Wrestling Finishes Third at EIWA Championships; Earns Two Individual Title Winners

Saturday, March 7

Washington, D.C.

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

EIWA Championships

Photo by: Lauren Medeiros

Wrestling Finishes Third at EIWA Championships; Earns Two Individual Title Winners

3/7/2026 7:12:00 PM | Wrestling

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Bucknell Wrestling enjoyed its greatest EIWA Championships by winning two individual titles for the first time in program history, tying its best finish (third), and scoring a program record 126.5 points on Saturday. Myles Takats (174) and Dillon Bechtold (197) notched their first EIWA titles - the sixth and seventh in Bucknell history - while Noah Mulvaney (165) earned runner-up honors for the second consecutive season and Dylan Chappell (141) notched third place. All four mentioned Bison unlocked automatic bids to the NCAA National Championships, held in Cleveland two weeks from now

Lehigh repeated as champions, scoring 163.5. Navy had zero individual championships but stacked seven finishers at runner-up and third to win second with 135.5. Bucknell placed third with 126.5 points - its best finish since 2016 and the Bison have continually improved by two spots since 2022 when the Orange & Blue earned 11th.

Bucknell tied its highest finish (third) at the EIWA Championships for the fourth time. The Bison previously finished third in 2009, 2015, and 2016. The nine placewinners are the most since 2021 when the entire lineup mounted the podium.

"It was a fantastic tournament for the program," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger, providing a conspectus of the Championships. "The team competed very well with plenty of determination and toughness. To be able to score the most points in program history at the EIWA Championships and have multiple individual titles with Bechtold and Takats says a lot about our development and our overall commitment from the guys within the program. We came away with nine place winners and four guys qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, and now our next step is bringing home hardware from Cleveland in two weeks.

I'm so excited for the program bringing home a team trophy and it gives us a lot of momentum and something that we can continue to build upon as we move forward. Lots of credit has to go to the coaching staff with Smitty, Neff, and Flitz. They do a very good job as far as individual attention with our guys throughout our starting lineup and the development process. We won a lot of close matches this weekend and we scored a lot of bonus points which is something that you need to do in a tournament like this. We are completely satisfied and happy for the organization with bringing home a trophy from the championships."

Takats entered the competition as the number one seed and the weight of his pressures did not hinder the junior star. The Bison wrestler faced off against the third-seeded Carter Baer of Binghamton, a noted foe that tangled with Takats in the season opening Navy Classic, and sits 19th in the InterMat rankings - a mere one space behind Takats' 18th placement. Takats prevailed in a tight 5-4 decision and today's bout was as close through the first two periods. Takats led 1-0 after earning an escape point. Baer started the third period with an escape before Takats collected a takedown and combined riding time for a 5-2 win and Bucknell's first EIWA title in the 174-weight class.

"It is great to win a title but it is even better to bring home some hardware as a team," said Takats. "We got third together and everyone played their part. Gives us four guys going to Nationals motivation to do great things in Cleveland."

TAKATS TITLE!

Takats earned his first EIWA title and Bucknell's sixth with a gritty 4-2 win over Baer!

The number one seed proved why he is the EIWA's paramount 174-pound wrestler! #rayBucknell | #WinFromWithin pic.twitter.com/ue3JsK9PCQ
— Bucknell Wrestling (@Bucknell_WRST) March 7, 2026

Bechtold also faced a Binghamton foe in his finals bout in second-seeded Mikey Squires - ranked 28th in Intermat to Bechtold's 25th. The Bison sophomore finished runner-up last season and he was determined to avoid that fate. All season, Bechtold defensively stonewalled opponents into grueling, low-scoring matches where the Keystone State wrestler proved as impassable as the Appalachian Mountains. He posted an escape and a takedown in the second period and those four points were all he needed in the 4-0 decision to win Bucknell's first EIWA title at 197.

"It felt great to win an individual title and beat some tough guys," said Bechtold. "I know I am making jumps in my wrestling and being able to put some good matches together this weekend just keeps the momentum going for NCAAs. It is a lot of fun to be a part of such a competitive team that was able to win a team trophy. I know how hard this team has worked over the last year and being able to see a lot of that work pay off this weekend was awesome."

197 | HISTORY MADE!

Bechtold earns his first EIWA title, and the Bison win two individual titles in the same year for the first time in program history!

