LEWISBURG, Pa. – Kade Sottolano earned an upset victory at heavyweight to lift the Lock Haven men's wrestling team to a 19-15 victory over Bucknell on the road in a non-conference match on Thursday night.  
 
The Bald Eagles have now won six matches in a row to improve to 8-3 on the season. The win streak dates back to Jan. 4 and has all come on the road. The Bison fell to 5-9 on the season.
 
Lock Haven won six of 10 bouts, highlighted by bonus-point efforts from Curtis Nelson and a dramatic overtime win by heavyweight Sottolano.
 
Nelson opened the dual in dominant fashion at 125 pounds, rolling to a 19-7 major decision over Kade Davidheiser to give the Bald Eagles an early 4-0 lead. No. 31 Gable Strickland added to the momentum with a 7-2 decision at 133, before No. 18 Wyatt Henson dropped a tight 10-7 bout to Bucknell's No. 30 Dylan Chappell at 141.
 
No. 22 Lucas Kapusta and Nick Stampoulos extended Lock Haven's advantage with back-to-back decisions at 149 and 157, helping the Bald Eagles build a 13-3 cushion midway through the dual.
 
Bucknell's No. 21 Noah Mulvaney stopped the run with a 15-0 technical fall at 165, but No. 32 Avery Bassett responded in style. Bassett outlasted No. 18 Myles Takats in a 14-9 thriller at 174 to earn a ranked win and restore a comfortable Lock Haven lead, 16–8.
 
The Bison battled back with wins at 184 and 197 to close the gap to 16-15 heading into the heavyweight finale. In the closing bout, Sottolano delivered when it mattered most, securing a 4-1 sudden-victory decision over No. 29 Lucas Lawler to clinch the team victory for the Bald Eagles.
 
Final: Lock Haven 19, Bucknell 15
125: Curtis Nelson (LH) major dec. over Kade Davidheiser (BU), 19-7 (LH 4-0)
133: No. 31 Gable Strickland (LH) dec. over Bryce Manera (BU), 7-2 (LH 7-0)
141: No. 30 Dylan Chappell (BU) dec. over No. 18 Wyatt Henson (LH), 10-7 (LH 7-3)
149: No. 22 Lucas Kapusta (LH) dec. over Braden Bower (BU), 7-3 (LH 10-3)
157: Nick Stampoulos (LH) dec. over Cade Wirnsberger (BU), 3-2 (LH 13-3)
165: No. 21 Noah Mulvaney (BU) tech fall over Ousmane Duncanson (LH), 15-0, 7:00 (LH 13-8)
174: No. 32 Avery Bassett (LH) dec. over No. 18 Myles Takats (BU), 14-9 (LH 16-8)
184: No. 31 Tyler Bienus (BU) dec. over Sam Gautreau (LH), 3-1 (LH 16-11)
197: No. 27 Dillon Bechtold (BU) major dec. over Tucker Hogan (LH), 10-2 (LH 16-15)
285: Kade Sottolano (LH) dec. over No. 29 Lucas Lawler (BU), 4-1 SV (LH 19-15)
 
Next up for The Haven:
The Bald Eagles return home to host Northern Illinois in Mid-American Conference (MAC) action tomorrow (Jan. 30) at noon in Thomas Fieldhouse. Friday's match is dedicated to Student Appreciation.