Wrestling Falls 21-16 to No.22 Lehigh

Saturday, February 14

Bethlehem, Pa.

2 p.m.

Bucknell University

Lehigh

Photo by: Steven Schoenfelder

2/14/2026 4:12:00 PM | Wrestling

BETHLEHEM, Pa.- Bucknell (6-11, 4-3 EIWA) found itself in a familiar situation on Saturday afternoon against rival No. 22 Lehigh (11-6, 5-0 EIWA), heading into the heavyweight bout with a winner-take-tall scenario. Once again, the Bison ended up on the unenviable end, as the Mountain Hawks won the bout for the 21-16 dual victory. The Orange & Blue picked up several notable wins in the dual but an unranked upset powered the Brown & White's tenth straight triumph in the series.

No. 29 Lucas Lawler (285) walked out to the mat, encountering a constant pressure for the seventh time, as Lehigh led 18-16. He faced No. 6 JT Taylor, who quickly went up 7-0 to the approval of the Lehigh faithful. Lawler battled back and cut the deficit to 7-5 and yielded the escape point to allow for the takedown opportunity. Unfortunately, time ran out on the Bison grappler and the Mountain Hawks celebrated their narrow victory. The Orange & Blue wrestler fell to 0-7 in winner-take-all bouts.

No. 28 Dillon Bechtold (197) set up the winner-take-all stage with his brilliant win over No. 26 JT Davis. The Bison wrestler, who began the year ranked in the top ten, recovered his past prowess with a tiebreaker victory. He stonewalled Davis during the bout and used riding time to emerge the victor. Bechtold has begun to hit his stride at the right time.

The match started with a Lehigh victory in the 125-pound weight. No. 4 Sheldon Seymour unlocked a tech fall in the opening period against a valiant but overwhelmed Kade Davidheiser.

Bucknell grabbed its first lead 6-5 when No. 33 Bryce Manera defeated Mason Ziegler after the Mountain Hawk had to injury default a mere 28 seconds into the match.

Lehigh's upset win occurred in the 141-pound weight. No. 5 Luke Stanich was unable to wrestle and Seamus Mack substituted. He defeated No. 31 Dylan Chappell in a 5-3 decision, restoring the lead to Lehigh and depriving Bucknell of padding its advantage.

Braden Bower (149) regained the lead for Bucknell with a 4-1 takedown over Carter Bailey. The Bison wrestler obtained the takedown in the dying seconds.

Cade Wirnsberger lost his eighth straight bout but nearly pulled off the upset of the day in a narrow 5-4 defeat to No. 11 Logan Rozynski. Wirnsberger looked sharply alert and his performance against the ranked grappler will hopefully fuel a late season run.

The 165-pound class featured No. 9 Max Brignola versus No. 21 Noah Mulvaney. The Bison wrestler suffered one of his rare losses in a 13-5 major decision defeat.

No. 19 Myles Takats (174) avenged his teammate with a 14-3 major decision over Brady Collins. Takats displayed zero signs of distraction after his upset over No. 9 Danny Wask (Navy) last weekend.

No. 21 Rylan Rogers and No. 31 Tyler Bienus (184) featured a chance for Bucknell to regain the lead. The Lehigh wrestler squeezed out a 4-2 decision to force Bucknell to win the final two bouts.

The Bison celebrate Senior Day tomorrow at Davis Gym when American arrives for a conference showdown.

RESULTS
125 – No. 4 Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) tech fall over Kade Davidheiser (BU), 16-0, 2:54 (Lehigh 5-0)
133 – No. 33 Bryce Manera (BU) injury default over Mason Ziegler (Lehigh), 0:28 (Bucknell 6-5)
141 – Seamus Mack (Lehigh) dec. over No. 31 Dylan Chappell (BU), 5-3 (Lehigh 8-6)
149 – Braden Bower (BU) dec. over Carter Bailey (Lehigh), 4-1 (Bucknell 9-8)
157 – No. 11 Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) dec. over Cade Wirnsberger (BU), 5-4 (Lehigh 11-9)
165 – No. 9 Max Brignola (Lehigh) major dec. over No. 21 Noah Mulvaney (BU), 13-5 (Lehigh 15-9)
174 – No. 19 Myles Takats (BU) major dec. over Brady Collins (Lehigh),14-3 (Lehigh 15-13)
184 – No. 21 Rylan Rogers (Lehigh) dec. over No. 31 Tyler Bienus (BU), 4-2 (Lehigh 18-13)
197 – No. 28 Dillon Bechtold (BU) dec. over No. 26 JT Davis (Lehigh), 1-1 TB1 (Lehigh 18-16)
285 – No. 6 Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) dec. over No. 29 Lucas Lawler (BU), 8-5 (Lehigh 21-16)