Bechtold was a runner-up last year, and now he takes the crown! #rayBucknell | #WinFromWithin pic.twitter.com/IqdV6vXmwm
— Bucknell Wrestling (@Bucknell_WRST) March 7, 2026

Mulvaney, seeded third, was the underdog in his finals against the top-seeded Max Brignola (Lehigh). The 10th ranked grappler scored an early takedown in the first period, which held up in the 4-2 decision. Mulvaney, a wrestler, like the Dagda in Irish mythology, who gains strength as a match progresses, could not break through for the decisive takedown. The Bison junior has finished as runner-up for the second consecutive season. Last year, he medically forfeited the finals after earning a Pyrrhic victory in the semifinals.

"I am excited to go back to the national tournament and make a statement," said Mulvaney. "Feeling good, feeling healthy. Ready to go out and compete in Cleveland. It was a full team effort to get some hardware. Proud on how all the guys competed. The Bison are coming in strong going into the NCAA tournament! We are ready to make some noise."

Riley Bower suffered the heartbreak of the day in the 149-pound final. The conference had only received one allotment for the position and the second-seeded Bower and his opponent, Eugene Harney of Morgan State, seeded first, desperately fought with survivor energy for that precious ticket. For Bower, a senior, his best chance at NCAA participation was tantalizingly close. For Harney, Morgan State's first EIWA title was at stake. Bower led 4-0 on an escape point and a takedown. Harvey countered with a takedown to trail 4-3 entering the final period. The Morgan State wrestler earned a reversal and the 5-4 lead. He clamped down on Bower and clocked a minute of riding time. Bower fought his way through the gridlock and scored a reversal and the lead. Morgan State's coaches screamed in protest and the referee reversed his call. Bucknell immediately threw the challenge brick. After a lengthy replay, no reversal was declared. Bower tried to scrape out a takedown but fell 6-5. An at-large NCAA bid will be a long shot for the Bison senior.

Chappell had his straight of three consecutive runner-up finishes broken but the fifth-year senior won the third place bout to return to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight time. He opened the day with a 5-1 decision over tenth-seeded Chase Liardi (Hofstra), earning admittance to the third place bout. There, awaited third-seeded Braden Basile of Army, who defeated Chappell 4-2 in the regular season bout and ranked 17th to Chappell's 28th. The EIWA received three allotments for the 141-pound class. A tournament bid was the prize. Chappell - known for upping his game in Mat Madness - heeded the call. He paired two takedowns with an escape and rode the duo to a 7-2 decision.

Tyler Bienus (184) avenged his upset loss yesterday and slotted fifth. He began the day with an 8-0 major decision defeat to second-seeded Rylan Rogers (Lehigh). The fourth-seeded Bienus then faced his David in Navy's fifth-seeded Daniel Williams - an owner of a 2-0 record this season against the Bison grappler coming in the 19-18 Navy dual win and the Quarterfinals . Bienus found redemption in a grinding 1-0 decision. The sole point arrived in the third period when Bienus chose to start on the bottom and escaped. He blockaded Williams' attempts for a takedown, sealing the victory. Bienus will now await to see if he can earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships.

Cade Wirnsberger (157), in winning fifth place, outperformed his seeding by two spots. He began the day with an 8-0 major decision loss to first-seeded Jonathan Ley (Navy) in the Consolation Semifinals but rebounded with a 4-3 decision in the Fifth Place bout over third-seeded Joe Antonio (Army). Wirnsberger scored a first period takedown and made sure it held up.

Logan Shephard (285) suffered an ironic fate. Forced into the lineup after the starting heavyweight Lucas Lawler's injury versus Columbia, Shephard's final time in the Orange & Blue was unfairly cut short by pain. In the Consolation Semifinals against the number one seed Brady Colbert (Army), an injury forced a medical default. He could not recover in time for the Fifth Place bout and finished sixth.

Kade Davidheiser (125) finished eighth after being pinned in the Seventh Place match by fifth-seeded JJ Peace of American. The Bison wrestler performed to his seed.

Four Bison, and hopefully more, will head to Cleveland in two weeks for the NCAA National Championships. Chappell will make his fourth appearance, Mulvaney and Takats will appear for the third time, and Bechtold is gunning for his second opportunity. Bienus and Bower, if selected for at-large bids, will make their first outings.