Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Wrestling Opens Season with 23-12 Loss to No. 7 Lehigh
11/6/2015 9:54:00 PM | Wrestling
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell wrestling team opened its 2015-16 season Friday in Sojka Pavilion against No. 7 Lehigh and lost by a 23-12 score in a competitive match. The Mountain Hawks had five ranked wrestlers in their lineup, but the score was tied 12-12 after seven bouts.
Bucknell (0-1, 0-1 EIWA) wrestled without its regular starters at 184 pounds (Tom Sleigh) and 285 pounds (Joe Stolfi), but still gave Lehigh (1-0, 1-0 EIWA) all it could handle.
The Bison, who spent much of last season in the national rankings and returned nine starters, received wins from Paul Petrov (125), Grim Gonzalez (133), Victor Lopez (149) and Rustin Barrick (174).
“We weren't favored in some of those early matches, but we started off well,” said Wirnsberger. “We always compete well against Lehigh and we got off to a great start.”
Petrov and Gonzalez opened the match with back-to-back wins over nationally ranked foes and Bucknell jumped out to an early 9-6 advantage through four bouts.
Petrov's victory was impressive as he defeated No. 10 Darian Cruz by a 5-3 score in overtime. The score was tied 3-3 heading into overtime. Cruz was called for his fourth caution of the match in the first 30-second tiebreaker period and then Petrov scored an escape to start the next one and avoided a takedown to post his fourth career win over a nationally ranked opponent. After winning, he signaled to the crowd gathered in Sojka to make some noise.
Gonzalez followed with a 7-6 win over No. 7 Mason Beckman. Gonzalez trailed 5-4 entering the third period, but scored an early escape and posted what proved to be the winning takedown with just over a minute remaining in the period. Beckman escaped, but neither wrestler scored a point over the last 45 seconds of the bout.
“I am so proud of Grim,” praised Bucknell head coach Dan Wirnsberger following the match. “He is passionate and works hard, and it is good to see him get a signature win against a guy like that.”
After Cortlandt Schuyler pinned Bucknell's Tyler Smith at 141 pounds, Lopez recorded a 9-7 win over Laike Gardner. Lopez scored an escape and earned the riding time point in the final minute for the victory.
Logan Kerin battled No. 5 Mitch Minotti well at 157 pounds, but fell by a 4-2 decision.
Rustin Barrick, who moved up from 157 pounds last season to 174 this year, recorded an 8-3 decision to even the score at 12-12. Five of his points came in the final period, including one from Ben Haas being whistled for stalling multiple times.
No. 4-ranked Nathaniel Brown, a native of Lewisburg, posted a tech fall at 184 pounds for Lehigh, before the Mountain Hawks claimed the final two bouts of the night for the 11-point victory.
Bucknell, which was wrestling its first of four matches in Sojka Pavilion this season, will be back in action next Friday, Nov. 13, when it travels to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a matchup with EIWA foe Franklin & Marshall.
Lehigh 23, Bucknell 12
125:#19 Paul Petrov (B) dec. #10 Darian Cruz (L), 5-3 (tb1).
133: Grim Gonzalez (B) dec. #7 Mason Beckman (L), 7-6.
141: Cortlandt Schuyler (L) pin Tyler Smith (B), 1:06.
149: Victor Lopez (B) dec. Laike Gardner (L), 9-7.
157: #5 Mitch Minotti (L) dec. Logan Kerin (B), 4-2.
165: Ryan Preisch (L) dec. Robert Schlitt (B), 5-1.
174: Rustin Barrick (B) dec. Ben Haas (L), 8-3.
184: #4 Nathaniel Brown (L) tech. fall Nick Stephani (B), 25-10 (6:16).
197: #18 John Bolich (L) dec. Tyler Greene (B), 6-1.
285: Max Wessell (L) dec Chuck Boddy (B), 10-3.
Players Mentioned
