Pavlechko in at ground level for rebuilding Bucknell wrestling
His routine includes the walk into the wrestling office, where young and enthusiastic coaches are always prepared to divulge the day’s news.
One day the coaches will dissect an emerging 133-pounder. The next time he walks into the office they will discuss nationally-ranked recruits interested in their program. There are also days when they reflect on the 12 wins compiled by a program they started from scratch after receiving one of the most generous gifts in wrestling history.
The conversations often surprise the State College High School graduate who has played a major role in wrestling’s return at Bucknell.
Tim Pavlechko, State College Class of 1987 and Bucknell’s senior associate athletics director, entered this season with modest goals.
Pavlechko, who supervises 13 sports including wrestling and football for Bucknell, wanted a team comprised entirely of freshmen to stay injury-free. He also wanted all 17 freshmen to remain in good academic standing, something more important than victories on the 3,350-student Lewisburg campus.
The school’s graduation rate was the nation’s highest among student-athletes who entered college between 1996-97 and 1999-2000. Wrestlers are held to the same academic standards as the school’s other students.
“We talk every day about how surprised we are by all of this, “Pavlechko said. “I didn’t think the wrestling program would be here this quickly. We are in the middle of something special.”
Many thought the Bison had wrestled their last match when the school eliminated the sport after 2002 because of Title IX proportionately requirements. The school reclassified wrestling to club status.
Bucknell received a major reprieve on May 7, 2004, when alumnus Bill Graham announced he was donating $5.6 million to reinstate vasity wrestling and improve facilities for women’s sports.
One of the school’s first tasks involved finding somebody to create and implement a transition plan. Athletic director John Hardt didn’t need to leave his office to find the right person.
Pavlechko’s résumé included a stint at the NCAA, where he coordinated multiple NCAA wrestling championships including the successful 1999 tournament at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Still, Pavlechko’s wrestling background extended beyond his three years at the NCAA.
He was the Little Lions’ heavyweight as a senior, he lived across the street from former State College head coach Ron Pifer and his younger brother, Aaron, advanced to the 1991 PIAA Class AAA heavyweight final.
“I certainly have an appreciation for the sport, “said Pavlechko, who played football at Bucknell. “I also have some great contacts in the wrestling community.”
Pavlechko, along with Hardt and Bucknell president Brian Mitchell, displayed patience during the transition period.
They waited 11 months to hire a coach before plucking Dan Wirnsberger away from nearby Bloomsburg. Wirnsberger, a three-time All-American at Michigan State, helped six Huskies reach the 2005 NCAA Championships, and he’s considered one of the sport’s top young coaches.
Pavlechko also played a part in the decision to wait until 2006-07 to resume competition. Bucnkell’s initial plan involved wrestling in 2005-06.
Delaying the return gave Wirnsberger and assistant Larry Sprecher an entire year to focus solely on recruiting. The result was a recruiting class ranked as the nation’s 19th best by InterMat. Bucknell’s 2007-08 class should receive a similar ranking.
The waiting and recruiting produced a 27-14 victory over Maryland in this season’s opener. The victory will never lose its luster. That same Maryland team went undefeated in ACC duals and tied a school-record with 17 wins.
Pavlechko didn’t attend the season-opener, which was held in Philadelphia, but he will never forget the phone call he received from a co-worker.
“I just felt true happiness for coach Wirnsberger and the 10 freshmen, “Pavlechko said. “That was a pretty exciting day for everybody involved with the program. We have had our bumps and bruises. We lost to Army pretty good in our first home meet. But this season really shows that over the long haul the kids have embraced the energy around the program and the idea of bringing wrestling back to Bucknell.”
The Bison ended the regular season the same way they started the demandring three months: They tied a school record for single-season wins by defeating No. 25 Columbia 17-16 on Feb. 17.
Bucknell begins the postseason Friday at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships. The conference’s giants are Lehigh and Cornell.
“Those schools show that you can certainly be successful at a highly-selective academic institution, “Pavlechko said.
Cornell and Lehigh are often mentioned when Pavlechko walks into the wrestling office.
He knows it would be something special if Bucknell develops into the same thing.
Guy Cipriano is a sports writer for the Centre Daily Times. He can be reached at 231-4643 or [email protected].
Wrestling Gear
