Bucknell University
NCAA Championships
Four Bison Wrestlers Wrap Up Competition at NCAA Championships
3/18/2016 8:53:00 PM | Wrestling
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Bucknell advanced four of its record-tying six national qualifiers to the second day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships, but on Friday at Madison Square Garden those four Bison saw their seasons come to a close. Tyler Smith (141), Victor Lopez (149), Tom Sleigh (184) and Joe Stolfi (285) were in action in the consolation brackets on Friday.
Like on day one of the NCAA Wrestling Championships, Lopez and Sleigh won their first bouts of the day. Lopez earned an 8-5 decision against Cal State Bakersfield's Coleman Hammond. However, in the next round he lost to 10th-seeded Mike DePalma of Kent State by a 6-0 margin.
Lopez, a junior, finished his first NCAA Championships with a 2-2 record, including a win over the No. 15 seed in his bracket. He reached the 30-win plateau for the first time and is now 80-44 in his three-year Bison career.
Sleigh, an unseeded sophomore who wrestled four seeded opponents the last two days, opened Friday with a 6-1 decision against 15th-seeded Nicholas Gravina from Rutgers to advance in the consolation brackets. Later, he was pinned by Navy's ninth-seeded Mathew Miller in 1:13, concluding his NCAA run. It was Sleigh's second bout against Miller this year, having lost to him by decision at November's Navy Classic.
Sleigh, a two-time NCAA qualifier, finished the year 28-10. He now owns a 2-4 all-time record at the NCAA Championships.
Smith wrestled just once on Friday as he lost by fall to Lehigh's 16th-seeded Randy Cruz. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Smith finished his sophomore year 23-13.
Stolfi concluded his illustrious Bison career Friday with a 6-1 loss to No. 9 Michael Kroelis from Minnesota. Nursing a shoulder injury, Stolfi finished with a 1-2 record at this year's NCAA Championships, putting him at 6-7 in his career. He is a four-time NCAA qualifier who ranks third on Bucknell's all-time wins list with 120. Stolfi owns Bucknell's career pins standard with 65, including one on Thursday at MSG.
Bucknell was listed tied for 27th in the team standings midway through Friday's evening session. Penn State holds the overall lead with Iowa in second and Ohio State third.
Bucknell Wrestler Results
125: Paul Petrov (#12 Seed)
Thursday Results
First Round: L, dec. Sean Russell (Edinboro), 9-8 (sv)
Consolation First Round: L, dec. Drew Romero (Air Force), 9-4.
Petrov Eliminated
141: Tyler Smith
Thursday Results
First Round: L, dec. #15 Brock Zacherl (Clarion), 7-3.
Consolation First Round: W, medical forfeit Zachary Horan (Central Michigan).
Friday Results
Consolation Second Round: L, fall #16 Randy Cruz (Lehigh), 2:51.
Smith Eliminated
149: Victor Lopez
Thursday Results
First Round: W, fall #15 Daniel Neff (Lock Haven), 2:55.
Second Round: L, dec. #2 Brandon Sorensen (Iowa), 3-1.
Friday Results
Consolation Second Round: W, dec. Coleman Hammond (Cal State Bakersfield), 8-5.
Consolation Third Round: L, dec. #10 Mike DePalma (Kent State), 6-0.
Lopez Eliminated
174: Rustin Barrick
Thursday Results
First Round: L, maj. dec. #9 Chandler Rogers (Oklahoma State), 10-2.
Consolation First Round: L, tech fall #8 Zach Epperly (Virginia Tech), 17-2.
Barrick Eliminated
184: Tom Sleigh
Thursday Results
First Round: W, dec. #16 Matt McCutcheon (Penn State), 4-3.
Second Round: L, fall #1 Gabriel Dean (Cornell), 1:57.
Friday Results
Consolation Second Round: W, dec. #15 Nicholas Gravina (Rutgers), 6-1.
Consolation Third Round: L, fall #9 Mathew Miller (Navy), 1:13.
285: Joe Stolfi (#10 Seed)
Thursday Results
First Round: L, dec. Collin Jensen (Nebraska), 9-2.
Consolation First Round: W, fall Jeramy Sweany (Cornell), 5:24.
Friday Results
Consolation Second Round: L, dec. #9 Michael Kroelis (Minnesota), 6-1.
Stolfi Eliminated
Players Mentioned
