Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NCAA Championships
Petrov and Stolfi Wrap Up Competition at NCAA Wrestling Championships
3/21/2014 2:52:00 PM | Wrestling
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Bucknell wrestlers Paul Petrov and Joe Stolfi wrapped up their 2014 NCAA Championships experience on Friday at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Both Bison advanced to the second day of the three-day event and were set to work their way through their consolation brackets, but both suffered losses by decision during the day's first session. Petrov concluded his sophomore campaign with an impressive 31-9 record, while Stolfi finished his junior season with a 34-8 mark.
The 125-pound Petrov entered Friday's consolation second round matched up against Pittsburgh's 15th-seeded Anthony Zanetta, an opponent he was 2-0 against during the regular season. However, Petrov lost the low-scoring bout by a 3-1 decision.
Petrov finished his first NCAA Championships experience with a 1-2 mark. He earned his first career berth in the national tournament thanks to a sixth-place finish at the EIWA Championships.
Stolfi, who was one win shy of All-America honors last year, faced Billy Smith from Rutgers in a consolation bout on Friday. The two heavyweights met in the EIWA Championships title bout less than two weeks ago with Stolfi posting a 9-7 victory to become the third Bison to claim an EIWA crown. Smith came out on top Friday, though, registering a 10-6 win by decision.
Stolfi's 1-2 mark at NCAAs helped him move into a tie for second on Bucknell's single-season wins list (34). He concluded the season with a program-record 23 pins, including one on Thursday. He entered the NCAA Championships tied for first nationally in wins by fall.
Bucknell, which has had at least two NCAA qualifiers in eight straight years, was tied for 49th (out of 72) in the team standings towards the conclusion of Friday's first session.
Bucknell Results
125: Paul Petrov, So.
Thursday - First Round: L, dec. #16 Joey Dance (Virginia Tech), 6-1.
Thursday - Consolation First Round: W, dec. Jade Rauser (Utah Valley), 12-8.
Friday – Consolation Second Round: L, dec. #15 Anthony Zanetta (Pittsburgh), 3-1.
285: Joe Stolfi, Jr.
Thursday - First Round: L, maj. dec. #16 Amarveer Dhesi (Oregon State), 14-6.
Thursday - Consolation First Round: W, fall Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa), 3:24.
Friday – Consolation Second Round: L, dec. Billy Smith (Rutgers), 10-6.
Players Mentioned
