Army 21 Bucknell 15
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Nationally ranked wrestlers David Marble (Harpursville,
N.Y./Harpursville) and Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) posted
victories for Bucknell, but the Bison wrestling team fell to Army by a 21-15
score Monday night at Davis Gym. A combined four ranked wrestlers competed in
the dual and all four won as the Black Knights’ Matthew Kyler and Richard
Starks also posted victories at 149 and 197, respectively.
Bucknell (0-2, 0-1 EIWA), which won at four weight classes, mounted a
comeback midway through the match to cut an 11-3 deficit to 14-12 with three
bouts left. Jay Hahn, wrestling at 197 pounds, had a chance to give the Bison
the lead for the first time since Marble opened with a hard-fought 6-4 overtime
victory over Whitt Dunning at 133 pounds. Hahn faced Starks, who is ranked 16th
nationally, but lost by a 4-3 score. An escape early in the third period put
Hahn up 3-2, but Starks posted a takedown in the final minute. A visibly
exhausted Hahn gave it everything he had, but was unable to convert a late
escape that would have knotted the score at 4-4. Instead of the Bison going up
15-14, Army took a 17-12 advantage into the final two bouts.
A 19-8 major decision by Michael Sprigg at heavyweight over Sean LoCurto, who
is listed at 197 pounds but was forced to move up a weight class, sealed the
match for the Black Knights, who improved to 3-1-1 overall and 2-0 against EIWA
foes.
After Marble’s opening victory, during which he needed the riding time
advantage to force overtime, Bucknell lost three consecutive bouts, including
two by major decision, as Army built an 11-3 lead.
At 165 pounds, Rendos, who like Marble is ranked 14th nationally, brought the
Bison closer as he recorded the lone pin of the night. After building a 10-1
lead, Rendos pinned Michael Gorman in 4:34. It was his 66th career victory and
his fifth pin of the season.
Shane Riccio then lost to Ryan Mergen by a 5-2 decision at 174 pounds as Army
opened a 14-9 lead.
David Thompson then kept the Bison alive with a 4-0 decision at 184. Thompson
used three escapes and riding time en route to his sixth win of the season.
Another shutout closed out the match. With the result at heavyweight already
determining the final outcome, Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) faced
Lance Penhale at 125. The bout was scoreless until the third period when Reber
registered one point on an escape and earned another for riding time advantage
for a 2-0 victory. He is now 2-0 in dual competition with a pair of shutouts.
Overall, Bucknell posted four individual victories to six for Army. However,
the Black Knights had three major decisions, while the Bison had just one bonus
point win with Rendos’ pin.
Bucknell, which is now 0-8 all-time against Army, will compete at the
Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., this Saturday, Nov. 29. The Bison will face No.
17 Central Michigan, No. 24 Virginia and Appalachian State at the event.
Army 21, Bucknell 15 125: Derek Reber (B) dec. Lance Penhale (A), 2-0 *133: No. 14 David Marble (B) dec. Whitt Dunning (A), 6-4 (sv) 141: Casey Thome (A) maj. dec. Luke Chohany (B), 11-3 149: No. 9 Matthew Kyler (A) dec. Kevin LeValley (B), 10-3 157: Rudy Chelednik (A) maj. dec. Ryan Ochalek (B), 13-1 165: No. 14 Andy Rendos (B) fall Michael Gorman (A), 4:34 174: Ryan Mergen (A) dec. Shane Riccio (B), 5-2 184: David Thompson (B) dec. William Osilaga (A), 4-0 197: No. 16 Richard Starks (A) dec. Jay Hahn (B), 4-3 Hwt: Michael Sprigg (A) maj. dec. Sean LoCurto (B), 19-8 * - starting weight