April 28, 2008

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Seven members of the Bucknell wrestling squad competed at the FILA Junior Freestyle National Championships this past weekend where two of the Bison qualified for the FILA Junior World Team Trials. Sophomore David Marble (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville Central) and freshman Kevin LeValley (Hugo, Colo./Limon) both placed second at their respective weights, earning the duo an opportunity to contend for a spot on the World Team.

Marble went 4-1 at 60 KG (132.25 lbs.), including a first round technical fall (6-0, 7-0) and a pin versus Dan White (Sunkist Kids) 1:45 into the second period of his semifinal match before suffering a loss, 6-0, 6-1, to Dylan Alton (MAT-TOWN USA) in the championship bout. The competitors wrestled a best-of-three format, with each period set at two minutes in length.

LeValley, who wrestled at 66 KG (145.5 lbs.), went 4-1 in the tournament and saw three of his first four matches reach a deciding third period. LeValley won his semifinal bout against Corey Manson (Hicks Scrappin), 0-1, 3-3, 4-3, to advance to the championship where he fell to Jordan Burroughs (Sunkist Kids), 6-1, 7-0.

Freshmen Tyler Riccio (Warren, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan Regional) and Scott Sechler (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) competed at 70 KG (154.25 pounds) where Sechler went 2-2 with two victories in the championship bracket. Freshman Chris Bailes (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area) was 0-2 at 74 KG (163 lbs.), freshman Rob Waltko (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) picked up two wins in the wrestleback bracket at 79 KG (174 lbs.) to finish 2-2 and freshman David Thompson (West Liberty, Ohio/Graham Local) went 1-2 with a win in the wrestleback bracket at 84 KG (185 lbs.).

Marble and LeValley will vie for the opportunity to compete at the World Championships, in Istanbul, Turkey this summer when they travel to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 18-24, to take part in the FILA Junior World Team Trials.