Friday, November 30
Lewisburg, Pa.
7 p.m.
Bucknell University
3
vs
42
#1 Penn State
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bucknell Wrestling Faces No. 1 Penn State in Front of Record 4,279 Fans
11/30/2018 8:33:00 PM | Wrestling
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell wrestling team faced No. 1 Penn State in front of a program-record 4,279 fans at a sold-out Sojka Pavilion on Friday night.
The Nittany Lions, winners of seven of the past eight NCAA championships, stretched their winning streak to 47-consecutive duals with a 42-3 victory over the Bison, who have now faced the nation's top team each of the past three seasons.
The crowd of 4,279 was the third largest in Sojka Pavilion history behind men's basketball games against No. 4 Villanova on Dec. 6, 2005 (4,433) and Wake Forest on Nov. 14, 2006 (4,330). In the history of the facility, which opened in January 2003, seven men's basketball games have eclipsed 4,200 fans.
"Before the match even started, it was a win," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger, "with the anticipation of it and knowing we were going to set a record for Bucknell wrestling. There were people who came to watch this wrestling match tonight that had never seen a wrestling match before. I had dozens of people tell me that, and it's great for the program. At the end of the day, it's about the sport of wrestling and the sport of wrestling here in Central Pennsylvania. It's an important sport in this area, and if we can put a good product together and a good event together at Bucknell, that's fantastic for everyone that's involved."
At 165 pounds, D.J. Hollingshead came from behind to defeat Bo Pipher by a 10-5 decision. After the duo traded takedowns early in the opening frame, Pipher escaped to take a 3-2 advantage into the second. Though Pipher extended his lead to 4-2 with another escape, Hollingshead built up a 1:04 advantage in riding time by maintaining control until late in the frame.
The third period was a frenetic affair, with Hollingshead escaping early and scoring a second takedown to build a 5-4 edge. While Pipher evened the score with an escape, Hollingshead ultimately sealed his victory by registering a takedown and two back points seconds before the buzzer sounded, bringing the Sojka Pavilion crowd to its feet.
"It felt great to win against Penn State," said Hollingshead, an Altoona, Pennsylvania native who grew up a Penn State fan. "Right away, I was overwhelmed with emotion. It feels great to come out against Penn State, take it to them, bring the energy and get the victory individually."
At 125 pounds, Geo Barzona gave Devin Schnupp a battle. Through two periods, the sophomores were tied at two apiece; near the middle of the second stanza, Barzona evened the score with an escape. Schnupp ultimately escaped early in the third period, and scored a takedown in its final 15 seconds, to secure a 5-2 victory.
Zach Hartman came out strong against No. 1 Jason Nolf, the two-time defending NCAA champion at 157 pounds. Through the first period, the freshman standout trailed by a 7-5 margin, bolstered by a takedown near the middle of the frame. But Nolf ultimately pinned Hartman early in the second period to stake the Nittany Lions a 22-0 lead at the intermission.
Penn State registered bonus points in eight of its nine victories, including first period falls by No. 4 Shakur Rasheed (184) and No. 5 Anthony Cassar (285). The Nittany Lion lineup included eight nationally ranked wrestlers, with two-time defending NCAA champions Nolf and Bo Nickal each ranked No. 1.
This was only the second official meeting between Bucknell and Penn State. Last year on Nov. 12, the Nittany Lions downed the Bison, 36-6, at a sold-out Rec Hall.
"I have to thank Penn State," Wirnsberger said. "I have to thank Coach [Cael] Sanderson for their commitment to coming here and wrestling us in Sojka Pavilion. I think they were pleased with the overall venue itself, seeing Sojka Pavilion for the first time, seeing our fantastic Graham Wrestling Training Center for the first time. It was a great event that promotes our program."
The dual, which was sponsored by Geisinger, Fairfield Autogroup and Giant, was the realization of Bill Graham's dream for the wrestling program. Graham, a 1962 graduate who was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame this year, always believed a Sojka Pavilion sellout was within the program's reach.
"It was one of Bill's goals," Wirnsberger said. "It means a lot for him to be here and to see the excitement and the enthusiasm that he had about the event."
The Bison, now 2-2 (0-0 EIWA), return to action on Sunday, Dec. 16 when they travel to Pittsburgh for their first road dual of the 2018-19 campaign.
No. 1 Penn State 42 – Bucknell 3
125: Devin Schnupp (PSU) dec. over Geo Barzona (BU) 5-2
133: #-/20/- Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) maj. dec. over David Campbell (BU) 20-7
141: #4/4/4 Nick Lee (PSU) maj. dec. over Matthew Kolonia (BU) 15-5
149: #13/19/- Brady Berge (PSU) tech fall over Joey Schiele (BU) 25-10
157: #1/1/1 Jason Nolf (PSU) fall over Zach Hartman (BU) 3:50
165: D.J. Hollingshead (BU) dec. over Bo Pipher (PSU) 10-5
174: #2/2/2 Mark Hall (PSU) maj. dec. over Nick Stephani (BU) 20-7
184: #4/5/5 Shakur Rasheed (PSU) fall over Kyle Inlander (BU) 0:32
197: #1/1/1 Bo Nickal (PSU) maj. dec. over Drew Phipps (BU) 16-6
285: #5/3/2 Anthony Cassar (PSU) fall over Brandon Stokes (BU) 0:33
Â
Note: Rankings Intermat/The Open Mat/FoWrestling
The Nittany Lions, winners of seven of the past eight NCAA championships, stretched their winning streak to 47-consecutive duals with a 42-3 victory over the Bison, who have now faced the nation's top team each of the past three seasons.
