Bucknell University
Morgan State
Wrestling to Face Morgan State, American in Home Duals
1/17/2024 9:46:00 AM | Wrestling
SCHEDULE UPDATE: The dual match against Morgan State, originally scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, has been reschedule to the following day due to weather-related travel concerns for the Bears. Bucknell will now host Morgan State at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 in Davis Gym.
Bucknell (4-3, 1-0 EIWA) vs. Morgan State (1-10)
When: Saturday, Jan. 20 – 5 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Follow on Twitter:Â @Bucknell_WRST
Bucknell (4-3, 1-0 EIWA) vs. American (5-8, 0-1 EIWA)
When: Sunday, Jan. 21 – 2 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch:Â ESPN+
Follow on Twitter:Â @Bucknell_WRST
Projected Bucknell Lineup:
125: Grayson McLellan (0-7) or Kade Davidheiser (0-0)
133: #17 Kurt Phipps (14-2)
141: Dylan Chappell (7-5) or Braden Bower (11-5)
149: Riley Bower (8-7) or Aiden Davis (8-8)Â
157: Kolby DePron (11-6) or Nick Delp (5-5)
165: #19 Noah Mulvaney (19-3)
174: Myles Takats (15-8)
184: Mikey Bartush (15-6)
197: Logan Deacetis (12-8)
285: #27 Dorian Crosby (15-5)
Rankings Intermat
Bucknell at a Glance:
• Bucknell looks to defend Davis Gym this weekend when it hosts Morgan State on Saturday and American on Sunday. The Bison have the opportunity to improve their home record to 4-1 and move to 2-0 in EIWA action.
• The Bison will be celebrating alumni, family and friends of the wrestling program on Friday, and a social event will be held at Brendan's Towne Tavern following the Morgan State match. Those planning on attending the social should email head coach Dan Wirnsberger at djw020@bucknell.edu.
• Bucknell took down LIU 25-11 on the road last Sunday for its first EIWA win of the season. It was the team's third straight dual victory.
• Kurt Phipps (133) and Noah Mulvaney (165) both won their respective brackets at the Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2. Both wrestlers have won two tournaments this season. Four Bison also placed first at the Edinboro Open on Jan. 7.
• Three Bison appeared appeared in the Intermat and FloWrestling rankings this week: Phipps, Mulvaney and Dorian Crosby.
• The Bison returned all three 2023 NCAA qualifiers this season: Dylan Chappell (149), Crosby (285), and Phipps (133). 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.
• The Bison added 11 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.
• 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 with 152 career victories.
Bison Ranked
Kurt Phipps (133): 17th Intermat, 24th FloWrestling, 18th The Open Mat
Noah Mulvaney (165): 19th Intermat, 16th FloWrestling, 16th The Open Mat
Dorian Crosby (285): 27th Intermat, 26th FloWrestling
Category Leaders
• Wins: Noah Mulvaney (19)
• Dual Wins: Four Tied (5)
• EIWA Dual Wins: Seven Tied (1)
• Pins: Aiden Davis (4)
• Technical Falls: Braden Bower, Dorian Crosby (5)
• Major Decisions: Myles Takats (6)
A Look Back at the LIU Dual
• Bucknell won its first EIWA dual 25-11 over LIU on the road last Sunday. The match went back and forth early on, but the Bison claimed the final four bouts and six of the last seven to top the sharks.
• Bucknell ended the match on a 16-0 run after LIU took an 11-9 lead.
• A technical fall for LIU's James Johnston (165) and a major decision for Bucknell's Myles Takats (174) were the only bonus points scored in the match. Five of the bouts were decided by three or fewer points, including a 7-4 overtime win for Mikey Bartush.
• Kurt Phipps (133), Riley Bower (149), Kolby DePron (157), Logan Deacetis (197) and Dorian Crosby (285) also picked up wins. Crosby's win came by way of forfeit after the match was already in hand.
• Phipps' 5-0 win was the third shutout he's posted over his last four matches.
• Bucknell moved to 4-0 all-time against the Sharks.
Scouting Morgan State/Series History
• Morgan State enters the weekend 1-10 and having lost five in a row. Its lone victory was over Marymount on Nov. 20. Most recently the Bears fell 39-3 against Princeton.
• Morgan State has shared two common opponents with Bucknell. The Bears suffered a 29-8 loss against Bloomsburg and a 56-0 defeat at the hands of No. 14 Minnesota. Bucknell went 1-1 against those teams.
• Senior Jacob Marsh (165), who transferred from Princeton, currently leads the Bears with a 10-7 record. Behind Marsh is freshman Kingsley Menifee (184) at 8-7.
• Morgan State is in its first year of competition after a 25-year hiatus. The newly-reinstated program is under the leadership of head coach Kenny Monday.
• Bucknell and Morgan State are meeting for the first time since 1973. The Bison claimed a 33-9 victory in the only matchup between the two teams.
Scouting American/Series History
• American is 5-8 (0-1 EIWA) after going 1-2 against Campbell, CSU Bakersfield and Central Michigan at the Chippewa Challenge. The Eagles lost their only EIWA matchup of the year so far against No. 16 Navy, 38-0. American has wins over Clarion, Millersville, George Mason, Davidson and CSU Bakersfield.
• American went 8-12 (3-5 EIWA) last season and took 13th at the EIWA Championships. It sent two to the podium, and Jack Maida (133) qualified for the 2023 NCAA Championships with a fifth-place finish. Maida reached the second round of the consolation bracket in Tulsa.
• Both of American's 2023 EIWA placewinners return this season. Jack Nies, who took sixth place at 157 pounds, and Maida, who is wrestling at 125 this season.
• Maida is currently ranked 28th by Intermat and is 12-1 on the season.
• Bucknell maintains a 24-6 record in the all-time series with American dating back to 1966, and the Bison have won each of the last three meetings.
• Bucknell won 28-10 at American last season. The Eagles grabbed an early 6-3 lead before back-to-back pins by Mikey Bartush (184) and Nolan Springer (197) gave the Bison the lead for good. Braden Bower (149) also scored bonus points, and seven Bison ended up with victories.
A Look Ahead
• Bucknell remains at Davis Gym to host Army on Saturday, Jan. 27. It's Bucknell's only match of the weekend and its last at home before a four-dual road swing.
Players Mentioned
