Each team earned a forfeit victory (George Mason at 125, Bucknell at 165), but the Bison claimed six of the eight contested bouts as they improved to 11-6 this year. They are 6-1 over their last seven matches and are now just one win from tying the 2006-07 squad for most victories in a season in program history. Bucknell has just one match left, next Saturday vs. American.
LeValley, who is ranked seventh nationally and has not lost in over a month, extended his season record to 34-5 with a 5-0 shutout decision against Brandon Bucher at 149 pounds. LeValley has outscored his last five opponents 61-0, winning by technical fall twice, major decision twice and now by decision. He entered the bout tied with Andy Rendos (Brockway, Pa./Brockway Area), Shane Riccio (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) and Brian Pitzer for most victories in a single season by a Bison, but he easily broke that deadlock with his eight consecutive win.
A major decision by Brantley Hooks (Spartanburg, S.C./James F. Byrnes) at 157 pounds gave Bucknell its first lead at 10-9, and the Bison never relinquished it. However, the match was still in doubt with three bouts to go as Bucknell was only up 16-12 after No. 19 Mendbagana Tovuujav upset No. 14 Riccio, 3-1, at 174 pounds.
Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), Jay Hahn (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) and Joe McMullan (Easton, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) closed out the match with three straight wins for the Bison after Riccio's loss. Waltko (major decision) and Hahn (technical fall) each earned bonus points, giving Bucknell four bonus-point wins over the final six bouts.
Riccio's loss snapped his six-match winning streak as he fell to 4-4 against ranked foes this season.
No. 17 David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central) got the Bison on the board early with an 8-1 decision at 133 pounds. Those three team points were key as the Patriots had won 125 pounds by forfeit and later claimed a high-scoring 15-13 decision at 141 to take a 9-3 lead. Marble kept pace with LeValley and won his eighth bout in a row. He also moved into sole possession of fourth place on the program's career wins list with 105, one more than Riccio.
The loss dropped George Mason to 3-9 on the season. The Patriots now have a five-match losing streak.
Bucknell, which completed its five-match road trip with a strong 4-1 mark, will return home next Saturday, Feb. 20, to host American. Prior to the match Marble, Rendos and Riccio will be honored as part of Senior Day festivities. It will be the first Senior Day for the program since it was reinstated prior to the 2006-07 campaign.
Results:
*125: Brian Wright (GM) wins by forfeit
133: No. 17 David Marble (B) dec. Denny Herndon (GM), 8-1
141: Jaaziah Bethea (GM) dec. John Regan (B), 15-13
149: No. 7 Kevin LeValley (B) dec. Brandon Bucher (GM), 5-0
157: Brantley Hooks (B) maj. dec. Aaron Keeton (GM), 12-4
165: No. 10 Andy Rendos (B) wins by forfeit
174: No. 19 Mendbagana Tovuujav (GM) dec. No. 14 Shane Riccio (B), 3-1
184: Rob Waltko (B) maj. dec. Greg Scott (GM), 14-3
197: Jay Hahn (B) tech fall Mike Peterson (GM), 20-4 (6:24)
Hwt.: Joe McMullan (B) dec. Adam Barnette, 8-1
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