Wrestling Duels LIU & Lock Haven in Sunday Double Feature

Sunday, November 15

Lewisburg, Pa.

Noon

Bucknell University

LIU

Photo by: Lauren Medeiros

11/14/2026 11:14:00 AM | Wrestling

Bucknell (0-1, 0-0 EIWA) vs. LIU (0-2, 0-1 EIWA)
When: Sunday, Nov. 15 – Noon
Where: Davis Gym – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Bucknell (0-1) at Lock Haven (0-2)
When: Sunday, Nov. 15 – 5 p.m.
Where: Thomas Fieldhouse – Lock Haven, Pa.
Watch: PSAC Digital Network
Listen: WQBR 99.9 FM
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_WRST

Projected Bucknell Lineup

125 - Jackson Heslin or Christopher Nucifora
133 - Blue Stiffler or Jackson Refsnider
141 - Brayden Sigle or Hudson Hohman
149 - Cade Wirnsberger
157 - Ryan Lawler or Kaden Schaefer
165 - #16 Noah Mulvaney
174 - Shane McFillin
184 - #29 Tyler Bienus
197 - #20 Dillon Bechtold
285 - Lucas Lawler or Will Greenberg

Projected LIU Lineup

125: Vincent Orandello or Anthony Chuquilin
133: Andrew Szamreta
141: Brandon Rozanski or Tucker Pazinko
149: Brayden Roberts or Armani McCann
157: Amir Avazov
165: Luke Nieto
174: Jack Valentin
184: Tyler Hicks
197: Christian Horeis
285: Melvin Whitehead or James Mulhern

Projected Lock Haven Lineup

125: Curtis Nelson
133: Patrick O'Keefe or Chris Noto
141: Hunter Gould or Jake Zaltsman
149: #17 Lucas Kapusta
157: Chase Burke or Jonny O'Brien
165: #25 Nick Stampoulos or Caden Dobbins
174: Connor Wetzel or Ousmane Duncanson
184: #30 Sam Gautreau or Cole Bartram
197: Tucker Hogan
HWT: Kade Sottolano

Rankings Intermat

Bucknell at a Glance

• Bucknell begins EIWA play and resumes the annual Susquehanna Showdown on Sunday when the Bison welcome conference LIU to Davis Gym before traveling to local rival Lock Haven to renew one of collegiate wrestling's fiercest regional bouts.
• 30% of the Bison lineup is ranked by various sources. Noah Mulvaney (165) ranks the highest at #16 by FloWrestling and the College Wrestling Report. The College Wrestling Report has Dillon Bechtold (197) at #16, the highest of his three rankings. Tyler Bienus (184) sits #29 in Intermat's newest poll. Cade Wirnsberger (149) and  Lucas Lawler (285) fell out of the rankings. FloWrestling and the College Wrestling Report has an unavailable Myles Takats (174) at #17
• The Bison lineup returned continuity at the upper weights with all five starters returning: Mulvaney (165), Takats (174), Bienus (184), Bechtold (197), and Lawler (285). All but Lawler are returning NCAA qualifiers. The shake-up occurred in the lower weights as graduation removed Dylan Chappell (141) - 111 career wins and three-time EIWA runner-up - and the Bower brothers from the 149-pound equation. Bucknell responded by switching Cade Wirnsberger from 157 to 149, moving Bryce Manera from 133 to 141, installing Blue Stiffler at 133, and inserting two rookies Jackson Heslin (125) and Ryan Lawler (157) into the starting lineup.
• Bucknell brought in another highly-regarded recruiting class and the evidence shows with two rookies, Heslin and Ryan Lawler, making the starting lineup. Several other newcomers have impressed in the training room.
• Head coach Dan Wirnsberger is in his 21st season with the Bison and his 22nd year leading the program since its revival in 2005. He is going for his program record 170th win against LIU. He is currently tied with Bob Ferraro (1974-1997) for the lead.

A Look Back at the Michigan State Open

• Three Bison landed on the podium at the competitive open. Bechtold won gold in the 197-weight class. Bienus finished fourth at 184 and Lawler slotted sixth at heavyweight.
• Bechtold collected three wins en route to his title. His most impressive victory came in the semifinals when he pinned #19 Kael Wisler (Michigan State) on his home mat for a significant resume booster. Bechtold avoided an unranked upset in the finals in a 6-5 decision.
• Bienus picked up three straight victories before falling to #5 Brock Mantanona (Michigan) in the semifinals. He rebounded with a consolation round win before medically disqualifying for the final bout.
• Lawler won two bouts by fall and technical fall before dropping two matches to Niko Sahakian (Michigan) and Carter Neves (Central Michigan).
• Blue Stiffler (133) and Noah Mulvaney (165) each collected two wins at the Open but did not place on the podium.

Scouting LIU/Series History

• LIU is 0-2 overall and 0-1 in EIWA play to open the 2026-27 season.
• The Sharks were edged 20-17 by conference foe Sacred Heart and buried 51-0 by ranked Rutgers.
• LIU also competed at the Journeyman Open.
• The Sharks do not have any ranked grapplers.
• Bucknell owns a 6-0 record against its conference mate and has won the last two duals by a combined score of 76-8.

Scouting Lock Haven/Series History

• The Bald Eagles are 0-2 to open the campaign.
• Lock Haven fell 24-14 to #25 Indiana and 20-12 to Appalachian State.
• The Haven also wrestled at the Journeyman Open where the squad posted eight pool winners.
• LHU has three ranked wrestlers: #17 Lucas Kapusta (149), #25 Nick Stampoulos (165), and #30 Sammy Gautreau (184)
• Two ranked matchups are projected: Stampoulos/Mulvaney at 165 and Bienus/Gautreau. Both pairs of wrestlers will be grappling for bragging rights and resume boosting wins.
• The Bison and Bald Eagles have clashed 26 times in the affectionately named Susquehanna Showdown - termed for the beautiful river that connects the two universities. Lock Haven holds the 21-5 advantage but the series is 5-5 over the past two duals. The last two matches have come down to the final bout.

A Look Ahead

• Bucknell heads to the midwest to face North Dakota State (Nov. 20) and Minnesota (Nov. 22).