BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – Friday, Dec. 20 marks the 2019-20 home-opener for the Long Island University wrestling team as the Sharks play host to Bucknell University in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association action inside the Pratt Recreation Center beginning at 7:00 p.m.
 
LIU (2-12, 0-1 EIWA) will look to earn its first EIWA dual victory after coming up short at Drexel University last Saturday, while Bucknell (1-2, 0-0 EIWA) will partake in its first conference dual of the season.
 
The Bison head to Brookville after defeating Bloomsburg University on Dec. 5 in its most recent competition. Prior to its first dual victory, Bucknell had fallen to Northern Illinois University and No. 12 Iowa State University. In addition to its three duals, the Bison competed at the Navy Classic on Nov. 23, with Zach Hartman and Matthew Kolonia placing third at 165 and 149, respectively. Hartman leads Bucknell this season with 11 victories in 14 bouts, while Kolonia boasts an 8-4 mark on the mat. Jaden Fisher has also reached double-figures in victories, beginning the year 10-10, splitting time between 149 and 157. At 197, Drew Phipps is closing in on 70 career victories, holding a 68-37 (.647) record during the early stages of his senior season.
 
For the Sharks, senior Dan McClure posted his fourth dual victory of the season against the Dragons last weekend for his 18th dual point of the season, ranking second on the team with freshman Michael Blando. Freshman Jimmy Ryan will look to bounce back after missing the previous dual, holding a team-best 7-3 dual record with 25 points. With a win at 125, Ryan could become the first Shark to reach 10 overall wins on the season.
 
Fans making the trip to the Pratt Recreation Center, general admission tickets will be sold for $5 at the door. For those unable to attend in person, live stats will be available at the link at the top of this page through TrackWrestling.com, and live video is available free of charge on NEC Front Row. Fans can tune in to the live broadcast online, or on any mobile and streaming device by downloading the NEC on the Run app.