Bucknell University
Lehigh
Wrestling Faces 15th-Ranked Lehigh Friday in EIWA Road Test
2/7/2024 9:38:00 AM | Wrestling
Bucknell (7-6, 3-3 EIWA) at #15 Lehigh (5-3, 5-0 EIWA)
When: Friday, Feb. 9 – 7 p.m.
Where: Leeman-Turner Arena – Bethlehem, Pa.
Watch:Â FloWrestling OR Service Electric Network
Listen: Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST
Projected Bucknell Lineup:
125: Kade Davidheiser (1-2)
133:Â #14 Kurt Phipps (19-3)
141: Dylan Chappell (15-7) or Braden Bower (12-6)
149: Riley Bower (10-10)
157: Kolby DePron (12-6) or Aiden Davis (9-11)
165: #12 Noah Mulvaney (23-3)
174: Myles Takats (18-11)
184: Mikey Bartush (19-8)
197: Logan Deacetis (17-9)
285: #28 Dorian Crosby (19-7)
Rankings Intermat
Bucknell at a Glance:
• Bucknell concludes its four-dual road swing when it travels to 15th-ranked Lehigh Friday evening. It's the team's only competition of the weekend after it faced two opponents in each of the last three weekends.
• Bucknell fell to 7-6 (3-3 EIWA) in duals after suffering losses at Navy and Columbia last weekend. The Bison have dropped three of their last four duals after winning their previous five in a row.
• Three Bison appeared in the latest Intermat national rankings on Tuesday: Kurt Phipps (14th at 133), Noah Mulvaney (12th at 165) and Dorian Crosby (28th at 285).
• The first round of NCAA Coaches' Rankings was released on Monday, Jan. 22, and five Bison made the cut: Phipps (13th at 133), Mulvaney (18th at 165), Myles Takats (31st at 174), Mikey Bartush (32nd at 184) and Crosby (21st at 285). It was the highest number of Bison on any single NCAA Coaches' Rankings list since 2016. The NCAA Coaches' Rankings are used in the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2024 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
• Bucknell landed on the first NWCA Division I Mid-Major Coaches' Poll Top 20 when the rankings were released last Thursday. The Bison came in at No. 17. Eight EIWA schools in total were ranked among the top 20, with Cornell and Lehigh sitting first and third, respectively.
• Bucknell returned all three 2023 NCAA qualifiers this season: Phipps (133), Chappell (149) and Crosby (285). 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: Phipps, Chappell, Crosby, and Nick Delp (157).
• Bucknell graduated six seniors in 2023, including 2021 NCAA qualifier and three-time EIWA placewinner Darren Miller.
• The Bison added 11 newcomers this season, and the group was dubbed the No. 19 recruiting class in the country by Intermat. Seven have made dual starts this season, and two appeared in the first set of NCAA Coaches' Rankings: Mulvaney and Takats. The two are a combined 17-6 in duals.
• 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 155 career victories.
• Bucknell is set to host the 120th EIWA Championships in Sojka Pavilion on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9. Tickets are on sale now at the Bucknell Campus Box Office.
Bison Ranked
Kurt Phipps (133): 14th by Intermat, 28th by FloWrestling, 19th by The Open Mat
Noah Mulvaney (165): 12th by Intermat, 14th by FloWrestling, 14th by The Open Mat
Dorian Crosby (285): 28th by Intermat, 26th by FloWrestling
Bison in the First NCAA Coaches' Rankings
Kurt Phipps (133): 13th (3rd of 8)
Noah Mulvaney (165): 18th (2nd of 5)
Myles Takats (174): 31st (6th of 6)
Mikey Bartush (184): 32nd (8th of 8)
Dorian Crosby (285): 21st (6th of 9)
(Parenthesis is rank among EIWA wrestlers)
Category Leaders
• Wins: Noah Mulvaney (23)
• Dual Wins: Kurt Phipps (10)
• EIWA Dual Wins: Phipps, Deacetis (5)
• Pins: Three tied (4)
• Technical Falls: Dorian Crosby (6)
• Major Decisions: Myles Takats (7)
A Look Back at the Navy/Columbia Duals
• A major decision by Logan Deacetis (197) and an overtime win for Kade Davisheiser (125) were the only points the Bison were able to put up against Navy, which recently dropped out of the NWCA Top 25. The Mids scored bonus points in four bouts and registered three pins in a 34-7 win over the Bison at Alumni Hall.
• All four of Navy's ranked wrestlers earned wins, while Bucknell's 14th-ranked Kurt Phipps (133) fell in TB-1 to No. 31 Brendan Ferretti and No. 27 Dorian Crosby (285) dropped a 6-4 decision to Jamier Ferere.
• Davidheiser's win marked Bucknell's first at the weight class in nearly two years.
• The Bison doubled their wins on Sunday at Columbia, but it still was not enough as the Lions posted two tech falls and a pin in the 25-13 contest. Crosby, Phipps, Riley Bower (149) and Aiden Davis (157) each won for the Bison.
• Bower and Davis won back-to-back bouts in sudden victory.
Scouting Lehigh/Series History
• The Mountain Hawks improved to 5-3 (5-0 EIWA) with a 21-16 win at Army on Sunday. Their other EIWA victories have come against Navy, Penn, Cornell, and Binghamton. The Big Red were ranked ninth in the country at the time of Lehigh's 17-16 win.
• Lehigh was ranked 15th in the nation in the latest NWCA Top 25 Poll. Additionally, six Mountain Hawks appeared in Tuesday's updated Intermat rankings. Four were ranked among the top 10, and three came in among the top five. Freshman Ryan Crookham is currently the top ranked wrestler in the nation at 133 pounds and is 13-0 on the season.
• Lehigh placed second at the 2023 EIWA Championships following a 9-9 (6-3 EIWA) season. It then went 20th at the NCAA Championships with Josh Humphreys (157) finishing third. Five Mountain Hawks qualified for the national tournament, and three of those are back this season: Malyke Hines (141), Michael Beard (197) and Nathan Taylor (285).
• Bucknell is 1-16 in the all-time series with Lehigh, which dates back to 1974. Bucknell's only win over the Mountain Hawks was an 18-7 road victory in 2014. Lehigh won 32-6 in Lewisburg last season.
• Dylan Chappell won 8-6 in overtime at 149 and Darren Miller defeated Malyke Hines 4-2 at 141, but they were the only two wins for the Bison in last year's meeting. Lehigh picked up two wins by fall, a technical fall and three major decisions in the match.
A Look Ahead
• Bucknell returns to Davis Gym on Saturday, Feb. 17 to host Brown for its final home dual. The Bison will be celebrating Senior Day prior to the 2 p.m. dual.
Players Mentioned