The crowd of 4,279 was the third largest in Sojka Pavilion history behind men's basketball games against No. 4 Villanova on Dec. 6, 2005 (4,433) and Wake Forest on Nov. 14, 2006 (4,330). In the history of the facility, which opened in January 2003, seven men's basketball games have eclipsed 4,200 fans.
"Before the match even started, it was a win," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger, "with the anticipation of it and knowing we were going to set a record for Bucknell wrestling. There were people who came to watch this wrestling match tonight that had never seen a wrestling match before. I had dozens of people tell me that, and it's great for the program. At the end of the day, it's about the sport of wrestling and the sport of wrestling here in Central Pennsylvania. It's an important sport in this area, and if we can put a good product together and a good event together at Bucknell, that's fantastic for everyone that's involved."
4,279 in attendance tonight. That's a new Bucknell wrestling record! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/R8nXtsk9s2
— Bucknell Wrestling (@Bucknell_WRST) December 1, 2018
At 165 pounds, D.J. Hollingshead came from behind to defeat Bo Pipher by a 10-5 decision. After the duo traded takedowns early in the opening frame, Pipher escaped to take a 3-2 advantage into the second. Though Pipher extended his lead to 4-2 with another escape, Hollingshead built up a 1:04 advantage in riding time by maintaining control until late in the frame.
The third period was a frenetic affair, with Hollingshead escaping early and scoring a second takedown to build a 5-4 edge. While Pipher evened the score with an escape, Hollingshead ultimately sealed his victory by registering a takedown and two back points seconds before the buzzer sounded, bringing the Sojka Pavilion crowd to its feet.
"It felt great to win against Penn State," said Hollingshead, an Altoona, Pennsylvania native who grew up a Penn State fan. "Right away, I was overwhelmed with emotion. It feels great to come out against Penn State, take it to them, bring the energy and get the victory individually."
D.J. Hollingshead brings the Sojka crowd to its feet with a gritty 10-5 decision over Bo Pipher. 💪 #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/UMO3VkDwRO
— Bucknell Wrestling (@Bucknell_WRST) December 1, 2018
At 125 pounds, Geo Barzona gave Devin Schnupp a battle. Through two periods, the sophomores were tied at two apiece; near the middle of the second stanza, Barzona evened the score with an escape. Schnupp ultimately escaped early in the third period, and scored a takedown in its final 15 seconds, to secure a 5-2 victory.
Zach Hartman came out strong against No. 1 Jason Nolf, the two-time defending NCAA champion at 157 pounds. Through the first period, the freshman standout trailed by a 7-5 margin, bolstered by a takedown near the middle of the frame. But Nolf ultimately pinned Hartman early in the second period to stake the Nittany Lions a 22-0 lead at the intermission.
Penn State registered bonus points in eight of its nine victories, including first period falls by No. 4 Shakur Rasheed (184) and No. 5 Anthony Cassar (285). The Nittany Lion lineup included eight nationally ranked wrestlers, with two-time defending NCAA champions Nolf and Bo Nickal each ranked No. 1.
This was only the second official meeting between Bucknell and Penn State. Last year on Nov. 12, the Nittany Lions downed the Bison, 36-6, at a sold-out Rec Hall.
"I have to thank Penn State," Wirnsberger said. "I have to thank Coach [Cael] Sanderson for their commitment to coming here and wrestling us in Sojka Pavilion. I think they were pleased with the overall venue itself, seeing Sojka Pavilion for the first time, seeing our fantastic Graham Wrestling Training Center for the first time. It was a great event that promotes our program."
The dual, which was sponsored by Geisinger, Fairfield Autogroup and Giant, was the realization of Bill Graham's dream for the wrestling program. Graham, a 1962 graduate who was inducted into the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame this year, always believed a Sojka Pavilion sellout was within the program's reach.
"It was one of Bill's goals," Wirnsberger said. "It means a lot for him to be here and to see the excitement and the enthusiasm that he had about the event."
The Bison, now 2-2 (0-0 EIWA), return to action on Sunday, Dec. 16 when they travel to Pittsburgh for their first road dual of the 2018-19 campaign.
No. 1 Penn State 42 – Bucknell 3
125: Devin Schnupp (PSU) dec. over Geo Barzona (BU) 5-2
133: #-/20/- Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) maj. dec. over David Campbell (BU) 20-7
141: #4/4/4 Nick Lee (PSU) maj. dec. over Matthew Kolonia (BU) 15-5
149: #13/19/- Brady Berge (PSU) tech fall over Joey Schiele (BU) 25-10
157: #1/1/1 Jason Nolf (PSU) fall over Zach Hartman (BU) 3:50
165: D.J. Hollingshead (BU) dec. over Bo Pipher (PSU) 10-5
174: #2/2/2 Mark Hall (PSU) maj. dec. over Nick Stephani (BU) 20-7
184: #4/5/5 Shakur Rasheed (PSU) fall over Kyle Inlander (BU) 0:32
197: #1/1/1 Bo Nickal (PSU) maj. dec. over Drew Phipps (BU) 16-6
285: #5/3/2 Anthony Cassar (PSU) fall over Brandon Stokes (BU) 0:33
Â
Note: Rankings Intermat/The Open Mat/FoWrestling
Players Mentioned
125/133
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
141/149
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
149/157
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
285
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