Wrestling's Season Concludes at Day Two of the NCAA National Championships

Friday, March 20

Cleveland, Ohio

Noon

Bucknell University

NCAA National Championships

Photo by: Lauren Medeiros

Wrestling's Season Concludes at Day Two of the NCAA National Championships

3/20/2026 5:49:00 PM | Wrestling

CLEVELAND, OHIO- Bucknell Wrestling's 2025-26 season concluded in the wrestle-backs, as all four remaining Bison were defeated on the second day of the NCAA National Championships. Dylan Chappell (141) and Noah Mulvaney (165) each recorded a victory before elimination. Dillon Bechtold (197) and Myles Takats (174) were not as fortunate and fell in their first match.

Chappell concluded his historic career with 111 wins - tying David Marble (2006-2010) for fifth all-time at Bucknell. The fifth-year senior, seeded 23rd, faced No. 24 Nash Singleton (Oregon State) in the Consolations Second Round. Singleton opened the scoring with a takedown. The move only enraged the Bison grappler, who ripped off nine points. Chappell continued to dominate through the second period, leading 15-5 entering the final stanza. Singleton made a final run with an escape and two takedowns but time ran out on the Beaver and Chappell grabbed the 16-12 decision.

Chappell's final attempt at All-American honors ended against No. 18 Carter Nogle (Air Force) in the next consolation round. The Falcon handled Chappell in a 10-3 victory. He paired two takedowns against Chappell's three escape points through two periods. He sealed his win in the final period with an escape and a final takedown.

The Bison program will miss Chappell's steady presence. He finished his career as one of Bucknell's few four-time NCAA qualifiers and a constant lineup standby.

Mulvaney, the 19th seed, started the day against No. 20 Ty Whalen (Princeton) in the Consolation Round Two. The first period passed without scoring. Whalen grabbed the 4-1 lead in the second period but Mulvaney, accustomed to absorbing the first blow, counterattacked in the final stanza. An escape point started the trend. Mulvaney grabbed the lead via a takedown with 44 seconds left and used a nearfall as time expired for the 9-4 decision.

No. 11 Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa) ended Mulvaney's wrestle-back run in the third consolation round. The Panther wrestler racked up four takedowns in the first period and cruised to the 18-2 tech fall victory. Both of Mulvaney's losses came to wrestlers from the Hawkeye State.

Mulvaney will regroup and attempt to become another four-time NCAA qualifier in the 2026-27 season.

Takats, the 10th seed, suffered a tough upset in the second consolation round. He faced No. 25 Sergio Desiante (Virginia Tech) for the third time in 2025-26. The Hokie won the dual matchup and Takats beat him at the Midlands Championships. The rubber match held high stakes. The first period passed without comment. Desiante paired an escape with a takedown in the second period. Takats gained two points from a reversal. The Bison grappler started from the botton in period three and earned an escape point. Trailing 4-3, Takats had to attack and Desiante made sure to steer clear. He earned a stalling call but not a second one and Takats could not land a takedown.

Takats, like Mulvaney, will attempt to earn his fourth straight NCAA bid in 2026-27 and land the coveted All-American laurel.

Bechtold, seeded 17th, challenged the 18th seeded Andrew Reall (Brown) looking to avenge his regular season defeat to the Bear wrestler. Similar to his Bison brethren, Bechtold fell behind 4-0 in the second period. He earned two escape points but could not find the needed takedown in the 4-2 defeat.

Bechtold has gone two-for-two in NCAA qualifying with three wins at the NCAA National Championships and he will attempt to take the next step in 2026-27.

Bucknell Wrestling will return in 2026-27 with an action-packed schedule.

RESULTS
141: Dylan Chappell (1-1)
Consolation Round 2: W, dec over Nash Singleton (Oregon State), 16-12
Consolation Round 3: L, dec to Carter Nogle (Air Force), 10-3

165: Noah Mulvaney (1-1)
Consolation Round 2: W, dec. over Ty Whalen (Princeton), 9-4
Consolation Round 3: L, tech fall to Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa), 18-2, 5:37

174: Myles Takats (0-1)
Consolation Round 2. L, dec. to Sergio Desiante (Virginia Tech), 4-3

197:Dillon Bechtold (1-1)
Consolation. Round 2. L, dec. to Andrew Reall (Brown), 4-2