Sunday, December 16
Pittsburgh, Pa.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
#24 Pittsburgh
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bucknell Wrestling Travels to Pittsburgh for First Road Dual
12/11/2018 9:30:00 AM | Wrestling
Bucknell (2-2, 0-0 EIWA) vs. No. 24 Pittsburgh (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
When: Sunday, December 16 – 2 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Field House – Pittsburgh, Pa.
Television: ACC Network Extra
Internet Video: WatchESPN
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is currently 2-2 (0-0 EIWA) after falling to No. 1 Penn State, 42-3, on Nov. 30. 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.
• D.J. Hollingshead (165) came from behind to defeat Bo Pipher by a 10-5 decision. He sealed his victory by registering a takedown and two back points seconds before the buzzer sounded.Â
• Frankie Guida, Jr. (174) is currently the team leader in wins (8) while Zach Hartman (157) and Jacob Ferreira (184) are tied for first among Bison in pins (3). Drew Phipps has paced the team in major decisions (3) while Geo Barzona (125), Matthew Kolonia (141) and Joe Scott (197) each boast one technical fall.
• Dec. 16's dual against Pittsburgh will be Bucknell's first on the road in 2018-19. The Bison hosted VMI (36-3) and Cleveland State (25-10) and falling to Buffalo (12-25) on Nov. 11 in Davis Gym before welcoming No. 1 Penn State to Sojka Pavilion.
• 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 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 115-117 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.
Projected Bucknell Lineup
125: Jakob Campbell (2-2)
133: David Campbell (1-3) OR Brett Rezendes (1-4)
141: Matthew Kolonia (6-4) OR Joey Gould (--)
149: Joey Schiele (2-5)
157: Zach Hartman (6-2)
165: D.J. Hollingshead (3-1)
174: Nick Stephani (4-4)
184: Kyle Inlander (4-4)
197: Drew Phipps (7-3)
285: Brandon Stokes (2-5)
Bucknell Sells Out Sojka for Wrestling
• 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 Nov. 30.
• The crowd 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.
• On Nov. 27, 2009, a then wrestling record 2,127 fans watched the Bison take on No. 1 Iowa (7-29) and Rutgers (26-12) in Sojka Pavilion.
No. 24 Pittsburgh at a Glance
• Pittsburgh is currently 2-0 (0-0 ACC) with victories over CSU Bakersfield (32-4) and then No. 14 Northern Iowa (21-19). The Panthers also attended the competitive Cliff Keen Invitational, where they took seventh and placed four grapplers on the podium, including a runner-up at 133 pounds in Micky Phillippi.
• The Panthers were ranked 24th in the most recent Theraworx NWCA Division I Coaches Poll. They will be Bucknell's second ranked opponent of the 2018-19 campaign.
• Four Panthers were ranked by Intermat this week: Phillippi (No. 6 at 133), Taleb Rahmani (No. 10 at 157), Nino Bonaccorsi (No. 12 at 184) and Demetrius Thomas (No. 13 at 285). In addition, Jake Wentzel (165) appeared in The Open Mat and FloWrestling's rankings.
• In 2017-18, Pittsburgh went 4-11 (2-3 ACC), placing sixth at the ACC Tournament. Four Panthers went on to compete at the NCAA Championships: Dom Forys (133), Nick Zanetta (141), Taleb Rahmani (157) and Ryan Solomon (285). All but Rahmani were lost to graduation.
• Pittsburgh leads the all-time series with Bucknell, 3-1. The Bison and Panthers met for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign last season at Sojka Pavilion.
• Bucknell upended Pittsburgh, 20-16, in that hard-fought dual on Dec. 17, 2017. After ceding the Panthers a 7-0 lead through the first two bouts, the Bison roared back, winning six of the next seven to secure their victory before the heavyweights took the mat.
Projected Pittsburgh Lineup
125: Brendon Fenton (1-3)
133: #6/6/5 Micky Phillippi (6-1)
141: L.J. Bentley (7-4)
149: Robert Lee (4-4)
157: #10/11/11 Taleb Rahmani (6-2)
165: #-/18/17 Jake Wentzel (4-3)
174: Gregg Harvey (2-3)
184: #12/15/12 Nino Bonaccorsi (6-3)
197: Kellan Stout (3-2)
285: #13/11/12 Demetrius Thomas (14-2)
When: Sunday, December 16 – 2 p.m.
Where: Fitzgerald Field House – Pittsburgh, Pa.
Television: ACC Network Extra
Internet Video: WatchESPN
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is currently 2-2 (0-0 EIWA) after falling to No. 1 Penn State, 42-3, on Nov. 30. 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.
