|
Bucknell Wrestling Announces Team Awards
April 23, 2009
 LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell wrestling team had its end-of-season banquet inside Hunt Hall last Saturday evening and fourth-year head coach Dan Wirnsberger announced this year's award winners. Junior co-captain Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area) earned the prestigious William A. Graham IV Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, given annually to the Bison grappler who performs best at the NCAA Championships. Four other Bison were recognized with awards, while the six NCAA qualifiers were also honored. Sophomore Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) was awarded the Coach's Award, while classmate Scott Sechler (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) was given the 11th-Man Award. Junior Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) earned the Most Improved Award and Derek Reber (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) was named Freshman of the Year. Reber, junior co-captain David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central), LeValley, Rendos, Riccio and sophomore David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local) were also recognized for their participation in the NCAA Championships last month as the Bison sent a record six wrestlers to the event. Rendos completed the year with a fifth-place showing at the NCAA Championships, the second-best showing in school history, and good enough to become just the fourth different All-American in school history. He compiled a 33-8 overall record, which ties the program's single-season win record. In addition to that, he posted a 13-3 dual record, including 8-0 in EIWA duals. The 165-pounder recorded eight pins, two technical falls and seven major decisions. He finished second at the EIWA Championships, which earned his automatic berth to the NCAA Championships, where he complied a 5-2 record. Rendos is currently tied for fifth on the Bucknell all-time wins list (88), ranks sixth in all-time winning percentage (.779) and is 10th in career total pins (19). LeValley finished the season with a 29-15 overall record, despite facing 10 nationally ranked opponents in his 149-pound weight class entering the NCAA Championships. He posted a 14-5 dual meet record, three pins, two technical falls and seven major decisions, tied for the most on the team. He was fifth on the team in victories during the 2008-09 campaign and was one of four Bison to end the season with more than 50 career wins. Sechler posted a 12-16 overall record, with 3-6 dual record. All three dual victories came in EIWA duals. He made a surprising run through the EIWA Championships at 157 pounds, placing sixth and posting a 3-3 record. Sechler was awarded the 11th Man Award for his dedication to the team and tremendous contribution to the team's success. Riccio made his second consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships this year by finishing third at the EIWA Championships in the 174-pound weight class. He finished the season 33-16, with a 13-7 dual record, five pins, one technical fall and thee major decisions. He finished the year with a career record of 75-38, ranking 10th on the Bison career wins ledger. His 33 wins tied Rendos and Brian Pitzer for the most in a single season in Bison annals. Riccio had a 17-3 run entering the NCAA Championships. Reber vaulted himself into the Bucknell record books this season as a freshman. He went 31-12 overall, the most wins by a freshman in school history, and the fifth-most overall. He posted a 16-4 dual record, including a perfect 8-0 EIWA dual record. He was tied for third on the single-season duals wins list with 16. The 125-pounder finished third at the EIWA Championships to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships and finished the season ranked No. 20 nationally. Marble automatically qualified for his third consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships by finishing fourth at the EIWA Championships. He recorded a 30-12 overall record, while going 14-4 in dual meets. He is tied for eighth in both the single-season wins list (30) and the career wins list (81). He was also fourth on the team for wins this past season. He posted an impressive 24-0 record against unranked foes while also facing 13 nationally ranked opponents. Marble was nationally ranked for 11 weeks, reaching as high as No. 14 at 133 pounds. Thompson earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships after a fifth-place finish at EIWA Championships at 184 pounds. He went 23-16 overall, with a 12-7 dual record, three pins and two major decisions. He had an impressive 6-2 run leading up to the NCAA Championships. In addition, he faced eight nationally ranked opponents this season. Bucknell posted an 11-9 record this season, including 5-3 in EIWA duals. The 11-win season was one victory shy of the program record. The team finished at least .500 against the EIWA for the third straight year, and its tie for third place was the highest-ever EIWA finish. The team also sent a program-record six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships.
Award Winners
|
MULTIMEDIA 
Photo Galleries 
Facilities Gallery 
Video Player 
Media Guide Golf Outing Brochure (July 15, 2011)
|
