Friday, March 21
Philadelphia, Pa.
12 p.m.
Bucknell University
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Brett Newcomb
Wrestling's 2024-25 Season Ends at Day Two of the NCAA Championships
3/21/2025 8:53:00 PM | Wrestling
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- The 2024-25 wrestling season ended for the Bucknell Bison on Day Two of the NCAA Championships with several victories but also a near-miss at All-American honors for Dylan Chappell. The Bison entered the day with three wrestlers, No. 18 Dillon Bechtold (197), No. 21 Chappell (141), and No. 25 Kurt Phipps (133), alive but all three succumbed despite their valiant efforts.Â
"Overall, it was a good performance by our five guys this weekend," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger. "It is heartbreaking to lose in the medal round but I am very proud of Dylan Chappell for his effort and the grit he displayed throughout the tournament. It is a tournament that we will grow from and learn from. We have four of the five NCAA qualifiers returning next year."
Chappell (141) fought his way through the consolation rounds to position himself for the chance at becoming Bucknell's seventh All-American. He started the day with an 8-5 decision over No. 27 Greyson Clark (Purdue). Chappell started the match with a takedown but yielded an escape 12 seconds later. The Big 10 wrestler forged ahead 5-4 in the second period with a takedown and escape combination. The Bison grappler grabbed an escape after suffering the takedown. Chappell dominated the final period equalizing the match with an escape and then unlocking a takedown to win the dual.Â
The next matchup versus No. 19 Mosha Schwartz started disastrously for the Bison wrestler. The Sooner immediately went up 7-0 on a takedown and near fall. Chappell did not despair and fought back with two takedowns. Schwartz salvaged two escapes during the flurry. He then added notched two more escapes and a takedown in the third period and led 14-8. Chappell then pulled out a high-risk maneuver. The strategy yielded a takedown allowing him to trap Schwartz in an unenviable position thus grabbing the victory with a pin. The suddenness in fortunes stunned the crowd and led to Chappell majestically roaring his triumph. Â
The storybook finish was left on the cutting floor against No. 10 CJ Composto (Pennsylvania). All-American honors were at stake and Composto sought his second laurel. Chappell, a three-time EIWA runner-up, was again the bridesmaid in the marriage of wrestler and prize. Composto's first period takedown held up for the match. Time continued to tick as Chappell used every possible move seeking that ideal outcome but El Dorado remained out of reach for the intrepid grappler. Composto's second period escape was an unnecessary insurance. The final seconds drained away in muted fury for Chappell and Bison partisans.Â
Bechtold collected another win with a dramatic 4-1 victory over No. 16 Evan Bates (Northwestern). The first period passed in scoreless deadlock. Bates grabbed the 1-0 lead on an escape. Bechtold tied the contest in the final stanza with an escape. As the seconds ticked down and with the wrestlers tight in conflict, Bechtold achieved a takedown with one second remaining. It was, as Wellington famously said, "a near-run thing." Northwestern's coaches perfunctorily threw the challenge brick but the result correctly stood up.Â
His next opponent, No. 7Â Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa), presented a monumental task for the Bison rookie. Voelker led 3-1 after the first period and remained ahead 5-4 by countering Bechtold's takedown in the second round with two escapes. Bechtold tied the match in the third period with an escape. He made a move but Voelker deflected and instead earned the takedown. The Panther yielded an escape point but the damage was done in his 8-6 victory.Â
Phipps's Orange & Blue career ended with a 3-0 defeat to No. 23 Sean Spidle (Central Michigan) in the day's first match. The two wrestlers were evenly matched but the Chippewa gained valuable riding time. The scoreless drought continued into the third round but the CMU wrestler had the riding time point in his back pocket. It would prove the cherry on top as a reversal on Phipps broke the emptiness.Â
Phipps concluded his Bucknell tenure becoming the 11th Bison to cross the 100-win threshold. His 108 wins are tied for seventh in Bucknell history with Shane Riccio (2006-10) and Victor Lopez (2013-17).Â
"I am thankful for Phipps as he had a good tournament and an amazing career wearing the Orange & Blue," said Wirnsberger. "He has a lot to be proud of as he finishes as one of all-time greats."
Bucknell wrestling will rest, refuel, recruit, and return for the 2025-26 season this November. The Bison have a bright future ahead with few losses to graduation and plenty of skilled talent remaining.Â
133: #25 Kurt Phipps (0-1)
Consolation Second Round: L, dec. to #23 Sean Spidle (Central Michigan), 3-0
141: #21 Dylan Chappell (2-1)
Consolation Second Round: W, dec. over #27 Greyson Clark (Purdue), 8-5
Consolation Third Round: W, fall over #19 Mosha Schwartz (Oklahoma), 6:18
Consolation Fourth Round: L, dec. to #10 CJ Composto (Pennsylvania), 4-0
197: #18 Dillon Bechtold (1-1)
Consolation Second Round: W, dec. over #16 Evan Bates (Northwestern), 4-1
Consolation Third Round: L, dec. to #7Â Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa), 8-6
Â
"Overall, it was a good performance by our five guys this weekend," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger. "It is heartbreaking to lose in the medal round but I am very proud of Dylan Chappell for his effort and the grit he displayed throughout the tournament. It is a tournament that we will grow from and learn from. We have four of the five NCAA qualifiers returning next year."
