Friday, December 20
Lewisburg, Pa.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
37
vs
5
LIU
Photo by: Lauren Medeiros
Wrestling Uses Three Pins in 37-5 Win over LIU
12/20/2024 9:07:00 PM | Wrestling
LEWISBURG, Pa.- With the match moved to Sojka Pavilion due to renovations, the Bucknell wrestling team (3-3, 2-0 EIWA) felt more than comfortable collecting three pins and winning 37-5 in a conference dual against the LIU Sharks (2-5, 0-2 EIWA). The Bison won seven bouts as part of the overwhelming victory. The Orange & Blue moved to 2-0 in EIWA play for the fourth straight season.
"It was definitely a good team win for us," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger. "We wanted to feel good about getting some momentum for the second half of the year. Obviously, the big concern is with Aiden Davis and his family and our thoughts are with him and his family. Any time you get three pins is a good night. Long Island is a good team and well-coached. We knew that going into the match."
The match started on a sour note with LIU's Robbie Sagaris defeating Ty Kapusta (125) for the Sharks's 3-0 lead. Bucknell's ranked wrestlers #29 Kurt Phipps (133) and #20 Dylan Chappell (141) turned the tables posting two wins and scoring seven points for the Bison.
The match's axis moment came in the 149-pound clash when LIU's Drew Witham lost a guaranteed victory by obtaining a flagrant misconduct penalty with fewer than ten seconds remaining against Davis. The score flipped from a potential 7-7 tie to 13-2 Bucknell. The penalty granted six points to the Bison and subtracted one from the Sharks's total.
LIU gathered some momentum in the next match when Brayden Roberts defeated Cade Wirnsberger, 4-0, in the 157-pound fight.
That excitement quickly evaporated when freshman Creed Thomas (165) pinned Donavan Smith in 17 seconds. Smith never stood a chance as Thomas aggressively and swiftly handled his opponent. The rookie celebrated in style as his crowd and teammates roared in appreciation.
Logan Deacetis (184) did not record a pin but he provided an upset by defeating the reigning EIWA Wrestler of the Week Anthony D'Alesio in a hard fought 7-4 decision. Deacetis collected a takedown with 27 seconds remaining.
Dillon Bechtold (197) entered the national rankings at #33 this week and the freshman proved worthy of his honor by pinning John Dusza after 4:42 minutes of action.
Nolan Springer (HWT) ended the match on a 24-0 Bucknel run by winning an exciting 16-12 decision over Chris Powell. Springer went up 10-0 and held on for the cherry-on-top victory.
Results
125: Robbie Sagaris (LIU) dec. over Ty Kapusta (BUCK), 4-1 (LIU 3-0)
133: #29 Kurt Phipps (BUCK) major dec. over Kaelan Francois (LIU), 13-3 (BUCK 4-3)
141: #20 Dylan Chappell (BUCK) dec. over Devin Matthews (LIU), 4-2 (BUCK 7-3)
149: Aiden Davis (BUCK) wins by Flagrant Misconduct over Drew Witham (LIU) (BUCK 13-2)
157: Brayden Roberts (LIU) dec. over Cade Wirnsberger (BUCK), 4-0 (BUCK 13-5)
165: Creed Thomas (BUCK) pin over Donavan Smith (LIU), 0:17 (BUCK 19-5)
174: #31 Myles Takats (BUCK) pin over Corey Connolly (LIU), 6:05 (BUCK 25-5)
184: Logan Deacetis (BUCK) dec. over Anthony D'Alesio (LIU), 7-4 (BUCK 28-5)
197: #33 Dillon Bechtold (BUCK) pin over John Dusza (LIU), 4:42 (BUCK 34-5)
HWT: Nolan Springer (BUCK) dec. over Chris Powell (LIU), 16-12 (BUCK 37-5)
(Flagrant misconduct deducted one point from LIU during the 149-LB dual)
Up Next
The Bison will participate in the prestigious Midlands Championships on Dec. 29-30.
