Wrestling Heads West to Challenge #24 Wisconsin on Tuesday Night

Bucknell (0-2) vs. #24 Wisconsin (2-0)
When: Tuesday, Nov. 24 – 6 p.m.
Where: Stoughton High School – Stoughton, Wi.
Watch: BIG+
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Projected Bucknell Lineup:
125 - Kade Davidhesier
133 - Ty Kapusta
141 - #22 Dylan Chappell
149 - Riley Bower
157 - Cade Wirnsberger
165 - #27 Noah Mulvaney
174 - #26 Myles Takats
184 - Mikey Bartush
197 - #12 Dillon Bechtold
285 - Lucas Lawler

Rankings Intermat

Bucknell at a Glance:

• Bucknell's brutal non-conference schedule continues against #24 Wisconsin. It is Bucknell's third straight dual against a top 25 team.
• Five Bison wrestlers are ranked by Intermat with Dillon Bechtold registering the highest at #12. Bechtold missed the season's first three competitiosn and made his 2025-26 debut versus No. 18 Oklahoma. Lucas Lawler is not ranked by Intermat but is #27 in the FloWrestling lists for heavyweight.
• Dylan Chappell entered 2025-26 with 88 career wins and the fifth-year senior added three to his ledger at the Navy Classic. He looks to become the next Bison grappler to reach the 100-win milestone. Kurt Phipps was the last Bucknell wrestler to make it, earning number 100 against Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) on Jan. 30, 2025.
• Bucknell posted its third straight top 25 recruiting class, providing an even greater pool of talent for the program. The results have shown at the heavyweight class with the freshman Lawler scoring an upset victory in the Virginia Tech dual.
• Head coach Dan Wirnsberger is in his 20th season with the Bison and his 21th year leading the program since its revival in 2005.

A Look Back at the Oklahoma Dual

• Bucknell led Oklahoma 12-9 before the Sooners won the final three bouts for the 18-12 victory.
• Oklahoma led 9-0 after the first three matches.
• Riley Bower (149) halted the Sooners' streak with an 8-3 decision victory. Bower's win launched a four-bout winning stretch for the Bison.
• Cade Wirnsberger (157) defeated his opponent 6-0 to cut the deficit to 9-6.
• Noah Mulvaney (165) tied the contest at 9-9 with his 13-6 decision.
• Myles Takats (174) clawed out a 2-1 decision over No. 33 Carter Schubert to give Bucknell the 12-9.
• Dillon Bechtold (197) made his season debut against No. 8 Parker Hall and lost a climatic 6-5 decision.

Scouting Wisconsin/Series History

• Wisconsin sits at 2-0 after comfortably defeating NDSU and Ohio.
• The Badgers moved into the top 25 and are the ninth-highest ranked Big 10 team.
• Wisconsin boasts six ranked wrestlers in their probable lineup, No. 11 Nicolar Rivera (125), No. 5 Zan Fugitt (133), No. 17 Joseph Zargo (149), No. 31 Luke Mechler (157), No. 23 Cody Goebel (165), and No. 18 Braxton Amos (285).
• The Badgers finished 5-12 overall and 1-7 in the brutally deep Big 10 last year. The team finished 13th at the Big 10 Championships.
• Bucknell and Wisconsin are meeting for the third straight year. The Badgers are 2-0 all-time against the Bison.

A Look Ahead

• Bucknell faces No. 19 Pitt on Dec. 7.

Wrestling Heads West to Challenge #24 Wisconsin on Tuesday Night

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Players Mentioned

Mikey Bartush

Dillon Bechtold

Riley Bower

Dylan Chappell

Ty Kapusta

Lucas Lawler

Noah Mulvaney

Kurt Phipps

Myles Takats

Cade Wirnsberger