Wrestling Clipped at Navy, 19-18

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy rallied to edge the Bucknell wrestling team by a single point, 19-18, on Friday night at Alumni Hall.

Trailing 15-9 through the first six bouts, the Midshipmen (4-3, 1-0 EIWA) won three of the next four to emerge victorious over the Bison (2-3, 1-1 EIWA). A major decision by John Birchmeier in the heavyweight finale sealed Navy's comeback win.

Birchmeier's match-sealing victory was set up by fellow freshman Jacob Koser, who erased a 4-1 deficit to Drew Phipps (197) en route to a 10-4 decision that pulled the Midshipmen within three points entering the heavyweight bout. Like Koser, Birchmeier fell behind early; trailing 7-5 through the first period, he scored 12 of the next 14 points to win by a decisive 17-7 major decision.

Darren Miller (133), Matthew Kolonia (149), Jaden Fisher (157), Zach Hartman (165) and Kyle Inlander (184) accounted for Bucknell's victories. Kolonia pinned Wyatt Long in 6:36; it was his third-straight victory by fall. Fisher came from behind to top Scout Skidgel by a 7-4 decision while Inlander gave the Bison an 18-12 cushion that was ultimately overcome with his 9-3 decision over Andrew Buckley.

Phipps's loss to Koser snapped his dual match winning streak at 16 bouts; entering the night, the Bucknell senior was last defeated in dual action on Jan. 5, 2018 at Navy.

Freshman Chris Lanciano made his first collegiate dual start against the Midshipmen. He became the third newcomer to start for the Bison this season, joining Miller and Fisher.

This was the third-straight season Bucknell rang in the New Year against Navy. The Midshipmen, who cruised to a 26-9 victory over the Bison a year ago, extended their lead in the all-time series to 23-1.

Bucknell next returns to Davis Gym to host Harvard (Jan. 18, 2 p.m.) and Brown (Jan. 19, 12 p.m.).

Navy 19 – Bucknell 18
125: #20 Logan Treaster (NAVY) dec. over Brandon Seidman (BU) 2-0
133: Darren Miller (BU) dec. over Casey Cobb (NAVY) 4-2
141: Cody Trybus (NAVY) fall over Chris Lanciano (BU) 4:34
149: Matthew Kolonia (BU) fall Wyatt Long (NAVY) 6:36
157: Jaden Fisher (BU) dec. over Scout Skidgel (NAVY) 7-4
165: #16 Zach Hartman (BU) dec. over Henry Hague (NAVY) 5-2
174: #19 Spencer Carey (NAVY) dec. over Mitch Hartman (BU) 7-2
184: Kyle Inlander (BU) dec. over Andrew Buckley (NAVY) 9-3
197: Jacob Koser (NAVY) dec. over Drew Phipps (BU) 10-4
285: John Birchmeier (NAVY) maj. dec. over Eric Chakonis (BU) 17-7

Rankings Intermat

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Players Mentioned

Eric Chakonis

Jaden Fisher

Mitch Hartman

Zach Hartman

Kyle Inlander

Matthew Kolonia

Darren Miller

Drew Phipps

Brandon Seidman