"It was definitely a good team win for us," said head coach Dan Wirnsberger. "We wanted to feel good about getting some momentum for the second half of the year. Obviously, the big concern is with Aiden Davis and his family and our thoughts are with him and his family. Any time you get three pins is a good night. Long Island is a good team and well-coached. We knew that going into the match."
The match started on a sour note with LIU's Robbie Sagaris defeating Ty Kapusta (125) for the Sharks's 3-0 lead. Bucknell's ranked wrestlers #29 Kurt Phipps (133) and #20 Dylan Chappell (141) turned the tables posting two wins and scoring seven points for the Bison.
The match's axis moment came in the 149-pound clash when LIU's Drew Witham lost a guaranteed victory by obtaining a flagrant misconduct penalty with fewer than ten seconds remaining against Davis. The score flipped from a potential 7-7 tie to 13-2 Bucknell. The penalty granted six points to the Bison and subtracted one from the Sharks's total.
LIU gathered some momentum in the next match when Brayden Roberts defeated Cade Wirnsberger, 4-0, in the 157-pound fight.
That excitement quickly evaporated when freshman Creed Thomas (165) pinned Donavan Smith in 17 seconds. Smith never stood a chance as Thomas aggressively and swiftly handled his opponent. The rookie celebrated in style as his crowd and teammates roared in appreciation.
#31 Myles Takats (174) essentially sealed the win by recording a second-straight pin. Takats went up 14-2 before finally pinning Corey Connolly.165 | Bucknell 19, LIU 5
— Bucknell Wrestling (@Bucknell_WRST) December 21, 2024
PIN!!!
Creed Thomas annihilates the LIU wrestler in under 20 seconds!
Watch: @ESPNPlus (https://t.co/GWybpBo2kT) #rayBucknell | #OurWay pic.twitter.com/rRCLP3aGkp
Logan Deacetis (184) did not record a pin but he provided an upset by defeating the reigning EIWA Wrestler of the Week Anthony D'Alesio in a hard fought 7-4 decision. Deacetis collected a takedown with 27 seconds remaining.
Dillon Bechtold (197) entered the national rankings at #33 this week and the freshman proved worthy of his honor by pinning John Dusza after 4:42 minutes of action.
Nolan Springer (HWT) ended the match on a 24-0 Bucknel run by winning an exciting 16-12 decision over Chris Powell. Springer went up 10-0 and held on for the cherry-on-top victory.
Results
125: Robbie Sagaris (LIU) dec. over Ty Kapusta (BUCK), 4-1 (LIU 3-0)
133: #29 Kurt Phipps (BUCK) major dec. over Kaelan Francois (LIU), 13-3 (BUCK 4-3)
141: #20 Dylan Chappell (BUCK) dec. over Devin Matthews (LIU), 4-2 (BUCK 7-3)
149: Aiden Davis (BUCK) wins by Flagrant Misconduct over Drew Witham (LIU) (BUCK 13-2)
157: Brayden Roberts (LIU) dec. over Cade Wirnsberger (BUCK), 4-0 (BUCK 13-5)
165: Creed Thomas (BUCK) pin over Donavan Smith (LIU), 0:17 (BUCK 19-5)
174: #31 Myles Takats (BUCK) pin over Corey Connolly (LIU), 6:05 (BUCK 25-5)
184: Logan Deacetis (BUCK) dec. over Anthony D'Alesio (LIU), 7-4 (BUCK 28-5)
197: #33 Dillon Bechtold (BUCK) pin over John Dusza (LIU), 4:42 (BUCK 34-5)
HWT: Nolan Springer (BUCK) dec. over Chris Powell (LIU), 16-12 (BUCK 37-5)
(Flagrant misconduct deducted one point from LIU during the 149-LB dual)
Up Next
The Bison will participate in the prestigious Midlands Championships on Dec. 29-30.