Bucknell University
LIU
Wrestling Opens EIWA Action 1-0 with 25-11 Win at LIU
1/14/2024 2:08:00 PM | Wrestling
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Bucknell wrestling team collected its third straight dual victory and its first EIWA dual win by defeating LIU 25-11 at the Pratt Recreation Center on Sunday. The match went back and forth early on, but the Bison claimed the final four bouts to top the Sharks.
LIU took an 11-9 lead after James Johnston's technical fall over Miles Bassett at 165, but the Bison would not lose again the rest of the way. Myles Takats (174) secured a 12-2 major decision over Corey Connolly in the following bout to spur a 16-0 Bucknell run to end the match. Johnston's tech fall and Takat's major decision were the only bonus points scored.
While Takats' win provided the final lead change, the match was still in jeopardy over the next two bouts. Mikey Bartush (184) narrowly defeated Anthony D'Alesio in sudden victory to extend Bucknell's lead to 16-11, and Logan Deacetis (197) needed to gut out a come-from-behind, 10-8 decision to seal the Bison win. Deacetis had trailed 6-4 entering the third period, and the two grapplers were locked at 7-7 with under 30 seconds remaining. Deacetis scored the winning takedown with 20 to go, and LIU forfeited the heavyweight bout with the match in Bucknell's hands.
The two teams traded blows early, with LIU picking up wins at 125 and 141 and Bucknell winning at 133 and 149. Victories by Riley Bower (149) and Kolby DePron (157) represented the first back-to-back wins by either team.
16th-ranked Kurt Phipps also picked up a win at 133, shutting out Christopher Bentacourt with a 5-0 decision. Phipps has held his opponents scoreless in three of his last four matches and improved to 14-2 on the season with Sunday's win.
DePron's 6-2 decision over Rhise Royster represented his first dual win of the season, and Riley Bower improved to 2-0 in duals with his 4-1 decision over Drew Witham. No. 27 Dorian Crosby was credited with the win by forfeit at 285.
Bucknell returns to Davis Gym for two home duals next weekend. The Bison will face Morgan State on Friday, Jan. 19 and American on Sunday, Jan. 21.
Bucknell 25, LIU 11
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024
Pratt Recreation Center – Brookville, N.Y.
125: Robbie Sagaris (LIU) dec. over Grayson McLellan (BUC), 6-3 (LIU 3-0)
133: No. 16 Kurt Phipps (BUC) dec. over Christopher Betancourt (LIU), 5-0 (3-3)
141: Devin Matthews (LIU) dec. over Braden Bower (BUC), 3-1 (LIU 6-3)
149: Riley Bower (BUC) dec. over Drew Witham (LIU), 4-1 (6-6)
157: Kolby DePron (BUC) dec. over Rhise Royster (LIU), 6-2 (BUC 9-6)
165: James Johnston (LIU) tech fall over Miles Bassett (BUC), 16-0 (3:34) (LIU 11-9)
174: Myles Takats (BUC) maj. dec. over Corey Connolly (LIU), 12-2 (BUC 13-11)
184: Mikey Bartush (BUC) SV-1 over Anthony D'Alesio (LIU), 7-4 (BUC 16-11)
197: Logan Deacetis (BUC) dec. over John Dusza (LIU), 10-8 (BUC 19-11)
285: No. 27 Dorian Crosby (BUC) won by forfeit, (BUC 25-11)
Players Mentioned