Chappell (141) fought his way through the consolation rounds to position himself for the chance at becoming Bucknell's seventh All-American. He started the day with an 8-5 decision over No. 27 Greyson Clark (Purdue). Chappell started the match with a takedown but yielded an escape 12 seconds later. The Big 10 wrestler forged ahead 5-4 in the second period with a takedown and escape combination. The Bison grappler grabbed an escape after suffering the takedown. Chappell dominated the final period equalizing the match with an escape and then unlocking a takedown to win the dual.Â
The next matchup versus No. 19 Mosha Schwartz started disastrously for the Bison wrestler. The Sooner immediately went up 7-0 on a takedown and near fall. Chappell did not despair and fought back with two takedowns. Schwartz salvaged two escapes during the flurry. He then added notched two more escapes and a takedown in the third period and led 14-8. Chappell then pulled out a high-risk maneuver. The strategy yielded a takedown allowing him to trap Schwartz in an unenviable position thus grabbing the victory with a pin. The suddenness in fortunes stunned the crowd and led to Chappell majestically roaring his triumph. Â
The storybook finish was left on the cutting floor against No. 10 CJ Composto (Pennsylvania). All-American honors were at stake and Composto sought his second laurel. Chappell, a three-time EIWA runner-up, was again the bridesmaid in the marriage of wrestler and prize. Composto's first period takedown held up for the match. Time continued to tick as Chappell used every possible move seeking that ideal outcome but El Dorado remained out of reach for the intrepid grappler. Composto's second period escape was an unnecessary insurance. The final seconds drained away in muted fury for Chappell and Bison partisans.Â
Bechtold collected another win with a dramatic 4-1 victory over No. 16 Evan Bates (Northwestern). The first period passed in scoreless deadlock. Bates grabbed the 1-0 lead on an escape. Bechtold tied the contest in the final stanza with an escape. As the seconds ticked down and with the wrestlers tight in conflict, Bechtold achieved a takedown with one second remaining. It was, as Wellington famously said, "a near-run thing." Northwestern's coaches perfunctorily threw the challenge brick but the result correctly stood up.Â
His next opponent, No. 7Â Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa), presented a monumental task for the Bison rookie. Voelker led 3-1 after the first period and remained ahead 5-4 by countering Bechtold's takedown in the second round with two escapes. Bechtold tied the match in the third period with an escape. He made a move but Voelker deflected and instead earned the takedown. The Panther yielded an escape point but the damage was done in his 8-6 victory.Â
Phipps's Orange & Blue career ended with a 3-0 defeat to No. 23 Sean Spidle (Central Michigan) in the day's first match. The two wrestlers were evenly matched but the Chippewa gained valuable riding time. The scoreless drought continued into the third round but the CMU wrestler had the riding time point in his back pocket. It would prove the cherry on top as a reversal on Phipps broke the emptiness.Â
Phipps concluded his Bucknell tenure becoming the 11th Bison to cross the 100-win threshold. His 108 wins are tied for seventh in Bucknell history with Shane Riccio (2006-10) and Victor Lopez (2013-17).Â
"I am thankful for Phipps as he had a good tournament and an amazing career wearing the Orange & Blue," said Wirnsberger. "He has a lot to be proud of as he finishes as one of all-time greats."
Bucknell wrestling will rest, refuel, recruit, and return for the 2025-26 season this November. The Bison have a bright future ahead with few losses to graduation and plenty of skilled talent remaining.Â
133: #25 Kurt Phipps (0-1)
Consolation Second Round: L, dec. to #23 Sean Spidle (Central Michigan), 3-0
141: #21 Dylan Chappell (2-1)
Consolation Second Round: W, dec. over #27 Greyson Clark (Purdue), 8-5
Consolation Third Round: W, fall over #19 Mosha Schwartz (Oklahoma), 6:18
Consolation Fourth Round: L, dec. to #10 CJ Composto (Pennsylvania), 4-0
197: #18 Dillon Bechtold (1-1)
Consolation Second Round: W, dec. over #16 Evan Bates (Northwestern), 4-1
Consolation Third Round: L, dec. to #7Â Wyatt Voelker (Northern Iowa), 8-6
Â
Players Mentioned
(Coaches Camera) Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. George Washington University (10/4/25)
Tuesday, September 30
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. George Washington University (10/4/25)
Tuesday, September 30
In The Herd: Lafayette Game Preview And Henna Andican Feature
Tuesday, September 30
Michigan State at Bucknell Field Hockey Highlights 9-28-2025
Sunday, September 28