Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Michigan State
Bison Wrestling Falls to No. 23 Michigan State on the Road, 28-9
1/6/2023 9:33:00 PM | Wrestling
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Three Bison picked up wins against No. 23 Michigan State Friday evening, but the Spartans ultimately took the dual 28-9. It was the second ranked opponent Bucknell (2-3, 1-0 EIWA) has faced this season, and the Orange & Blue were within a point of tying entering the fifth bout of the evening. Michigan State (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten), which rolled out six nationally-ranked wrestlers, took seven of 10 bouts to remain undefeated.
Bucknell bounced back from an early 7-0 deficit with wins by Dylan Chappell (141) and Braden Bower (149) to cut the Spartans' lead to 7-6, but the host grabbed bonus points in three of the final six bouts and in four overall. Dorian Crosby (285) ended the night with a 5-3 decision to stop the run.
Chappell, who was wrestling in his first dual of the season, dispatched Jordan Hamdan with a dramatic 2-1 decision in the second tiebreaker to get the Bison on the board at 7-3.
The sophomore's efforts were followed up by Bower's 3-1 decision over Peyton Omania. It was also Bower's first dual action of the season as well as the first in his Bucknell career. Chappell and Bower currently sit third and fourth on the roster in overall wins this season, respectively.
Michigan State rebounded with a major decision by No. 21 Chase Saldate at 157 over Riley Bower before the intermission and carried the momentum into the back half of the match.
The Spartans' No. 33 Caleb Fish secured a tight 5-3 decision over Chase Barlow at 165, and freshman Ceasar Garza topped Sam Barnes 8-3 at 174 to grow Michigan State's lead to double digits.
The Spartans then put the match out of reach with a pin by No. 14 Layne Malczewski at 184 and a technical fall by No. 15 Cameron Caffey at 197.
Crosby, who took down his first nationally-ranked opponent early in the week at the Southern Scuffle, handed Bucknell three more points with a 5-3 decision over Ryan Vasbinder in the final bout of the night. Crosby has already reached a career high in win this season with his first dual victory.
Bucknell's only ranked wrestler competing this evening, Kurt Phipps, suffered a narrow 5-4 loss against No. 11 Rayvon Foley in the 133-pound bout.
The Bison are back home on Monday, Jan. 9 and will host Hofstra in their first dual in Davis Gym this season. Bucknell has won three in a row over Hofstra. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
#23 Michigan State 28, Bucknell 9
January 6, 2023
Jenison Field House – East Lansing, Mich.
125: No. 28 Tristan Lujan (MSU) maj. dec. over Grayson McLellan (BU), 5-14 (MSU 4-0)
133: No. 11 Rayvon Foley (MSU) dec. over No. 22 Kurt Phipps (BU), 4-5 (MSU 7-0)
141: Dylan Chappell (BU) dec. over Jordan Hamden, 2-1 (TB-2) (MSU 7-3)
149: Braden Bower (BU) dec. over Peyton Omania, 3-1 (MSU 7-6)
157: No. 21 Chase Saldate (MSU) maj. dec. over Riley Bower (BU), 0-8 (MSU 11-6)
165: No. 33 Caleb Fish (MSU) dec. over Chase Barlow (BU), 3-5 (MSU 14-6)
174: Ceasar Garza (MSU) dec. over Sam Barnes (BU), 3-8 (MSU 17-6)
184: No. 14 Layne Malczewski (MSU) fall over Mikey Bartush (BU), 3:17 (MSU 23-6)
197: No. 15 Cameron Caffey (MSU) tech. fall over Nolan Springer (BU), 2-19 (MSU 28-6)
285: Dorian Crosby (BU) dec. over Ryan Vasbinder (MSU), 5-3 (MSU 28-9)
Players Mentioned
