Wrestling Drops 20-13 Decision to Drexel

LEWISBURG, Pa.- Four Bucknell wrestlers took home victories but the Drexel Dragons (6-8, 2-1 EIWA) won six matches to knock the Orange & Blue from the ranks of the EIWA unbeatens in a 20-13 dual. Bucknell fell to 4-6 on the season and 2-1 in the EIWA.

Bucknell never led in the matchup. Drexel grabbed a 5-0 lead via a technical fall in the opening 125-bout. No. 30 Kurt Phipps (133) won his 98th career match with a 7-5 decision over Kyle Waterman. The Dragons answered Phipps's victory with a 9-0 run winning three straight decisions including No. 32 Jordan Soriano upsetting No. 17 Dylan Chappell 10-8 in the 141-weight class.

The Bison halted the run with two straight victories. No. 22 Noah Mulvaney (165) returning to full strength from an early season injury collected the 12-3 major decision over Cody Walsh and No. 19 Myles Takats (174) has become one of the hottest grapplers nationally added another victory with the 5-3 decision over Jasiah Queen moving Bucknell within 14-10.

The decisive match occurred in the 184-pound bout. Logan Deacetis led for most of the final round and seemed poised to win a decision and move the Bison within one point when his opponent Guiseppe Hoose flipped the switch with a massive takedown at the 24 second mark. The win gave Drexel a 17-10 lead with two bouts remaining.

Bucknell lost a point during the following 197-pound clash when the bench was called for badgering. The dual between Drexel's No. 20 Mickey O'Malley and Bucknell's No. 28 Dillon Bechtold was a tight contest. The contest was tied 10-10 before O'Malley obtained a takedown with 14 seconds left to win the dual and give Drexel an insurmountable 20-9 lead.

The Bison finished strong when Nolan Springer (285) earned a major decision (15-2) over Dom Petracci. It ended the match on a high note and should provide momentum for the upcoming Sunday dual versus Army.

No. 21 Army will visit Davis Gym on Sunday at 2 p.m. Note that the Army dual was originally scheduled to be contested at West Point but was relocated to Lewisburg earlier this week.

125: Desmond Pleasant (Drexel) tech fall over Chris Nucifora (Bucknell), 17-6 (DREXEL 5-0)
133: #30 Kurt Phipps (Bucknell) dec. over Kyle Waterman (Drexel), 7-5 (DREXEL 5-3)
141: #32 Jordan Soriano (Drexel) dec. over #17 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell), 10-8 (DREXEL 8-3)
149: Dom Findora (Drexel) dec. over Braden Bower (Bucknell), 7-4 (DREXEL 11-3)
157: #21 Luke Nichter (Drexel) dec. over Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell), 9-3 (DREXEL 14-3)
165: #22 Noah Mulvaney (Bucknell) major dec. over Cody Walsh (Drexel), 12-3 (DREXEL 14-7)
174: #19 Myles Takats (Bucknell) dec. over Jasiah Queen (Drexel), 5-3 (DREXEL 14-10)
184: Guiseppe Hoose (Drexel) dec. over Logan Deacetis (Bucknell), 6-5 (DREXEL 17-10)
197: #20 Mickey O'Malley (Drexel) dec. over #28 Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell), 13-10 (DREXEL 20-9)
285: Nolan Springer (Bucknell) major dec. over Dom Petracci (Drexel), 15-2 (DREXEL 20-13)
*Bucknell docked one point for badgering during the 197-point bout

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Players Mentioned

Dillon Bechtold

Braden Bower

Dylan Chappell

Logan Deacetis

Noah Mulvaney

Chris Nucifora

Kurt Phipps

Nolan Springer

Myles Takats

Cade Wirnsberger