Mulvaney's Pin Headlines 29-12 Defeat to No. 9 Iowa State

Sunday, November 1

Ames, Iowa

7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT

Bucknell University

Iowa State

Photo by: Lauren Medeiros

11/1/2026 9:11:00 PM | Wrestling

AMES, Iowa.- Noah Mulvaney pinned his ranked opponent and Dillon Bechtold and Tyler Bienus recorded overtime victories in Bucknell's (0-1) 29-12 defeat to No. 9 Iowa State (1-0) on Sunday night in the team's opener.

Bucknell fell behind 20-0 before No. 15 Mulvaney (165) pinned No. 13 Connor Euton to stop the Cyclones' trail of victories. Mulvaney's opponent finished third at the 2026 Big 12 Championships and in the top 24 at the NCAA Championships. Euton broke out to a quick start, piling up takedowns. Mulvaney trailed 10-4 in the third period when the Bison senior notched a takedown and caught Euton in a cradle. The maneuver hushed the vocal Hilton Coliseum crowd, as their champion was caught in Mulvaney's trap. The victory will significantly elevate Mulvaney's resume for NCAA seeding.

The Bison added back-to-back overtime wins at 184 and 197. Bienus (184), ranked #29, avoided an upset at the hands of Sawyer Bartelt. The wrestlers found themselves gripped in a conflict of equals. Both grapplers worked out an escape. The bout went into double overtime. Bartelt kept trying for the elusive takedown but found himself stymied by Bienus' defensive strength. Bienus waited for his moment and shot for the leg. His tactic resulted in the winning takedown.

No. 21 Bechtold (197) faced unranked but impressive Brayden Thompson, who was clearly hungry for an upset, and who kept pressuring the Bison junior. The two wrestlers reenacted the Bienus-Bartelt bout. They traded escape point and headed into overtime. Bechtold, a master at do-or-die situation, earned the takedown and won the bout.

The Cyclones were loaded in the lower weights and the ninth-ranked squad flexed its muscles. Jackson Heslin (125) made his collegiate debut in a hard-fought 5-2 decision to Dru Ayala. Blue Stiffler (133), newly minted to the weight class, fell in an 8-2 decision to No. 15 Garrett Grice. Bryce Manera (141) moved up a weight class for 2026-27 and fought himself dueling No. 2 Evan Frost. The national champion contender won in a technical fall, 19-5 (5:07). His brother, No. 9 Jacob Frost, defeated Cade Wirnsberger (149) in a 21-3 technical fall in the Bison senior's first bout at his new weight. No. 13 Paniro Johnson handled Ryan Lawler (157), 16-5 in a major decision.

Sandwiched between Bucknell's wins was No. 17 Myles Takats' bout at 174. The reigning EIWA champion did not face No. 9 MJ Gaitan, as expected, but
Tate Naaktgeboren. The Cyclone grappler led 4-1 in the third round, and Takats tried to wriggle out of his grasp, his leg ended up trapped in an awkward position. Takats was obliged to medically withdrawn and Iowa State was awarded six points.

Lucas Lawler (285) challenged No. 15 Coby Merrill, the reigning U23 World Bronze Medalist and Iowa State's star recruit, in the heavyweight bout. With the dual verdict already decided, the Cyclone crowd was anxious to see the prize recruit live up to the hype. Lawler improvised from their desired script and fought hard in a 6-2 decision. The Bison sophomore looked healthy and strong after an ankle injury prematurely ended his freshman campaign.

Bucknell visits head coach Dan Wirnsberger's alma mater on Nov. 7 for the Michigan State Open.

RESULTS
125: Dru Ayala (ISU) dec. over Jackson Heslin (BU), 5-2 (ISU 3-0)
133: No. 15 Garrett Grice (ISU) dec. over Blue Stiffler (BU), 8-2 (ISU 6-0)
141: No. 2 Evan Frost (ISU) tech fall over Bryce Manera (BU), 19-3, 5:07 (ISU 11-0)
149: No. 9 Jacob Frost (ISU) tech fall over Cade Wirnsberger (BU), 21-3 3:38 (ISU 16-0)
157: No. 13 Paniro Johnson (ISU) major dec. over Ryan Lawler (BU), 16-5 (ISU 20-0)
165: No. 15 Noah Mulvaney (BU) fall over No. 13 Connor Euton (ISU), 6:13 (ISU 20-6)
174: Tate Naaktgeboren (ISU) MFL over No. 17 Myles Takats (BU), Injury 6:45 (ISU 26-6)
184: No. 29 Tyler Bienus (BU) dec. over Sawyer Bartelt (ISU), TB-1, 4-1 (ISU 26-9)
197: No. 21 Dillon Bechtold (BU) dec. over Brayden Thompson (ISU), SV-1 4-1 (ISU 26-12)
285: No. 15 Coby Merrill (ISU) dec. over Lucas Lawler (BU), 6-2 (ISU 29-12)