Taylor's Final-Bout Win Secures 21-16 Senior Day Victory Over Bucknell

Saturday, February 14

Bethlehem, Pa.

2:00 PM

Lehigh University

Bucknell

Photo by: Olivia Link

Taylor's Final-Bout Win Secures 21-16 Senior Day Victory Over Bucknell

2/14/2026 4:39:00 PM | Men's Wrestling

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 22 Lehigh's Senior Day EIWA matchup with Bucknell came down to a senior who will be back for one more year. With the Mountain Hawks holding an 18-16 lead after nine bouts, heavyweight Nathan Taylor defeated Lucas Lawler 9-5 to give Lehigh a 21-16 victory over the Bison Saturday inside Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall.

It came down to 285, and Nathan Taylor delivered for the Mountain Hawks Saturday 👇 pic.twitter.com/gQhb8D41D4
— Lehigh Men's Wrestling (@LehighMWREST) February 14, 2026

The victory was Lehigh's sixth of the dual, which gave the Mountain Hawks their eighth straight dual win while closing the EIWA slate at a perfect 5-0. Lehigh is now 11-6 overall.

Prior to Saturday's dual, Lehigh recognized seniors Carter Bailey, Max Brignola, JT Davis, Keegan Gagnon, Dontae Hoose, Zac Martin, Sheldon Seymour and Jack Wilt.

Seymour made the most of his final match in Grace Hall, staking Lehigh to a 5-0 lead behind a 16-0 technical fall over Kade Davidheiser at 125. Seymour hit an early headlock to go up 7-0 and then turned Davidheiser three more times, securing the technical fall with just six seconds remaining in the first period.

This headlock for 7 set the tone for Sheldon.

Watch: https://t.co/zDhLN3RLLz pic.twitter.com/5belDqHffe
— Lehigh Men's Wrestling (@LehighMWREST) February 14, 2026

Bucknell (6-11, 4-3 EIWA) took a 6-5 lead as Bryce Manera won by injury default early in his bout against first-year Mason Ziegler at 133. Manera locked up a cradle and took Ziegler to his back, but Ziegler was injured in the exchange and was unable to continue.

The Mountain Hawks got a boost from first-year Seamus Mack at 141. Wrestling for Luke Stanich for the second straight day, Mack knocked off 27th-ranked Dylan Chappell 5-3 for his first career dual meet win, giving the Mountain Hawks an 8-6 lead. Tied 1-1 in the third, Mack took Chappell down to take the lead. Chappell reversed and Mack subsequently escaped and held his ground at the end to earn the victory.

Came through here like a Mack truck!

Watch: https://t.co/zDhLN3RLLz pic.twitter.com/yAN5749Kh4
— Lehigh Men's Wrestling (@LehighMWREST) February 14, 2026

The Bison went back in front at 149 as Braden Bower used a third period takedown to defeat Bailey 4-1.

Sophomore Logan Rozynski came from behind to edge Cade Wirnsberger 5-4 at 157. Wirnsberger turned Rozynski for two near fall points early in the second period only to see Rozynski escape and then score a takedown to lead 4-3 after two. A strong ride from Rozynski in the third put him at 1:24 of riding time advantage, which proved to be the difference, as Lehigh led 11-9 at the midway point.

In his final Grace Hall appearance, Brignola picked up his eighth consecutive win and defeated a ranked foe by bonus points for the third time in that stretch. This time, Brignola rode a pair of takedowns in each of the first two periods to a 13-5 major decision over Noah Mulvaney.

Bucknell pulled four points back at 174 as No. 21 Myles Takats won a 14-3 major decision over first-year Brady Collins.

Junior Rylan Rogers delivered a key win at 184, using a third period takedown to defeat Tyler Bienus 4-2.

Rogers finds a way late!

Watch: https://t.co/zDhLN3RLLz pic.twitter.com/N92jfohyw8
— Lehigh Men's Wrestling (@LehighMWREST) February 14, 2026

A tight battle at 197 went to Bucknell's Dillon Bechtold over Davis. Tied 1-1 after regulation and the two-minute sudden victory period, Bechtold kept Davis down in the first half of the tiebreaker to win on 30 seconds of riding time.

The winner-take-all bout at 285 saw Taylor close the first period with a takedown to lead 3-0. He escaped and then scored a second takedown to go up 7-1 after two. Lawler closed the gap in the third, escaping and scoring a takedown to get within 7-5. He then put Taylor on his feet and was unable to score. With riding time secured, Taylor's 9-5 decision secured the win for Lehigh.

The Mountain Hawks will close out the dual season next Saturday at Arizona State, with match time set for 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MST from Tempe, Ariz.

The 2025-26 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.

No. 22 Lehigh 21, Bucknell 16
125 – Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) tech fall Kade Davidheiser (Bucknell) 16-0, 2:54
133 – Bryce Manera (Bucknell) injury default Mason Ziegler (Lehigh) 0:28
141 – Seamus Mack (Lehigh) dec. Dylan Chappell (Bucknell) 5-3
149 – Braden Bower (Bucknell) dec. Carter Bailey (Lehigh) 4-1
157 – Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) dec. Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell) 5-4
165 – Max Brignola (Lehigh) major dec. Noah Mulvaney (Bucknell) 13-5
174 – Myles Takats (Bucknell) major dec. Brady Collins (Lehigh) 14-3
184 – Rylan Rogers (Lehigh) dec. Tyler Bienus (Bucknell) 4-2
197 – Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell) dec. JT Davis (Lehigh) 1-1, tb1, rt
285 – Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) dec. Lucas Lawler (Bucknell) 9-5
Attendance – 1,087

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