Photo by: Sam Janicki
Wrestling Battles No. 10 Virginia Tech in 19-12 Defeat
11/7/2025 10:10:00 PM | Wrestling
BLACKSBURG, Va.- Bucknell (0-1) scored several upsets over No. 10 Virginia Tech (1-0) but the Hokies won the ranked matches for the narrow 19-12 victory on Friday night. Two Bison grapplers earned splash victories over heavily favored foes but the Orange & Blue could not overcome the early 13-0 Hokie advantage.
Tyler Bienus (174) and Lucas Lawler (285) both upset ranked foes to energize the Bison squad. Bienus defeated No. 21 Jaden Bullock, using a first round takedown and riding time to outlast the dangerous foe. His victory cut the Hokie deficit to 16-9 with two matches remaining.
Lawler provided an encouraging consolation prize for the Bison. Bucknell entered the heavyweight match already mathematically eliminated at 19-9 but the Orange & Blue rookie delivered a thrilling 3-2 victory over No. 16 Jimmy Mullen. The match sat at 1-1 entering sudden victory. Lawler uncorked a reversal for the 3-1 lead. Virginia Tech challenged a potential nearfall for Mullen but the review denied their claim. Mullen grabbed another point but Lawler prevailed for the massive win.
Virginia Tech led 13-0 after the first four duals. The match started in the 125-pound classification where Chris Nucifora performed exceptionally well against two-time All-American No. 4 Eddie Ventresca. The Bison grappler did not back down and fought to a 5-1 decision.
Tech added four points when No. 18 Dillon Campbell recorded a major decision over Ty Kapusta (133).
No. 14 Dylan Chappell (141) tried to stop the streak in the night's first ranked matchup. Chappell, who narrowly lost to the nation's number two wrestler Brock Hardy at the Navy Classic, found himself facing another ranked foe in No. 29 Tom Crook. The conflict was tied 5-5 late when Crook earned a takedown. Chappell grabbed an escape point but fell 8-6.
Noah Nininger capped Virginia Tech's 13-0 start by defeating Braden Bower (149), 4-1.
Cade Wirnsberger (157) arose to break the Hokies' streak with a tough 6-4 victory over Frank Dibella. Wirnsberger, a gritty grappler, grabbed the 6-4 lead and prevented any late takedowns from stealing his win.
No. 29 Noah Mulvaney (165) won a second straight match for Bucknell with a 12-9 sudden victory decision over No. 28 Mac Church.
Bucknell's possible comeback was broken in the 174-match when No. 20 Myles Takats dropped a close 4-2 decision to No. 23 Sergio Desiante. The Hokie wrestler rode his three points in the first round and riding time to the win.
In-between Bienus and Lawler's victories, Mikey Bartush (197) dropped a 15-8 decision to No. 24 Sonny Sasso. The defeat gave Virginia Tech an insurmountable 19-9 lead.
Bucknell will open the 2025-26 home slate on Nov. 15 versus No. 18 Oklahoma. Come out and #DefendDavis against the national powerhouse Sooners!
RESULTS
125: No. 4 Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) dec. over Chris Nucifora (Bucknell), 5-1 (VT 3-0)
133: No. 18 Dillon Campbell (Virginia Tech) major dec. over Ty Kapusta, 16-2 (VT 7-0)
141: No. 20 Tom Crook (Virginia Tech) dec. over No. 14 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell), 8-6 (VT 10-0)
149: Noah Nininger (Virginia Tech) dec. over Braden Bower (Bucknell), 4-1 (VT 13-0)
157: Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell) dec. over Frank Dibella (Virginia Tech), 6-4 (VT 13-3)
165: No. 29 Noah Mulvaney (Bucknell) dec. over No. 28 Mac Church (Virginia Tech), 12-9 SV (VT 13-6)
174: No. 23 Sergio Desiante (Virginia Tech) dec. over No. 20 Myles Takats (Bucknell), 4-2 (VT 16-6)
184: Tyler Bienus (Bucknell) dec. over No. 21 Jaden Bullock (Virginia Tech), 4-2 (VT 16-9)
197: No. 24 Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech) dec. over Mikey Bartush (Bucknell), 15-8 (VT 19-9)
285: Lucas Lawler (Bucknell) dec. over No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech), 3-2 (VT 19-12)
Tyler Bienus (174) and Lucas Lawler (285) both upset ranked foes to energize the Bison squad. Bienus defeated No. 21 Jaden Bullock, using a first round takedown and riding time to outlast the dangerous foe. His victory cut the Hokie deficit to 16-9 with two matches remaining.
