Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Wrestling Hosts George Mason Saturday
2/1/2013 7:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 1, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell wrestling team has alternated wins and losses over its last seven dual matches and the Bison hope that pattern will continue Saturday when they host George Mason at noon as they are due for a victory. In its only match of the weekend Bucknell (5-9, 2-2 EIWA) will take on the Patriots (3-12, 0-5 CAA). Admission into Davis Gym is free. The match will air on Bison Vision.
Bucknell, which is 2-2 at home this year, won its last home match last Friday against Franklin & Marshall by a season-best 20 points. Two days later the Bison wrestled at No. 24 Penn and dropped a 23-10 decision.
George Mason, which wrestles at Franklin and Marshall at 7 p.m. Saturday, is coming off a 27-12 victory at VMI on Wednesday. That win snapped a six-match losing streak.
Sophomore heavyweight Joe Stolfi continues to be Bucknell's hottest wrestler as he captured his seventh consecutive bout Sunday at Penn, defeating Steven Graziano 9-0. Stolfi has four bonus-point victories during his winning streak and is now 4-0 in EIWA duals. He has not lost to an unranked opponent since Dec. 1.
Senior 165-pounder Corey Lear, who is ranked 17th nationally, had his 13-match winning streak snapped Sunday at Penn, but he still leads the Bison in victories with an impressive 18-4 mark on the season. Lear owns an 80-39 career record and is just seven wins shy of joining the program's top-10 wins list. He has already equaled his career high for pins with five.
Junior Stephen McPeek may return to the Bison lineup on Friday after missing a handful of matches with an injury. He is 12-8 on the season and owns a 43-35 career mark.
Bison head coach Dan Wirnsberger, who has 60 wins during his time at Bucknell, has had the luxury of having a stable lineup this year. He has had eight wrestlers - Austin Miller (125), Paul Petrov (133), Derrik Russell (141), Adam Healey (149), Vincent Favia (157), Robert Marchese (184), Tyler Lyster (197) and Stolfi (285) - start all 14 dual matches. The only weight classes that have had multiple starters have been 165 and 174.
Bucknell is 3-0 all-time against George Mason, including a 27-9 victory at year ago in Fairfax, Va. The first-ever meeting between the schools was Dec. 1, 2007 in Davis Gym and the Bison won 23-20. Two years later Bucknell posted a 28-12 road victory.
The Bison will continue their mini homestand next Friday, Feb. 8, when they host Penn College of Technology (5 p.m.) and Lock Haven (7 p.m.).
Bucknell vs. George Mason
Record: Bucknell leads 3-0
First Meeting: 2007-08
Streak: Bucknell +3
Last Bucknell Win: 2011-12 (27-9)
Last George Mason Win: N/A
Bucknell Probable Lineup (5-9, 2-2 EIWA)
125: Austin Miller (13-9)
133: Paul Petrov (14-9)
141: Derrik Russell (9-15)
149: Adam Healey (9-15)
157: Vincent Favia (12-12) or Ray Schlitt (3-13)
165: No. 17 Corey Lear (18-4)
174: Stephen McPeek (12-8) or Robert Schlitt (2-13)
184: Robert Marchese (4-19)
197: Tyler Lyster (16-11)
285: Joe Stolfi (14-11)
George Mason Probable Lineup (3-12, 0-5 CAA)
125: Rich Lovorato (9-14) or Chris Rodriguez (0-2)
133: Zach Isenhour (5-16)
141: Sahid Kargbo (17-9)
149: Greg Flournoy (10-13) or Matt Stull (0-4)
157: Jaaziah Bethea (12-12)
165: Ty Knepp (7-11)
174: Seth Robertson (3-9) or Corey Smith (1-14)
184: Ryan Hembury (4-12)
197: Matt Meadows (14-13) or Alex Stanley (0-0)
285: Jake Kettler (17-12)
