Wrestling Travels to Lock Haven Tomorrow; Hosts EIWA Foe Navy Friday

Thursday, January 30

Lock Haven, Pa.

7 p.m.

Bucknell University

Lock Haven

Wrestling Travels to Lock Haven Tomorrow; Hosts EIWA Foe Navy Friday

1/29/2025 11:20:00 AM | Wrestling

Bucknell (5-6) at Lock Haven (9-5)
When: Thursday, Jan. 30 – 7 p.m.
Where: Thomas Fieldhouse – Lock Haven, Pa.
Watch: PSAC Sports Digital Network
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Bucknell (5-6, 3-1 EIWA) vs. Navy (4-3, 3-0 EIWA)
When: Friday, Jan. 31 – 6 p.m.
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Projected Bucknell Lineup:
125 - Chris Nucifora (0-3)
133 - #29 Kurt Phipps (14-7)
141 - #20 Dylan Chappell (16-5)
149 - Braden Bower (9-13) or Kolby DePron (7-4)
157 - Cade Wirnsberger (13-14) or Riley Bower (1-3)
165 - #21 Noah Mulvaney (8-2)
174 - #18 Myles Takats (17-4)
184 - Logan Deacetis (7-9) or Mikey Bartush (10-8)
197 - #24 Dillon Bechtold (16-7)
285 - Nolan Springer (8-5) or Logan Shephard (6-11)

Rankings Intermat

Bucknell at a Glance:

• Bucknell looks to keep its momentum going after its first ranked win in a decade when it faces Lock Haven in the I-80 Romp and fellow EIWA foe Navy in two matches.
• Navy is the fifth EIWA match for the Bison.
• The Orange & Blue fell 20-13 to EIWA member Drexel last Friday but rebounded to upset No. 21 Army 21-13 on Sunday for a 3-1 EIWA record. .
• Five Bucknell wrestlers are ranked by Intermat with Myles Takats slotting the highest at #18.
• The NCAA Coaches Rankings came out last week and four Bison received recognition: #30 Kurt Phipps (133), #15 Dylan Chappell (141), #19 Noah Takats (174), and #19 Dillon Bechtold (197). Noah Mulvaney, due to his early season injuries, misses the initial cut but should be ranked in the forthcoming editions.
• Bucknell had the No. 25 recruiting class in the country by Intermat.
• Head coach Dan Wirnsberger is in his 19th season with the Bison and his 20th year leading the program since its revival in 2005.

A Look Back at the Drexel/Army Duals

• Bucknell lost 20-13 to Drexel as the Bison never gained any traction against a determined Dragons squad.
• The Orange & Blue bounced back dramatically against the Black Knights winning 21-13.
• Army led 9-6 after four matches and then Bucknell unleashed a 15-0 run to win the dual.
• The Bison outconditioned the Black Knights and won multiple matches by coming back in the third round and won two sudden victory situations.
• Bucknell went 4-0 in ranked wrestler duals and won several toss-up matches.
• The victory marked Bucknell's first ranked win since defeating No. 17 Rider in 2015.

Scouting Lock Haven/Series History

• The Eagles are 9-5 overall and 3-0 in MAC play.
• Lock Haven has not shielded itself from challenges going 0-4 against ranked opponents.
• Bucknell and Lock Haven share Wisconsin, Iowa State, Maryland, and Morgan State. Lock Haven defeated Morgan State 53-0 and beat Wisconsin 26-17 and lost to Maryland and Iowa State. The Bison only defeated Morgan State from that grouping.
• The Eagles have seven wrestlers ranked by the NCAA Coaches.
• Lock Haven went 7-11 overall and 4-4 in MAC play during the 2023-24 season. They placed fourth at the MAC Championships with three individual champions.
• Bucknell and Lock Haven are meeting for the 25th time. The Eagles own the series record 19-5. The two teams first met in 1947. LHU won the first 16 matches in the I-80 Romp. Coach Dan Wirnsberger is 5-3 against Lock Haven and owns every Bucknell victory in the rivalry.

Scouting Navy/Series History

• The Midshipmen are 4-3 overall and 3-0 in EIWA play.
• Navy only has scheduled 11 duals for the 2024-25 season. All three losses have come to ranked foes: No. 11 Iowa State, No. 25 North Carolina, and No. 25 Pitt. The only non-conference win came over former EIWA member Harvard.
• In EIWA play, Navy has sunk every opponent beating American (24-21), Drexel (29-9), and No. 21 Lehigh (21-15).
• The Mids are receiving votes in the NWCA Poll.
• Navy went 8-6 overall and 2-3 in EIWA play during the 2023-24 season. They placed sixth at the EIWA Championships and 26th at the NCAA Championships.
• Bucknell and Navy are meeting for the 28th time. The Mids own the series record 27-1. Bucknell's sole win came in 1986. The Bison have never defeated Army and Navy in the same year.

A Look Ahead

• The Bison welcome Keystone State rival Lehigh next Friday at Davis Gym. The game will be Bucknell's Fight Like Bell Night in honor of wrestler Owen Bell.