Before he went out there he sort of gave me a wink, as if to say, `I've got this.' We got off to a great start winning the first four bouts, and then Tyler got that momentum back for us with a dominant performance. We have a lot of confidence in him."
Earlier in the day, Bucknell ran into a red-hot Virginia team that came in with a 6-2 dual-meet record and six nationally ranked wrestlers in its lineup. At 125, Miller locked up with seventh-ranked Matt Snyder and came up on the short end of a 1-0 decision, with the only point coming on the riding time Snyder accrued in the second period.
Down 1-0 at 184 pounds, Bison freshman Robert Marchese nearly had a third-period takedown that would have given him the lead, but Zach Nye fended off the shot, scored a takedown of his own and pulled out a close 4-1 decision.
The Bison got on the board at heavyweight, where Stolfi, locked up in a scoreless battle with Patrick Gillen in the second period, put Gillen on his back and recorded his third win by fall of the season.
Bucknell (3-6) will be back in action on Saturday at the Virginia Duals, wrestling either No. 16 Edinboro or No. 25 Old Dominion at 10 a.m.
No. 19 Virginia 31, Bucknell 6
125: No. 7 Matt Snyder (UVa) dec. Austin Miller (B), 1-0
133: No. 13 George DiCamillo (UVa) dec. Paul Petrov (B), 8-3
141: Jimmy Nehls (UVa) dec. Derrik Russell (B), 6-2
149: No. 16 Derek Valenti (UVa) dec. Adam Healey (B), 7-2
157: No. 13 Jedd Moore (UVa) tech fall Vincent Favia (B), 16-1
165: No. 7 Nick Sulzer (UVa) major dec. Robert Schlitt (B), 19-6
174: No. 15 Jon Fausey (UVa) dec. Ray Schlitt (B), 4-0
184: Zach Nye (UVa) dec. Robert Marchese (B), 4-1
197: Stephen Doty (UVa) major dec. Tyler Lyster (B), 9-1
285: Joe Stolfi (B) WBF Patrick Gillen (UVa), 7:39
Bucknell 20, Buffalo 16
125: Austin Miller (BKN) dec. Max Soria (BUF), 3-1
133: Paul Petrov (BKN) dec. Justin Farmer (BUF), 10-5
141: Derrik Russell (BKN) dec. Erik Galloway (BUF), 2-1
149: Adam Healy (BKN) dec. Andrew Schutt (BUF), 6-2
157: Blake Ruolo (BUF) tech. fall Vincent Favia (BKN), 16-1
165: Wally Maziarz (BUF) dec. Brenan McAllister (BKN), 5-0
174: Dominic Montesanti (BUF) major dec. Ray Schlitt (BKN), 8-0
184: Mark Lewandowski (BUF) major dec. Robert Marchese (BKN), 12-1
197: Tyler Lyster (BKN) tech. fall Jarred Lux (BUF), 15-0
285: Joe Stolfi (BKN) dec. Justin Heiserman (BUF), 2-1
