March 18, 2009
Bucknell NCAA Match Notes/Brackets
Intermat's Live NCAA Coverage
NCAA Wrestling Home
Bison Program Makes Gigantic Comeback (from the Daily Item)
Reber Ready for the Big Stage (from the Standard-Journal)
Interview with Head Coach Dan Wirnsberger
Interview with Sophomore David Thompson
Interview with Junior David Marble
Interview with Juniors Andy Rendos and Shane Riccio
Interview with Sophomore Kevin LeValley and Freshman Derek Reber
First Round Matchups
125: Derek Reber vs. #5 Charlie Falck (Iowa)
Reber vs. Falck: 0-1
133: David Marble vs. #3 James Kennedy (Illinois)
Marble vs. Kennedy: 0-2
149: Kevin LeValley vs. #1 Brent Metcalf (Iowa)
LeValley vs. Metcalf: 0-1
165: Andy Rendos vs. #10 Chris Brown (Old Dominion) or Justin Zeerip (Michigan)
Rendos vs. Brown: 0-2
Rendos vs. Zeerip: 0-0
174: Shane Riccio vs. #5 Raymond Jordan (Missouri)
Riccio vs. Jordan: 0-1
184: David Thompson vs. #7 Doug Umbehauer (Rider)
Thompson vs. Umbehauer: 0-0
About the NCAA Championships
This year's NCAA Championships will take place March 19-21 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo. Bucknell will bring a program-record six qualifiers to the event after three Bison qualified each of the last two years. The top eight finishers in each weight class earn All-America honors. Two-time All-American Bobby Ferraro was the last Bison to earn the honor in 1995. None of the six Bucknell grapplers are among the top 12 seeds in their weight classes.
NCAA Tournament Experience
Three Bucknell wrestlers have prior NCAA experience. Juniors David Marble and Andy Rendos will be making their third NCAA showings this week, while Shane Riccio will participate in his second consecutive NCAA Championships. Marble and Rendos are the first three-time NCAA participants at Bucknell since Bobby Ferraro went four consecutive years (1992-95).
Bucknell's NCAA Qualifiers
Bucknell's six NCAA qualifiers this year breaks the program record of five from 1989 when Mark Faglioni, Jeffrey Scotton, Tom Marchetti, Rob Redfoot and Bryan Burns represented the Bison. Bucknell had a total of six qualifiers the last two years and has now had 60 individual berths in the NCAA Championships all-time.
Bucknell's EIWA Championships History
Bucknell finished in a tie for third with Penn at the EIWA Championships, marking the best finish in program history. The Bison were in fifth place at the end of the first day and moved up thanks to seven of their nine wrestlers placing in the top six of their weight classes. The third-place showing was the best conference finish for Bucknell since it won the ECWA title in 1995.
Bucknell's EIWA Team Finishes
2000: no team points awarded
2001: 10th (30 points)
2002: 12th (12.5)
2007: 9th (40)
2008: 8th (43.5)
2009: t-3rd (79)
Bucknell Wrestling History
Bucknell's wrestling program dates back to 1944. Since then, the Bison have totaled a 340-383-16 record and have had four All-Americans. The Bucknell program was reclassified as a club-varsity sport following the 2001-02 campaign, but was brought back as a varsity program a few years later. Bucknell, which does not have a senior on its current roster, is now in its third year of competition since the resumption of the program.
Individual Ranked Opponents
Bucknell wrestlers are no strangers to facing ranked opponents this year. As a team, the Bison went up against seven ranked foes. On an individual level, Bucknell's six NCAA qualifiers are a combined 10-43 against ranked opponents. Andy Rendos' four wins lead the squad, while all 10 of David Marble's losses this year have been to ranked foes.
Bucknell's NCAA Qualifiers vs. Ranked Opponents (USA Today/Intermat/NWCA)
125 - Derek Reber (0-6)
133 - David Marble (3-10)
149 - Kevin LeValley (1-9)
165 - Andy Rendos (4-5)
174 - Shane Riccio (1-6)
184 - David Thompson (1-7)
Quick Facts
• Bucknell used 15 different starting lineups in 2008-09.
• Bucknell faced seven ranked teams this year. The Bison were 0-7 in those matches, but 11-2 against unranked opponents.
• Bucknell posted an 11-9 record during the regular season. The win total is tied for the second-most in program history.
• Bucknell head coach Dan Wirnsberger ranks second in program history with 32 wins. He owns a 32-29-2 record in his three seasons at the helm of the Bison.
• Andy Rendos and Derek Reber both finished the regular season with perfect 8-0 marks in EIWA duals.
• Bucknell has seen its conference record improve from 3-3-1 in 2006-07 to 4-4 in 2007-08 to 5-3 this year.
• Bucknell's wrestling program was brought back to varsity status prior to the 2006-07 season, four years after it was discontinued.
Bucknell All-Americans
Bucknell has had four All-Americans in its history, with Bobby Ferraro earning the honor twice.
Bucknell All-Americans
1989: Tom Marchetti (4th place, 167 pounds)
1991: Bryan Burns (8th place, 190 pounds)
1994: Bobby Ferraro (8th place, 177 pounds)
1995: Bobby Ferraro (7th place, 177 pounds)
