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LOCK HAVEN — After back-to-back weekends on the road, the Lock Haven men’s wrestling team opens its home schedule on Sunday at 5 p.m. against Bucknell.
Both teams will be looking for win number one of the season when the longtime rivals square off inside the confines of Thomas Fieldhouse.
Lock Haven enters Sunday’s dual with an 0-2 mark following a pair of losses last weekend at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals. The Bald Eagles won four bouts in a tough 24-14 loss to 25th-ranked Indiana before falling by a 20-12 tally to Appalachian State.
Three Bald Eagles lead the way with five victories on the year. Kelly Kakos, Brody Rebuck and Jonny O’Brien have each won five bouts with Rebuck earning all five wins in bonus-point fashion.
Rebuck has four falls and one major decision, and O’Brien has three technical falls and one major decision.
Nick Stampoulos leads the Bald Eagles against ranked opponents with three victories over ranked foes over the opening two weekends of the season.
Bucknell opened its season at Iowa State, falling 29-12 to the then-No. 9 Cyclones. The Bison wrestle LIU at home Sunday before traveling to Lock Haven.
Both teams bring three ranked wrestlers into Sunday’s showdown, with the dual featuring projected matchups between ranked wrestlers at 165 and 184 pounds.
In the 165 pound bout, Bucknell’s Noah Mulvaney enters the weekend ranked 16th while Stampoulos is ranked 25th in the latest InterMat rankings.
At 184 pounds, it will be a rematch of last season’s bout as 29th-ranked Tyler Bienus is slated to meet up with 30th-ranked Sam Gautreau. Bienus was victorious over Gautreau last season by a 3-1 score in a tight affair.
Lock Haven won the last meeting, 19-15, on Jan. 29, 2026 in Lewisburg, Pa. Curtis Nelson won by major decision at 125 pounds with four takedowns and six near-fall points while Lucas Kapusta, Nick Stampoulos and Kade Sottolano return after earning victories last season against the Bison.
The Bald Eagles own the all-time series with Bucknell with a 21-5 record and ride a two-match winning streak in the series. Bucknell’s last win in the series came in 2021 by a 21-15 margin in Lewisburg, Pa.
Sunday’s matchup is Youth and Team Night as the Bald Eagles welcome all youth and junior high wrestlers to attend the match for free. Parents are reminded that they will be required to pay in advance or at the door. Youth are welcomed to stay after the match for an autograph session with the Bald Eagles.
Along with Sunday’s Youth and Team Night, the match also will be a Mat-Side Social as Lock Haven continues its dynamic partnership with Floating Feathers Brewing Company. With the new partnership, Lock Haven Athletics and the Mill Hall, Pennsylvania based business unveiled a special beer named Lock Haven Logger.
As part of the partnership, Floating Feathers is operating a beer garden inside Thomas Fieldhouse. All patrons must be 21+ years of age – with valid ID – to enter the beer garden and all alcoholic beverages must be purchased and consumed in the special courtside area.
Bucknell’s Probable Lineup:
125 – Jackson Heslin or Christopher Nucifora
133 – Blue Stiffler or Jackson Refsnider
141 – Brayden Sigle or Hudson Hohman
149 – Cade Wirnsberger
157 – Ryan Lawler or Kaden Schaefer
165 – #16 Noah Mulvaney
174 – Shane McFillin
184 – #29 Tyler Bienus
197 – #20 Dillon Bechtold
285 – Lucas Lawler or Will Greenberg
Lock Haven’s probable lineup:
125: Curtis Nelson
133: Patrick O’Keefe or Chris Noto
141: Hunter Gould or Jake Zaltsman
149: #17 Lucas Kapusta
157: Chase Burke or Jonny O’Brien
165: #25 Nick Stampoulos or Caden Dobbins
174: Connor Wetzel or Ousmane Duncanson
184: #30 Sam Gautreau or Cole Bartram
197: Tucker Hogan
285: Kade Sottolano