Bucknell 25 Army 6

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army’s Ryan Mergen scored an upset win but Bucknell won eight bouts on the way to a 25-6 win over the Black Knights, Tuesday night in an EIWA match at Gillis Field House.

Mergen put together a takedown, reversal, back points and two escapes for a 9-6 win against #9 Shane Riccio.

The Bison though strung together eight other wins and beat Army for the first time in a dual match.

Bucknell, which boasts four nationally ranked wrestlers, improved to 2-2 and 1-8 all-time against Army.

Senior Lance Penhale also posted a victory for the Black Knights who were wrestling their first dual of the season in front of a nice turnout at Gills Field House

“Bucknell has an outstanding team,” said Army head coach Chuck Barbee. We were the heavy underdogs and were probably only favored in two weight classes. We just didn’t pull any upsets. Bucknell is a quality team. We have some inexperience in our lineup and have to get healthy and keep improving.”

At 174 pounds, Mergen was effective at the edge of the match and secured the upset win to end the match in a dual that started at 184 pounds.

After a scoreless first period, Mergen took down to start the second period. He escaped and then scored a takedown at the edge of the mat for an early 3-0 lead. Riccio, ranked ninth nationally in the latest Intermat poll, escaped later in the period and got a takedown to tie the match at three.

Mergen then secured a reversal and two near fall point s near the edge of the mat for a 7-3 advantage. Riccio took down in the third and escaped but Mergen countered with another takedown for the 9-4 victory, although Bucknell won the dual, 25-6 after the Bison bench was docked a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“Mergen is just a great leader, a guy who shows up every time and gives 110% every time,” said Barbee. “It is a good testament to what hard work will do for you when you work hard.”

The match opened at 184 pounds and Bucknell’s Rob Waltko strung together three takedowns, an escape and a 1:04 advantage in riding time for an 8-4 win over Jacob Vetter

Vetter escaped twice in the first period and to open the third but could not score a late takedown as Bucknell took an early 3-0 lead.

The Bison extended their lead to 6-0 with a 10-3 decision by Jay Hahn at 197 pounds. Hahn posted four takedowns, an escape and riding time but Daniel Mills escaped three times.

Bucknell heavyweight, Joe McMullan, wrestling up at 285 after weighing in at 197, notched a 4-0 win for a 9-0 Bison lead. Army freshman Alan Lutterman was the aggressor early but McMullan rode him the second period. McMullan chose down to open the third period and scored an escape. Lutterman had several shots late but McMullan scored a takedown and riding time.
Penhale got the Black Knights on the board with a gutsy effort at 125 pounds. The senior from Kenai, Alaska, scored an early takedown but locked hands and led Derrik Russell 2-1 after the first period.

Russell escaped late in the second period to knot the match but Penhale scored an escape of his own and riding time for the win to make the match score 9-3.

Bucknell’s David Marble, ranked #13 nationally, put together six takedowns, two back points and a reversal but was docked two points for unnecessary roughness in a 17-7 major decision win against freshman Jordan Thome at 133 pounds.

The Bison took a 16-3 lead following a great bout at 141 pounds. Bucknell’s Zach Hancock scored an early takedown but Army’s Nicholas Bundy escaped.  Again, Hancock scored a takedown and again Bundy escaped. Bundy secured a takedown of his own to tie the match at four after one period.

Hancock was awarded a penalty point for an illegal move and then posted a reversal for a 7-4 lead after two periods. Bundy quickly reversed Hancock to start the third but was called for an illegal move. Bundy let Hancock escape to make it 9-6 and picked up a takedown with three seconds left but Hancock held on for the 9-8 win.

In matchup of nationally ranked wrestlers at 149 pounds, Bucknell’s Kevin LeValley edged #6 Matthew Kyler 9-6 in the first tiebreaker. Kyler jumped out to an early lead with a takedown before LeValley, ranked #13, escaped. Kyler escaped to open the second period and benefitted from a penalty point for locking hands and a stalling call for a 5-1 lead.

LeValley chose down in the third period, escaped and then took Kyler down. LeValley’s advantage in riding time knotted the score at five and forced overtime.

Kyler took two shots in the 60-second sudden victory format but neither wrestler scored. Kyler escaped late in the first tiebreaker 30-second session but was then called for violation for starting early, twice. Kyler allowed LeValley to escape but was unable to get points late and suffered his second loss of the season and first dual match loss since the 2007-08 season.

Bucknell increased its lead to 22-3 as Brantley Hooks posted a 5-2 decision over Rudy Chelednik. After a scoreless first period, Hooks escaped to open the second period and then scored a takedown.

Chelednik chose down in the final period and escaped 20 seconds into the period but Hooks added a takedown and Chelednik couldn’t get a takedown after escaping.

Andy Rendos, ranked sixth nationally, collected a major decision over freshman Eric Gobin at 165 pounds. Rendos scored two near fall points, a reversal and four takedowns plus riding time for a 13-4 win and a 26-3 Bucknell margin. Gobin escaped three times and benefitted from an illegal move for his four points in his first collegiate dual match.

Army will continue its dual meet slate on December 10 when the Black Knights host Rider at 7:30 p.m. at Gillis Field House.

BUCKNELL 25, ARMY 6
184: Rob Waltko (B) dec. Jacob Vetter, 8-4
197: Jay Hahn (B) dec. Daniel Mills, 10-3
285: Joe McMullan (B) dec. Alan Lutterman, 4-0
125: Lance Penhale (A) dec. Derrik Russell, 4-2
133: #13 David Marble major dec. Jordan Thome, 17-7
141: Zach Hancock (B) dec. Nicholas Bundy, 9-8
149: #13 Kevin LeValley (B) dec. #6 Matt Kyler, 8-6 TB1
157: Brandon Hooks (B) dec. Rudy Chelednik, 5-2
165: #6 Andy Rendos (B) major dec. Eric Gobin, 13-4
174: Ryan Mergen (A) dec. #9 Shane Riccio, 9-6
Referee: Jeff Cook