Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Oklahoma
Wrestling Puts Up Fight vs. No. 9 Oklahoma, Falls 23-21
1/15/2016 10:02:00 PM | Wrestling
LEWISBURG, Pa. – In front of a large crowd in Sojka Pavilion, the Bucknell wrestling team gave a scare to No. 9 Oklahoma, but lost to the Sooners by a 23-21 score Friday evening. The Bison were buoyed by their heavier weight classes as Rustin Barrick (174), Tom Sleigh (184) and Joe Stolfi (285) helped Bucknell capture three of the final four bouts in the dual.
Oklahoma (7-2) was the third top-10 opponent for the Bison this year, and the Bison (4-4) still had a chance to win the match entering the 197-pound bout.
Bucknell had wins at four of the weight classes, and three of them were for six points. Stolfi concluded the match with his sixth pin in nine bouts this season, while Sleigh forced five stall warnings to earn a disqualification for six points. Ben Bliss earned a forfeit at 133 pounds when 2015 NCAA champion Cody Brewer failed to make weight. Barrick rounded out the Bison scoring with a comeback decision.
Barrick cut a 20-6 deficit to 11 points with his 7-5 win vs. nationally ranked Matt Reed. The senior trailed Reed 4-3 entering the final period. In the third period he scored two points on an escape and on a technical violation by Reed for locking his hands. Barrick then clinched the win with a takedown with about 20 seconds remaining.
Barrick has now won six bouts in a row and 10 of his last 11.
Sleigh followed with a dominating performance at 184 pounds. He built a 13-1 advantage late in the third period when Lance Dixon was whistled for his fifth stall warning, ending the match and giving Sleigh the six-point victory. Sleigh is now 9-1 in his last 10 bouts.
Oklahoma clinched the match with an 8-4 win by Brad Johnson at 197 pounds, but that did not stop Stolfi from ending with an impressive performance. The three-time NCAA qualifier was facing 14th-ranked Ross Larson, a two-time NCAA qualifier. Stolfi held a 1-0 lead and in an instant early in the second period put Larson on his back. Stolfi is now 8-1 this year and it was his 58th career pin, extending his own program record.
There was some early strategizing for the Bison, who trailed 6-0 after top-10 ranked Paul Petrov (125 pounds) was surprisingly pinned by No. 14 Ryan Millhoff to open the match. Bucknell head coach Dan Wirnsberger sent Bliss out to claim the forfeit at 133 pounds and then moved Grim Gonzalez up a weight class to 141. Kyle Greene was initially expected to wrestle at that weight class. Trae Blackwell posted a 15-4 major decision against Gonzalez.
Victor Lopez (149) and Zach Kelly (157) suffered losses for Bucknell, but both were close, falling by a total of three points. Lopez was tied with Davion Jeffries entering the third period, but Jeffries recorded an escape in the final period and earned the riding time point for a 4-2 victory. Kelly's match was even closer as he was tied 2-2 with Brock Wingbermuehle entering the third period, which ended up scoreless, giving Wingbermuehle a 3-2 victory based on riding time.
Friday's match was the first of five in a row at home for Bucknell. The Bison will continue their homestand Thursday, Jan. 21, with a 7 p.m. contest against Lock Haven that will take place in Davis Gym.
No. 9 Oklahoma 23, Bucknell 21
125: No. 14/14/15 Ryan Millhof (O) pinned No. 10/9/8 Paul Petrov (B), 5:15.
133: Ben Bliss (B) wins by forfeit
141: Trae Blackwell (O) maj. dec. Grim Gonzalez (B), 15-4.
149: No. --/23/-- Davion Jeffries (O) dec. No. --/26/--Victor Lopez (B), 4-2.
157: Brock Wingbermuehle (O) dec. Zach Kelly (B), 3-2.
165: No. 9/20/-- Clark Glass (O) maj. dec. Robert Schlitt (B), 10-1.
174: No. --/27/-- Rustin Barrick (B) dec. No. 20/25/19 Matt Reed (O), 7-5.
184: No. --/22/-- Tom Sleigh (B) wins by DQ, Lance Dixon (O), 6:27.
197: No. --/30/-- Brad Johnson (O) dec. Tyler Greene (B), 8-4.
285: No. --/7/-- Joe Stolfi (B) pinned No. 14/14/14 Ross Larson (O), 3:25.
Players Mentioned
