Bucknell University
Columbia
Wrestling Hosts Columbia, Navy to Kick Off Four-Dual Homestand
2/1/2023 5:18:00 PM | Wrestling
Bucknell (6-5, 4-2 EIWA) vs. Columbia (3-6, 3-2 EIWA)
When: Friday, Feb. 3 – 7 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST
Bucknell (6-5, 4-2 EIWA) vs. Navy (3-5, 2-1 EIWA)
When: Saturday, Feb. 4 – 2 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: YouTube
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST
Projected Bucknell Lineup
125: Grayson McLellan (0-13)
133: Kurt Phipps (25-8)
141: Darren Miller (15-5)
149: Kolby DePron (8-11), Braden Bower (13-8), Dylan Chappell (20-6)
157: Riley Bower (5-8), Nick Delp (7-5)
165: Chase Barlow (9-14)
174: Sam Barnes (10-16), Coy Bastian (3-5), Vincent Andreano (3-4)
184: Mason McCready (11-7), Mikey Bartush (11-7)
197: Nolan Springer (13-11)
285: Dorian Crosby (15-9)
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell improved to 6-5 (4-2 EIWA) after going 2-1 last weekend. The Bison now host four straight EIWA duals at home during the month of February leading up to the 2023 EIWA Championships.
• Dorian Crosby (285) was named Bison of the Week on Monday after going 3-0 over the weekend. He remains undefeated in duals this season at 7-0 and has taken down three nationally-ranked wrestlers.
• Dylan Chappell (141/149) is also undefeated in duals and took first place at the Matt Town Open II over the weekend.
• Three Bison appeared in the first NCAA Coaches' Poll released Jan. 19: Phipps, Miller and Crosby. Intermat, FloWrestling and WrestleStat list both Phipps and Miller among their nationally ranked, while WrestleStat had Crosby coming in at No. 19 this week.
• 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 and Nick Delp) returned 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 148 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 Last Weekend's Duals
• Bucknell went 2-1 against LIU, Rider and Army last weekend. The Bison went up against six grapplers currently ranked by Intermat.
• Bucknell posted a commanding 38-4 win over LIU at Davis Gym Saturday morning, giving up just one bout. Darren Miller and Dorian Crosby both posted pins against the Sharks, and Mikey Bartush secured his first tech fall as Bucknell scored all 38 points in succession.
• Later in the day Saturday, Bucknell pulled out a come-from-behind win over Rider on the road, 19-15. Crosby sealed the win with a 7-4 decision over No. 33 David Szuba in the final bout.
• Bucknell came from behind again on Sunday, erasing a 12-0 deficit on the road at Army and eventually taking the lead at 17-15 heading into the final bout, but the Black Knights ended up with a 19-17 win.
Bison in the NCAA Coaches' Rankings
Kurt Phipps (133): 21st
Darren Miller (141): 14th
Dorian Crosby (285): 30th
Bison Ranked
Kurt Phipps (133): 23rd by Intermat, 22nd by FloWrestling, 23rd by WrestleStat
Darren Miller (141): 33rd by Intermat, 21st by FloWrestling, 29th by WrestleStat
Dorian Crosby (285): 19th by WrestleStat
Category Leaders
• Wins: Kurt Phipps (25)
• Dual Wins: Kurt Phipps (9)
• EIWA Dual Wins: Kurt Phipps (6)
• Pins: Mikey Bartush (5)
• Technical Falls: Eight Tied (1)
• Major Decisions: Chappell, Crosby (5)
Columbia at a Glance
• Columbia is 3-6 (3-2 EIWA) after defeating Lehigh and falling to Cornell last weekend. Seven of the nine teams the Lions have faced this season have been ranked.
• The Lions took fifth at last year's EIWA Championships and had eight placewinners. Six of those placewinners are back this season: Matt Kazimir (1st, 141), Danny Fongaro (5th, 149), Josh Ogunsanya (2nd, 165), Nick Fine (7th, 174), Sam Wustefeld (8th, 197), Danny Conley (8th, 285).
• Kazimir and Ogunsanya represented Columbia at the 2022 NCAA Championships, and both picked up wins on the first day.
• Bucknell leads 9-5 in the all-time series with Columbia, which dates back to 1977.
• The Bison defeated the Lions 18-14 during the most recent meeting in 2020. Bucknell rebounded from a 9-0 deficit and won four straight bouts to regain the lead. Heavyweight Brandon Stokes sealed the victory with a narrow 2-0 decision in the final bout.
Navy at a Glance
• The Midshipmen are 3-5 (2-1 EIWA) following wins over Hofstra and Binghamton last weekend.
• Navy took seventh at the 2022 EIWA Championships, and all four placewinners are back this season: Josh Koderhandt (2nd, 133), Andrew Cerniglia (2nd, 157), Val Park (8th, 165), Jacob Koser (3rd, 197).
• Koderhandt and Koser both represented Navy at the 2022 NCAA Championships.
• Navy has won 24 of the 25 all-time meetings with the Bison, dating back to 1979. Bucknell's last win over the Mids was in 1986.
• Navy and Bucknell last met Feb. 4 of last year. The Mids captured a 21-12 win in Annapolis, Md. The Bison won the 125, 141, 149 and 165-poind bouts, but it wasn't enough to overcome Navy's three ranked wrestlers and its fall at 197.
A Look Ahead
• Bucknell hosts Lehigh at Davis Gym on Friday, Feb. 10. The Mountain Hawks ranked No. 21 in the NWCA Coaches Poll as recently as last week but have since dropped out following losses to Columbia and No. 17 Arizona State.
Players Mentioned
