Bison Wrestling Narrowly Edged by Wisconsin in Madison, 24-22

MADISON, Wis. – Bucknell used a 17-4 run to build a 17-9 lead over the Wisconsin Badgers, who were receiving votes in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll and entered the season ranked No. 18 in the country, but the Badgers came back to narrowly win 24-22 at the UW Field House Sunday afternoon. The Bison won four of the first six bouts before the Badgers came back with back-to-back pins and a decision at 197 to seal the match.

Bucknell scored bonus points in three of its five wins, while Wisconsin did so in four of its five. All four of Wisconsin's nationally-ranked wrestlers came away victorious.

Bucknell fell behind 5-0 with a tech fall in the opening bout, but No. 21 Kurt Phipps (133) got things started for the Bison with a second-period pin over Nicolar Rivera. Braden Bower (141) then extended Bucknell's lead, scoring all five points in the third period of a shutout over Felix Lettini.

Wisconsin briefly evened things up at 9-9 when No. 18 Joseph Zargo defeated No. 31 Dylan Chappell (149). In the only bout featuring two nationally-ranked wrestlers, Chappell led 1-0 until the end of the second period, and Zargo went on to capture an 11-2 major decision.

Nick Delp (157) and No. 26 Noah Mulvaney (165) then gave Bucknell back-to-back victories for a second time. Delp held on for an 11-7 decision over Luke Mechler, and Mulvaney cruised to a 19-3 tech fall over Gavin Model to put the Bison up by eight points in the match.

Wisconsin's No. 5 Dean Hamiti (174) and No. 26 Max Maylor posted back-to-back first-period pins to quickly regain the lead for the Badgers, giving them a chance to ice the win at 197. Nolan Springer stayed within striking distance the whole way, trailing 3-0 through two periods, but Wisconsin's Shane Liegel held on for a 5-0 decision to put the Badgers up 24-17.

Dorian Crosby (285) ended the match on a high note, defeating Peter Christensen with a 19-4 tech fall.

Bucknell is off during the final exams break and returns to Davis Gym on Sunday, Dec. 17 to host both Buffalo and Bloomsburg.

Wisconsin 24 – Bucknell 22
Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023
UW Field House – Madison, Wis.

125: No. 10 Eric Barnett (WIS) tech fall over Grayson McLellan (BUC), 16-0 (WIS 5-0)
133: No. 21 Kurt Phipps (BUC) fall over Nicolar Rivera (WIS), 3:40 (BUC 6-5)
141: Braden Bower (BUC) dec. over Felix Lettini (WIS), 5-0 (BUC 9-5)
149: No. 18 Joseph Zargo (WIS) maj. dec. over No. 31 Dylan Chappell (BUC), 11-2 (9-9)
157: Nick Delp (BUC) dec. over Luke Mechler (WIS), 11-7 (BUC 12-9)
165: No. 26 Noah Mulvaney (BUC) tech fall over Gavin Model (WIS), 19-3 (5:05) (BUC 17-9)
174: No. 5 Dean Hamiti (WIS) fall over Myles Takats (BUC), 1:37 (BUC 17-15)
184: No. 26 Max Maylor (WIS) fall over Mikey Bartush (BUC), 0:27 (WIS 21-17)
197: Shane Liegel (WIS) dec. over Nolan Springer (BUC), 5-0 (WIS 24-17)
HWT: Dorian Crosby (BUC) tech fall over Peter Christensen (WIS), 19-4 (5:56) (WIS 24-22)