Bucknell Wrestling Closes Out Home Schedule with 28-12 Victory Over Columbia - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Bucknell Wrestling Closes Out Home Schedule with 28-12 Victory Over Columbia

Bison Win Seven of First Eight Bouts

Shane Riccio improved to 10-1 in his last 11 matches with an 8-0 victory at 174 pounds vs. Columbia.

Feb. 1, 2009

Results | Photo Gallery

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Five bonus point victories and wins in seven of the first eight bouts helped the Bucknell wrestling team close out its home schedule with a 28-12 victory over Columbia Sunday afternoon at Davis Gym. The Bison improved to 9-8 overall and 3-2 against EIWA competition, while the Lions fell to 2-9 and 0-3 in the EIWA.

A technical fall victory by David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central) and back-to-back major decisions by Adam Healey (Wilkes Barre, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) and Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) helped Bucknell extend a 3-0 lead to a commanding 15-0 advantage.

After a tight 6-5 decision by Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) at 125 pounds, Marble, who is ranked No. 20 nationally, posted an easy 22-7 tech fall over Kyle Gilchrist at 133. It was his 22nd win of the season and his eighth victory in his last 10 bouts.

Healey then broke a seven-match losing streak with is first major decision of the year as he won 9-1 over Shane Strumwasser. Healey built an 8-1 lead thanks to a late near fall and then earned the riding time point.

LeValley earned his major decision in a similar fashion as he led 9-2 at the expiration of the third period and then added the riding time point for a 10-2 advantage.

Columbia got on the board when Derek Sickles defeated Tyler Riccio (Warren, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan Regional) 5-3. Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) started another Bison winning streak with the only pin of the match, tying him with Marble for the team lead with seven. Rendos pinned Eren Civan in 1:20 and was leading 4-2 at the time. He now has 18 pins in his career, placing him one shy of joining the Bucknell top-10 list in that category.

Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills), who was the only Bison wrestler to post a win at No. 1 Iowa on Friday night, continued his recent success at 174 pounds with an 8-0 shutout of Mike Colfer for a major decision. It was the 10th win in 11 matches for Riccio, who has also recorded shutouts in nine of his 25 victories this season.

David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local) rounded out the list of Bucknell winners with a 9-4 decision over Kenji Porter at 184. He led 6-2 at the conclusion of the first period and held on to win by the five-point margin thanks to owning riding time advantage.

Columbia's Lou Miller wrapped up the match with a 6-1 win over Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) at 197 since the Lions' Ryan Flores, who is ranked No. 14 nationally, earned a forfeit at heavyweight.

Bucknell, which will wrestle its final three duals on the road, will be back in action Friday, Feb. 6, at Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks at ranked No. 7 nationally by USA Today/Intermat/NWCA and own a 19-1 record this season.

Bucknell 28, Columbia 12
*125: Derek Reber (B) dec. Kevin Tao (C), 6-5
133: No. 20 David Marble (B) tech. fall Kyle Gilchrist (C), 22-7
141: Adam Healey (B) maj. dec. Shane Strumwasser (C), 9-1
149: Kevin LeValley (B) maj. dec. Matt Dunn (C), 10-2
157: Derek Sickles (C) dec. Tyler Riccio (B), 5-3
165: No. 15 Andy Rendos (B) pinned Eren Civan (C), 1:50
174: Shane Riccio (B) maj. dec. Mike Colfer (C), 8-0
184: David Thompson (B) dec. Kenji Porter, 9-4
197: Lou Miller (C) dec. Rob Waltko (B), 6-1
HWT: No. 14 Ryan Flores (C) won by forfeit
* starting weight