Bucknell Wrestling Faces EIWA Opponent Columbia in New York City on Sunday - BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Bucknell Wrestling Faces EIWA Opponent Columbia in New York City on Sunday

Bison Try to Extend EIWA Record to 5-0

Corey Lear

Jan. 29, 2010

LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell wrestling team travels to New York City to face Columbia at 3 p.m. on Sunday. This will be the third match of a five match road trip. The Bison have achieved a record of 8-6 overall and 4-0 in the EIWA. Bucknell is looking to extend its undefeated record in the EIWA to 5-0, matching its best start since the 1987-88 squad went 5-0 in the East Coast Conference.

Columbia (4-4-1, 0-0 EIWA) will wrestle at Franklin & Marshall and at Millersville on Saturday. The Bison, on the other hand, will be entering the match with a week's rest.

Bucknell Wrestling Notebook
• The Bucknell and Columbia series started in the 1979-80 season. The Bison lead the all-time the series 3-2.

• Bucknell defeated Columbia last season 28-12 in Davis Gym. The Bison picked up seven of the first eight bouts en route to their ninth victory of the season.

• Columbia is the only nationally ranked team that the Bison have beat since the program was reinstated prior to the 2006-07 campaign. The 17-16 win over the then-No. 25 Lions came on Feb. 17, 2007, in Harvard's Malkin Athletic Center. Victories in the final two weight classes (197, Hwt.) helped Bucknell overcome a 16-10 deficit and post the one-point victory.

• The Bison lost a close match to nationally ranked No. 25 Old Dominion this past Sunday, 19-16. Both teams captured five matches, but the pin by the Monarchs' No.7 James Nicholson at 125 pounds proved to be the deciding factor.

• David Marble (No. 17 at 133), Kevin LeValley (No. 7 at 149), Andy Rendos (No. 11 at 165) and Shane Riccio (No. 17 at 174) continue to give Bucknell a quartet of wrestlers in the national rankings.

• Bucknell has 13 grapplers that have already reached double figures in victories this year, matching the total from 2008-09. Marble (21-7), Riccio (22-6) and Rendos (27-4) have each piled up at least 20 wins. LeValley has reached the 30-win plateau with a 31-5 record. He ranks tied for fifth on the Bucknell single-season wins list and is just two victories shy of the standard (33) shared by Rendos, Riccio and Brian Pitzer.

• Shane Riccio garnered his 100th career victory and went 3-0 last week. He is only the fifth Bison to reach the century mark. He joins fellow teammates David Marble and Andy Rendos, as well as record-holder Bobby Ferraro and Bucknell Athletics Hall of Famer Tom Marchetti. Riccio is the current Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week, an award he has now captured three times in his career.

• Marble has won five consecutive matches. His fifth win came against Old Dominion's Justin LaValle by a 6-2 decision.

• Bucknell's Probable Starters vs. Columbia:
125: Derrik Russell (11-17)
133: No. 17 David Marble (21-7)
141: John Regan (17-11)
149: No. 7 Kevin LeValley (31-5)
157: Brantley Hooks (17-14)
165: No. 11 Andy Rendos (20-4) or Corey Lear (20-11)
174: No. 17 Shane Riccio (27-7)
184: Rob Waltko (16-13)
197: Jay Hahn (13-8)
Hwt.: Joe McMullan (11-15) or Conor Sweeney (3-16)