Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling Opens Virginia Duals Friday Against No. 19 Virginia
1/8/2013 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 8, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell wrestling team's difficult schedule will continue this weekend when it competes at the Virginia Duals. The Bison will open competition at the two-day, 16-team bracketed event Friday at 9 a.m. against No. 19 and fourth-seeded Virginia (6-2).
Bucknell (2-5), which has faced three ranked opponents in its last four duals, will wrestle against either fifth-seeded Boise State or Buffalo at 1 p.m. Saturday's championship match is slated for 8:30 p.m. Five ranked teams are in the field. In addition to Virginia, No. 9 Central Michigan, No. 10 Virginia Tech, No. 16 Edinboro and No. 25 Old Dominion will be in action.
The Bison are 2-6 all-time against their first-round opponent Virginia. The teams last met at the 2009 ACC Challenge with the nationally ranked Cavaliers posting a 20-13 win over Bucknell.
The Bison were last in action this past Sunday at Michigan State and Central Michigan. Austin Miller, Paul Petrov and Derrik Russell posted victories against the Spartans, while Adam Healey collected a win opposite the Chippewas.
Senior Corey Lear, who is ranked 14th nationally at 165 pounds by Amateur Wrestling News and ninth by InterMat, continues to lead Bucknell in victories despite being held out of Sunday's duals due to injury. He is an impressive 16-3 on the year and has won 11 consecutive bouts. The Orangeville, Pa., native is 3-0 against ranked foes this year and 5-0 in duals.
This is the sixth consecutive year Bucknell has competed at the Virginia Duals, which take place at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Va. The Bison have won at least one match at the event in three of the last four years.
Bucknell will wrestle six of its next seven duals at home following the Virginia Duals. The Bison will begin that home stretch with home matches against Columbia (Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.) and Army (Jan. 19 at 4 p.m.). Broadcasts of both duals will air on Bison Vision. Admission to all Bucknell wrestling matches in Davis Gym is free.
Bucknell's Projected Virginia Duals Lineup
125: Austin Miller (6-5)
133: Paul Petrov (9-7)
141: Derrik Russell (7-10)
149: Adam Healey (7-10)
157: Vincent Favia (10-10)
165: Corey Lear (16-3)/Robert Schlitt (2-8)/Ray Schlitt (2-6)/Brenan McAllister (0-7)
174: Robert Schlitt (2-8)/Ray Schlitt (2-6)/Brenan McAllister (0-7)
184: Robert Marchese (3-13)
197: Tyler Lyster (13-7)
285: Joe Stolfi (7-11)
