Wrestling Takes on No. 23 Michigan State Friday, Plays Host to Hofstra Monday

Friday, January 6

East Lansing, Mich.

6 p.m.

Bucknell University

Michigan State

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Photo by: Lianne Garrahan

Wrestling Takes on No. 23 Michigan State Friday, Plays Host to Hofstra Monday

1/5/2023 4:04:00 PM | Wrestling

Bucknell (2-2, 1-0 EIWA) at No. 23 Michigan State (6-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
When: Friday, Jan. 6 – 6 p.m.
Where: Jenison Field House – East Lansing, Mich.
Watch: B1G+
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Bucknell (2-2, 1-0 EIWA) vs. Hofstra (0-1, 0-1 EIWA)
When: Monday, Jan. 9 – 6 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Projected Bucknell Lineup
125: Grayson McLellan (0-6)
133: No. 23/22 Kurt Phipps (19-7)
141: No. 17/18/19 Darren Miller (12-4)
149: Kolby DePron (7-9) or Braden Bower (10-7)
157: Riley Bower (2-4)
165: Chase Barlow (6-11)
174: Sam Barnes (9-11)
184: Mikey Bartush (9-5)
197: Nolan Springer (9-8) or Mason McCready (8-6)
285: Dorian Crosby (8-9) or Logan Shephard (7-8)
Note: Rankings are FloWrestling/Intermat/The Open Mat

Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are 2-2 (1-0 EIWA) this season. They've also secured 22 placewinners at tournaments, including two more earlier this week at the Southern Scuffle: Kurt Phipps (4th at 133) and Darren Miller (6th at 141).
• Both Phipps and Miller enter the week among the nationally-ranked wrestlers across FloWrestling, Intermat and The Open Mat.
• Bucknell has had two EIWA Wrestlers of the Week this season, and Phipps was named Bison of the Week on Tuesday following his efforts at the Southern Scuffle.
• The Bison went 12-6 (7-3 EIWA) during the 2021-22 season. Bucknell placed four on the podium at the 2022 EIWA Championships, two of which (Miller, Nick Delp) return for the 2022-23 season. Bucknell has six returning EIWA placewinners overall, and Miller is the team's lone returning NCAA qualifier, earning an automatic bid at 133 pounds in 2021.
• Bucknell welcomed nine newcomers to the team this season after losing six to graduation in the spring. Notably, the Bison lost All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier Zach Hartman (165).
• Bucknell's grueling 2022-23 schedule includes trips to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and the Southern Scuffle. In dual action, the Bison face three ranked teams from the preseason top 25.
• Head coach Dan Wirnsberger is in his 18th season at the helm of the Bucknell wrestling program. He's scored 144 career victories, good for second in school history; he was also tabbed as the 2015 EIWA Coach of the Year after the Bison placed third at the EIWA Championships and qualified four wrestlers for the NCAA Championships.
• Wirnsberger and Bob Ferraro, who led Bucknell to a 169-175-6 record from 1974 to 1997, are the program's only head coaches to reach the 100-win plateau.

A Look Back at the Southern Scuffle
• Bucknell wrestlers went a combined 18-21 at the 2023 Southern Scuffle on Monday and Tuesday, while Kurt Phipps and Darren Miller each placed. Mason McCready (174) also reached the blood round on Monday.
• Along with Phipps and Miller, Dorian Crosby (285) knocked off a nationally-ranked opponent in the consolation round of 16.
• Dylan Chappell (141) posted a winning record at 3-2, collecting two wins in the championship bracket and one more in the second consolation round of 16.

Bison Ranked
Kurt Phipps (133): 23rd FloWrestling, 22nd Intermat
Darren Miller (141): 17th FloWrestling, 18th Intermat, 19th The Open Mat

Category Leaders
• Wins: Kurt Phipps (19)
• Dual Wins: Four Tied (3)
• EIWA Dual Wins: Eight Tied (1)
• Pins: Mikey Bartush (4)
• Technical Falls: Seven Tied (1)
• Major Decisions: Two Tied (3)

Michigan State at a Glance
• Michigan State is 6-0 and most recently defeated Brown in dual action on Dec. 10. The Spartans have blanked two opponents this season (33-0 over American, 52-0 over Davidson).
• The No. 23-ranked Spartans also competed at the Reno Tournament of Champions on Dec. 18, finishing first with 161 points and three individual champions.
• Michigan State went 10-4 (4-4 Big Ten) last season and returns five NCAA Championship qualifiers from 2021-22: Rayvon Foley (133), Cameron Caffey (197), Layne Malczewski (184), Chase Saldate (157), Caleb Fish (165).
• The Spartans have wrestlers ranked at six of 10 weight classes in this week's FloWrestling and Intermat polls: Tristan Lujan (125), Foley (133), Saldate (157), Fish (165), Malczewski (184) and Cameron Caffey (197).
• Bucknell is 1-3 in all-time meetings with Michigan State. The Spartans defeated the Bison 23-10 at Davis Gym on Dec. 3, 2021 last season. Bucknell's only win in the series was a 25-12 victory on the road in 2015.
• The Spartans took seven of 10 bouts in last season's meeting. Kolby DePron, Jaden Fisher and Luke Niemeyer each earned wins for the Bison. All but three of the bouts were decided by decision.

Hofstra at a Glance
• Hofstra is 0-1 (0-1 EIWA) with its only dual being against American on Dec. 22. The Eagles topped the Pride 21-16. Hofstra also took part in the Southern Scuffle this week and will attend the F&M Lehman Open Friday before visiting Lewisburg on Monday.
• Hofstra finished the 2021-22 season 4-11 (3-5 EIWA) and scored three placewinners at the EIWA Championships, including returners Justin Hoyle (141) and Zachary Knighton-Ward (285). Knighton-Ward also received an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA Championships.
• Three Hofstra wrestlers appeared in the latest FloWrestling/Intermat rankings. Trey Rogers (197) was an honorable mention by Flo and No. 29 by Intermat, Jacob Ferreira (184) was ranked No. 24 by Intermat, and Knighton-Ward was No. 30 by Intermat.
• Bucknell leads 16-9 in the all-time series with the Pride dating back to 1970. The Bison have won three in a row over Hofstra, including a 21-15 win on the road Jan. 8 of last year.
• The Bison took four of the first five bouts in last year's meeting, and a Kolby DePron pin at 149 helped give Bucknell its final six-point advantage.