Lawler provided an encouraging consolation prize for the Bison. Bucknell entered the heavyweight match already mathematically eliminated at 19-9 but the Orange & Blue rookie delivered a thrilling 3-2 victory over No. 16 Jimmy Mullen. The match sat at 1-1 entering sudden victory. Lawler uncorked a reversal for the 3-1 lead. Virginia Tech challenged a potential nearfall for Mullen but the review denied their claim. Mullen grabbed another point but Lawler prevailed for the massive win.
Virginia Tech led 13-0 after the first four duals. The match started in the 125-pound classification where Chris Nucifora performed exceptionally well against two-time All-American No. 4 Eddie Ventresca. The Bison grappler did not back down and fought to a 5-1 decision.
Tech added four points when No. 18 Dillon Campbell recorded a major decision over Ty Kapusta (133).
No. 14 Dylan Chappell (141) tried to stop the streak in the night's first ranked matchup. Chappell, who narrowly lost to the nation's number two wrestler Brock Hardy at the Navy Classic, found himself facing another ranked foe in No. 29 Tom Crook. The conflict was tied 5-5 late when Crook earned a takedown. Chappell grabbed an escape point but fell 8-6.
Noah Nininger capped Virginia Tech's 13-0 start by defeating Braden Bower (149), 4-1.
Cade Wirnsberger (157) arose to break the Hokies' streak with a tough 6-4 victory over Frank Dibella. Wirnsberger, a gritty grappler, grabbed the 6-4 lead and prevented any late takedowns from stealing his win.
No. 29 Noah Mulvaney (165) won a second straight match for Bucknell with a 12-9 sudden victory decision over No. 28 Mac Church.
Bucknell's possible comeback was broken in the 174-match when No. 20 Myles Takats dropped a close 4-2 decision to No. 23 Sergio Desiante. The Hokie wrestler rode his three points in the first round and riding time to the win.
In-between Bienus and Lawler's victories, Mikey Bartush (197) dropped a 15-8 decision to No. 24 Sonny Sasso. The defeat gave Virginia Tech an insurmountable 19-9 lead.
Bucknell will open the 2025-26 home slate on Nov. 15 versus No. 18 Oklahoma. Come out and #DefendDavis against the national powerhouse Sooners!
RESULTS
125: No. 4 Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) dec. over Chris Nucifora (Bucknell), 5-1 (VT 3-0)
133: No. 18 Dillon Campbell (Virginia Tech) major dec. over Ty Kapusta, 16-2 (VT 7-0)
141: No. 20 Tom Crook (Virginia Tech) dec. over No. 14 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell), 8-6 (VT 10-0)
149: Noah Nininger (Virginia Tech) dec. over Braden Bower (Bucknell), 4-1 (VT 13-0)
157: Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell) dec. over Frank Dibella (Virginia Tech), 6-4 (VT 13-3)
165: No. 29 Noah Mulvaney (Bucknell) dec. over No. 28 Mac Church (Virginia Tech), 12-9 SV (VT 13-6)
174: No. 23 Sergio Desiante (Virginia Tech) dec. over No. 20 Myles Takats (Bucknell), 4-2 (VT 16-6)
184: Tyler Bienus (Bucknell) dec. over No. 21 Jaden Bullock (Virginia Tech), 4-2 (VT 16-9)
197: No. 24 Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech) dec. over Mikey Bartush (Bucknell), 15-8 (VT 19-9)
285: Lucas Lawler (Bucknell) dec. over No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech), 3-2 (VT 19-12)
Players Mentioned
184
/ Wrestling
174/184
/ Wrestling
141/149
/ Wrestling
141
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
285
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
157
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