Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NCAA Championships
Petrov and Stolfi Advance to Second Day of NCAA Championships
3/20/2014 10:38:00 PM | Wrestling
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Bucknell wrestlers Paul Petrov and Joe Stolfi both posted 1-1 records on Thursday at the NCAA Championships at Chesapeake Energy Arena and both will move on to Friday's competition. Petrov, who wrestles at 125 pounds, and Stolfi, who wrestles at 285, each dropped his first bout against the No. 16 seed in his bracket before bouncing back with a win in the wrestlebacks.
Bucknell is tied for 42nd in the team standings with 3.0 points. A total of 72 teams are competing at NCAAs.
Making his first appearance at the NCAA Championships, Petrov opened the day with a 6-1 loss to 16th-seeded Joey Dance of Virginia Tech. He then defeated Utah Valley's Jade Rauser by a 12-8 decision in the evening consolation bout.
Petrov, who is now 31-8 this year, will face Pittsburgh's Anthony Zanetta Friday morning. Zanetta is seeded 15th in the 33-person field. Petrov was 2-0 against him during the regular season.
Like Petrov, Stolfi began his day against a No. 16 seed and came away with a loss. Oregon State's Amarveer Dhesi handed Stolfi a 14-6 loss in the first round, but Stolfi bounced back with a pin of Northern Iowa's Blaize Cabell in 3:24. It was the 23rd pin of the year for Stolfi, who entered the day tied for first in the nation in wins by fall.
Stolfi, who owns a 34-7 record this year, will face Billy Smith of Rutgers Friday morning. Stolfi posted a comeback win over Smith in the title bout of the EIWA Championships less than two weeks ago to become the third Bison to claim an EIWA title.
Thanks to his 1-1 day Thursday, Stolfi is now 4-3 all-time at the NCAA Championships. He came one win shy of All-America status last March.
Friday's competition will begin at 11 a.m. with the evening session slated for 8 p.m. The tournament is set in a double-elimination format.
Bucknell Results
125: Paul Petrov, So.
First Round: L, dec. #16 Joey Dance (Virginia Tech), 6-1.
Consolation First Round: W, dec. Jade Rauser (Utah Valley), 12-8.
285: Joe Stolfi, Jr.
First Round: L, maj. dec. #16 Amarveer Dhesi (Oregon State), 14-6.
Consolation First Round: W, fall Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa), 3:24.
Players Mentioned
