Bucknell Wrestling Challenges No. 14 Minnesota for Home Opener in Davis Gym Thursday

Thursday, November 16

Lewisburg, Pa.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

#14 Minnesota

Photo by: Lianne Garrahan

Bucknell Wrestling Challenges No. 14 Minnesota for Home Opener in Davis Gym Thursday

11/14/2023 11:49:00 AM | Wrestling

Bucknell (1-1) vs. #14 Minnesota (0-0)
When: Thursday, Nov. 16 – 7 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Results: FloArena
Tickets: Campus Box Office
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Ticket Information:
• Tickets are available in advance of Thursday's match at the Bucknell Campus Box Office at $12 for adults and $5 for youth (17 & under). Premium floor seats will also be sold until Wednesday for $25.
• Day-of-match tickets will be sold at $15 for adults and $8 for youth.
• Bucknell students as well as faculty and staff will receive free admission.

Thursday's Entertainment:
• Prior to Thursday's dual there will be three extra matches beginning at 6:27 p.m.
• During intermission, two local youth wrestlers will take the mat for a match
• The Bison Girls dance team will be performing during intermission

Projected Bucknell Lineup:
125: Grayson McLellan (0-0) or Owen Bell (0-4)
133: No. 17 Kurt Phipps (1-1) or Ethan Lebin (0-0)
141: Braden Bower (1-1)
149: No. 33 Dylan Chappell (3-2)
157: Nick Delp (1-1) or Riley Bower (0-0)
165: No. 31 Noah Mulvaney (7-1)
174: Myles Takats (6-2)
184: Mikey Bartush (0-0)
197: Logan Deacetis (1-1) or Hayden Linkerhof (0-0)
HWT: Dorian Crosby (4-2)

Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is set for its home opener against No. 14 Minnesota on Thursday in Davis Gym. It's the second of three nationally-ranked teams the Bison face in their first four duals.
• The Bison enter Thursday's dual 1-1 after a loss at No. 11 Oklahoma State and a win at Oklahoma Wesleyan. Bucknell also took part in the Clarion Open during the first weekend of November.
• The Bison returned all three 2023 NCAA qualifiers: Dylan Chappell (149), Dorian Crosby (285) and Kurt Phipps (133) this season. Chappell and Crosby were both automatic qualifiers, and Phipps was one of 47 wrestlers to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships.
• Bucknell also returns four of its five EIWA placewinners from a season ago: Chappell, Crosby, Phipps and Nick Delp (157).
• Bucknell graduated six seniors in 2023, including 2021 NCAA qualifier and three-time EIWA placewinner Darren Miller as well as 2021 EIWA placewinners Mason McCready and Vincent Andreano.
• Three Bison appeared in the latest Intermat/FloWrestling rankings on Tuesday: No. 17/12 Phipps (133), No. 33/29 Chappell (149), and No. 31/12 Noah Mulvaney (165)
• Bucknell's 2023-24 slate includes four teams ranked in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll: No. 11 Oklahoma State, No. 14 Minnesota, No. 18 Wisconsin and No. 17 Lehigh.
• Head coach Dan Wirnsberger is in his 18th season with the Bison and his 19th year leading the program since its revival in 2005. He ranks second all-time in program history in wins and is one shy of 150 career victories.
• Bucknell competed at the Clarion Open the first weekend of November and placed four on the podium. Mulvaney won the 165-pound bracket, freshman Cade Wirnsberger placed third at 157, Crosby took third at 285, and Chappell placed fourth at 149.
• Mulvaney was named EIWA Wrestler of the Week last Tuesday after going 6-0 at the Clarion Open, including a win over 15th-ranked Josh Ogunsanya from Columbia.
• The Bison added 10 newcomers this season, and the group was dubbed the No. 19 recruiting class in the country by Intermat.
• Chappell, Crosby, Delp and Phipps are serving as team captains this season.
• Bucknell welcomed two new assistant coaches to the staff this season. Donny Ooton, who is in his second stint in Lewisburg after serving as an assistant in 2009 and 2010, and Thomas Flitz, who comes to Bucknell from Virginia.

A Look Back at the Oklahoma State Dual
• The Bison challenged themselves with a season-opening dual at No. 11 Oklahoma State on Friday and fell 38-6 to the hosting Cowboys. Oklahoma State featured seven nationally-ranked wrestlers in its lineup, including three ranked in the top six.
• The Cowboys scored bonus points in five bouts, including two pins. Bucknell's six points came by way of injury default at 174 pounds.
• Nick Delp (157) and Dorian Crosby (285) both lost by just a single point. Delp and Braden Bower (141) both held early leads in their matches.

A Look Back at the Oklahoma Wesleyan Dual
• The Bison posted a big 46-10 victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan Saturday afternoon for their first dual win of the season. Bucknell scored bonus points in seven bouts. The Eagles' 10 points came from a major decision at 125 pounds and a win by forfeit at 184.
• Kurt Phipps (133), Aiden Davis (149), Nick Delp (157), Myles Takats (174) and Dorian Crosby (285) each posted pins.
• Phipps and Bower both earned wins over 2023 NAIA Men's Wrestling Championship qualifiers.

Bison Ranked
• Kurt Phipps (133): 17th by Intermat, 12th by FloWrestling, 11th by The Open Mat
• Dylan Chappell (149): 33rd by Intermat, 29th by FloWrestling
• Noah Mulvaney (165): 31st by Intermat, 12th by FloWrestling

Bison Category Leaders
• Wins: Noah Mulvaney (7)
• Dual Wins: Myles Takats (2)
• Pins: Aiden Davis (2)
• Technical Falls: Crosby/Mulvaney (2)
• Major Decisions: Myles Takats (2)

Minnesota at a Glance
• Thursday will be Minnesota's first dual of the 2023-24 campaign. The Golden Gophers competed at the Bison Open in Fargo, N.D. last weekend and saw seven post championship performances, highlighted by returning All-American Michael Blockhus (157). Blockhus outscored his opponents 45-6 en route to the title.
• Minnesota enters Thursday's dual ranked No. 14 in the nation. It finished 15th as a team at the 2023 NCAA Championships, and Aaron Nagao (133) and Blockhus both posted podium finishes.
• Minnesota went 12-3 (5-3 Big Ten) in duals last season, including wins over No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 18 North Dakota State and No. 17 Illinois.
• Eight Golden Gophers made appearance in the Intermat rankings on Tuesday, including three ranked in the top 10: No. 7 Patrick McKee (125), No. 8 Blockhus (157) and No. 6 Isaiah Salazar (184).
• The Bison have never faced Minnesota in a dual. At last year's NCAA Championships, Kurt Phipps lost by an 8-0 major decision to Nagao in the first round.

A Look Ahead
Bucknell participates at the annual Navy Classic on Saturday, Nov. 18. This year's Navy Classic will take place at the McDonough School in Owings Mills, Md. and will be free to attend. The Bison had nine placewinners at last year's Navy Classic.