• D.J. Hollingshead (165) came from behind to defeat Bo Pipher by a 10-5 decision. He sealed his victory by registering a takedown and two back points seconds before the buzzer sounded.Â
• Frankie Guida, Jr. (174) is currently the team leader in wins (8) while Zach Hartman (157) and Jacob Ferreira (184) are tied for first among Bison in pins (3). Drew Phipps has paced the team in major decisions (3) while Geo Barzona (125), Matthew Kolonia (141) and Joe Scott (197) each boast one technical fall.
• Dec. 16's dual against Pittsburgh will be Bucknell's first on the road in 2018-19. The Bison hosted VMI (36-3) and Cleveland State (25-10) and falling to Buffalo (12-25) on Nov. 11 in Davis Gym before welcoming No. 1 Penn State to Sojka Pavilion.
• 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 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 115-117 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.
Projected Bucknell Lineup
125: Jakob Campbell (2-2)
133: David Campbell (1-3) OR Brett Rezendes (1-4)
141: Matthew Kolonia (6-4) OR Joey Gould (--)
149: Joey Schiele (2-5)
157: Zach Hartman (6-2)
165: D.J. Hollingshead (3-1)
174: Nick Stephani (4-4)
184: Kyle Inlander (4-4)
197: Drew Phipps (7-3)
285: Brandon Stokes (2-5)
Bucknell Sells Out Sojka for Wrestling
• 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 Nov. 30.
• The crowd 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.
• On Nov. 27, 2009, a then wrestling record 2,127 fans watched the Bison take on No. 1 Iowa (7-29) and Rutgers (26-12) in Sojka Pavilion.
No. 24 Pittsburgh at a Glance
• Pittsburgh is currently 2-0 (0-0 ACC) with victories over CSU Bakersfield (32-4) and then No. 14 Northern Iowa (21-19). The Panthers also attended the competitive Cliff Keen Invitational, where they took seventh and placed four grapplers on the podium, including a runner-up at 133 pounds in Micky Phillippi.
• The Panthers were ranked 24th in the most recent Theraworx NWCA Division I Coaches Poll. They will be Bucknell's second ranked opponent of the 2018-19 campaign.
• Four Panthers were ranked by Intermat this week: Phillippi (No. 6 at 133), Taleb Rahmani (No. 10 at 157), Nino Bonaccorsi (No. 12 at 184) and Demetrius Thomas (No. 13 at 285). In addition, Jake Wentzel (165) appeared in The Open Mat and FloWrestling's rankings.
• In 2017-18, Pittsburgh went 4-11 (2-3 ACC), placing sixth at the ACC Tournament. Four Panthers went on to compete at the NCAA Championships: Dom Forys (133), Nick Zanetta (141), Taleb Rahmani (157) and Ryan Solomon (285). All but Rahmani were lost to graduation.
• Pittsburgh leads the all-time series with Bucknell, 3-1. The Bison and Panthers met for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign last season at Sojka Pavilion.
• Bucknell upended Pittsburgh, 20-16, in that hard-fought dual on Dec. 17, 2017. After ceding the Panthers a 7-0 lead through the first two bouts, the Bison roared back, winning six of the next seven to secure their victory before the heavyweights took the mat.
Projected Pittsburgh Lineup
125: Brendon Fenton (1-3)
133: #6/6/5 Micky Phillippi (6-1)
141: L.J. Bentley (7-4)
149: Robert Lee (4-4)
157: #10/11/11 Taleb Rahmani (6-2)
165: #-/18/17 Jake Wentzel (4-3)
174: Gregg Harvey (2-3)
184: #12/15/12 Nino Bonaccorsi (6-3)
197: Kellan Stout (3-2)
285: #13/11/12 Demetrius Thomas (14-2)
A Look Ahead
• The Bison will attend the 56th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships from Saturday, Dec. 29 to Sunday, Dec. 30 in Evanston, Ill. Last year, Tyler Smith attended the prestigious event, posting a 5-1 record to place third in the 141-pound weight class.
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
174
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
141/149
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
133/141
/ Wrestling
149/157
/ Wrestling
184/197
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
285
/ WrestlingIn The Herd: VMI Game Preview And Terian Williams II Feature
Wednesday, September 10
Bucknell at Marist Football Game Highlights 9-6-2025
Tuesday, September 09
Old Dominion at Bucknell Men's Soccer Highlights 9-7-2025
Monday, September 08
Temple at Bucknell Field Hockey Highlights 9-7-2025
Sunday, September 07