Bucknell University Athletics
Joe Stolfi Named Bison Athlete of the Week After Strong Performance at NCAA Wrestling Championships
3/25/2013 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell sophomore wrestler Joe Stolfi (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) was named the Bison Athlete of the Week Monday following his strong performance at the NCAA Championships. The 285-pounder posted a 3-2 record at the three-day event and was one win away from becoming the sixth different grappler in program history to earn All-America honors.
The unseeded Stolfi opened competition last Thursday against sixth-seeded Bobby Telford of Iowa and walked away with an 8-1 loss. He then reeled off three consecutive wins in the wrestlebacks to put himself one win shy of being named an All-American. He then faced Central Michigan's Jarod Trice, who was seeded 10th, and suffered his second loss, eliminating him from competition.
Stolfi's three wins came against Bloomsburg's Justin Grant (decision), Indiana's Adam Chalfant (fall) and Michigan's Benjamin Apland (decision). All five of Stolfi's opponents were in the latest Amateur Wrestling News national rankings with Trice being listed the highest at No. 7. Three of his foes were seeded in the 33-person field as Telford was sixth, Trice 10th and Chalfant 12th.
Stolfi was making his first career NCAA appearance after earning an automatic berth to the event thanks to a third-place showing at the EIWA Championships. He was the first Bison heavyweight to compete at the NCAA Championships since Tim Pangonas in 1984.
A winner of 19 of his final 24 bouts in 2012-13, Stolfi finished the season with a 26-16 overall record to tie senior Corey Lear for the team lead in wins. Stolfi posted an eight-match winning streak midseason and did not lose two straight bouts after Jan. 6. His 6-1 record in EIWA duals was best on the team.
This is the second time Stolfi has earned Bison Athlete of the Week honors in his career. He was also recognized on Jan. 14 after posting a perfect 3-0 record at the Virginia Duals.
