Bucknell University
Lehigh
Wrestling Falls to No. 15 Lehigh on the Road, 31-11
2/9/2024 9:15:00 PM | Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Bucknell wrestling team picked up three wins, including two back-to-back at 174 and 184, but 15th-ranked Lehigh's five technical falls dealt the Bison a 31-11 loss at Leeman-Turner Arena Friday night. Myles Takats scored the only bonus points for Bucknell with an 18-3 tech fall at 174.
Lehigh's first tech fall came in the opening bout of the evening, but Bucknell's No. 14 Kurt Phipps cut into the deficit with a win at 133 to make it 5-3. Phipps scored an escape to open the second period, and it was the only point he needed in the 1-0 decision over Sheldon Seymour. It was Phipps' 20th win of the season and his second by a 1-0 decision in the last two weeks.
Following the Phipps win, the Mountain Hawks used a 16-0 run to open up a 21-3 lead over the Bison. The run included tech falls by No. 15 Malyke Hines at 141 and a another by No. 24 Max Brignola at 157. The Mountain Hawks rolled out five ranked wrestlers overall, including three ranked in the top 10 in No. 3 Luke Stanich (125), No. 4 Michael Beard (197) and No. 9 Nathan Taylor (285).
One of Bucknell's nationally-ranked grapplers, No. 12 Noah Mulvaney, suffered his first loss since Nov. 18 to snap a 12-match win streak. Mulvaney went back and forth with Lehigh's Jake Logan, and the pair were even at 8-8 late in the third period, but a final Logan escape handed Mulvaney his fourth loss of the season by a 9-8 decision.
Riley Bower also put up a valiant effort at 149, but a reversal and an escape by Kelvin Griffin resulted in a 3-1 decision and three more points for Lehigh.
Takats put an end to the Lehigh run with an 18-3 technical fall over Connor Herceg, as he registered five takedowns and secured the riding time point at the buzzer. Mikey Bartush (184) followed with a 7-1 decision over Jack Wilt, scoring two third-period takedowns, to get Bucknell within 10 of tying with two bouts to go.
The Mountain Hawks ended the evening with technical falls by Beard and Taylor, and they improved to 6-0 in the EIWA this season.
Bucknell returns to Davis Gym next Saturday, Feb. 17 for its final home dual of the season. The Bison will celebrate Senior Night prior to the 7 p.m. start.
Lehigh 31, Bucknell 11
Friday, Feb. 9, 2024
Leeman-Turner Arena – Bethlehem, Pa.
125: No. 3 Luke Stanich (LEH) tech fall over Kade Davidheiser (BUC), 17-1 (3:29) (LEH 5-0)
133: No. 14 Kurt Phipps (BUC) dec. over Sheldon Seymour (LEH), 1-0 (LEH 5-3)
141: No. 15 Malyke Hines (LEH) tech fall over Dylan Chappell (BUC), 21-6 (7:00) (LEH 10-3)
149: Kelvin Griffin (LEH) dec. over Riley Bower (BUC), 3-1 (LEH 13-3)
157: No. 24 Max Brignola (LEH) tech fall over Aiden Davis (BUC), 20-5 (4:47) (LEH 18-3)
165: Jake Logan (LEH) dec. over No. 12 Noah Mulvaney (BUC), 9-8 (LEH 21-3)
174: Myles Takats (BUC) tech fall over Connor Herceg (LEH), 18-3 (7:00) (LEH 21-8)
184: Mikey Bartush (BUC) dec. over Jack Wilt (LEH), 7-1 (LEH 21-11)
197: No. 4 Michael Beard (LEH) tech fall over Logan Deacetis (BUC), 21-6 (2:40) (LEH 26-11)
285: No. 9 Nathan Taylor (LEH) tech fall over No. 28 Dorian Crosby (BUC), 17-2 (3:55) (LEH 31-11)
Players Mentioned
