Saturday, December 29
Hoffman Estates, Ill.
All Day
Bucknell University
at
Midlands Championships
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bucknell Wrestling Competes at Midlands Championships
12/26/2018 5:15:00 PM | Wrestling
2018 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships
When: Saturday, Dec. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 30
Where: Sears Centre Arena – Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Participating Teams: Air Force, #15 Arizona State, Army, Bloomsburg, Brown, Bucknell, Buffalo, Cal Poly, Campbell, Central Michigan, Chicago, Cumberlands (Ky.), Elmhurst, Franklin & Marshall, Fresno State, Harvard, #17 Illinois, Indiana, #4 Iowa, Johnson & Wales, Maryland, #5 Michigan, #9 Minnesota, Mount Union, #12 North Carolina, Northern Illinois, #16 Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Old Dominion, Oregon State, Penn, Princeton, South Dakota State, Wheaton, #10 Wisconsin
Invitational Website: NUSports.com
Live Results: TrackWrestling.com
Online Video: FloWrestling.org ($) and BTN2GO ($)
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST
• Bucknell is currently 2-3 (0-0 EIWA) after being downed by No. 24 Pittsburgh, 34-4, on Dec. 16 in its first road dual of the 2018-19 campaign. Jakob Campbell (125) accounted for the Bison's lone victory; he went on to win an individual title while competing unattached at Dec. 22's Wilkes Open.
• Jacob Ferreira (184) is currently Bucknell's leader with nine victories; he is also tied with fellow freshman Zach Hartman (157) for the team lead with three pins. Campbell and Drew Phipps (197) are tied for the team lead with three major decisions while Geo Barzona (125), Matthew Kolonia (141) and Joe Scott (197) each boast one technical fall.
• In 2018-19, the Bison returned one NCAA qualifier and three EIWA placewinners. Garrett Hoffman (184) earned an at-large bid to the 2017 NCAA Championships, where he bowed out after two bouts. David Campbell (133) and Phipps (184) each took eighth at the 2018 EIWA Championships while Joey Gould (133) was eighth at the 2017 rendition. All but Campbell have since changed weight classes.
• Bucknell's captains are D. Campbell, Hoffman, Phipps, Nick Stephani and Brandon Stokes.
• The Bison enjoyed one of their most successful stretches in program history from 2014 to 2017, compiling a combined record of 39-14 (23-5 EIWA) and placing third at the 2016 and 2015 EIWA Championships.
 • In 2017-18, Bucknell battled injuries and used 22 different starters in dual competition, ultimately finishing with a 3-14 (2-7 EIWA) ledger. The performance of 141-pounder Tyler Smith, one of six seniors lost to graduation, was a bright spot; he became the program's fifth four-time NCAA qualifier and seventh EIWA runner-up. He also put together the 11th undefeated dual season in school history and became the 10th Bison to reach the 100-win plateau.
• Head coach Dan Wirnsberger, who is in his 14th year at the helm, has a 115-118 record. He and Bob Ferraro, who led the Bison to a 169-175-6 record from 1974 to 1997, are the program's only head coaches to reach the 100-win plateau.
Bison in the Midlands Field
125: Jakob Campbell (7-2)
133: David Campbell (1-4)
141: Matthew Kolonia (6-5) and Joey Gould (0-1)
157: #-/-/20 Zach Hartman (6-3)
165: D.J. Hollingshead (3-2)
174: Nick Stephani (4-5)
197: Drew Phipps (7-4)
Bison Ranked
• Zach Hartman (157) entered FloWrestling's rankings for the week of Dec. 24.
• The freshman came in at No. 20; it is the first time in his collegiate career he has been ranked by any of the three major wrestling publications: Intermat,The Open Mat and FloWrestling.
• Hartman is considered a top contender at the Midlands Championships, according to @MidlandsChamps.
The 56th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships
• The Midlands Championships consist of four sessions, two on Saturday and two on Sunday.
   - Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – First Session (10 Mats)
   - Saturday, 8 p.m. – Second Session (10 Mats)
   - Sunday, 1 p.m. – Third Session (4 Mats) – Semis, consolation, 7th place match
   - Sunday, 8 p.m. – Final Session (3 Mats) – 1st, 3rd, 5th place matches
• This is the 56th edition of the prestigious event, which is hosted by Northwestern.
• Eight nationally ranked teams are in the field, including four in the top 10: No. 4 Iowa, No. 5 Michigan, No. 9 Minnesota and No. 10 Wisconsin.
• Bucknell has placed six wrestlers on the Midlands Championship podium: Kevin LeValley (149, 1st in 2010, 3rd in 2009), Tyler Smith (141, 3rd in 2017), Bryan Burns (190, 4th in 1990, 8th in 1991), Ken Herceg (167, 5th in 1991), Brian Pitzer (158, 5th in 1997) and Shane Riccio (174, 7th in 2009).
• LeValley, currently an assistant coach on Dan Wirnsberger's staff, won the 149-pound title as a senior in 2010. He went on to win an EIWA championship and capture All-America accolades for the second-straight season.
• Last year, Smith posted a 5-1 record to place third in the 141-pound weight class. Four of his victories came over wrestlers who compete for ranked teams.
A Look Ahead
• The Bison begin EIWA action by hosting Navy on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. in Davis Gym.
Note for projected lineups: 2018-19 record in parentheses; rankings are Intermat/The Open Mat/FloWrestling; lineups are subject to change
Players Mentioned
125/133
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
141/149
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
285
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