Although it looks as if the season is almost over for the Bulls, things are just beginning to heat up. With two meets against three MAC opponents, followed by the MAC and NCAA Championships, the year is far from over.
UB is coming off a heartbreaking loss to 16th-ranked Central Michigan that puts them at 8-4 overall and 0-2 at the bottom of the MAC. After having a week off, however, the team is optimistic heading into the remainder of the Mid-American Conference schedule and the MAC Championships.
"We're ready, our attitude is that we can win all the matches in our conference," said head coach Jim Beichner.
To do so, the Bulls will have to beat Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 22, and the Ohio Bobcats on Sunday, Feb. 23.
History is not on Buffalo's side, as UB lost to both Northern Illinois and Ohio last year, 22-13 and 29-12 respectively. UB did beat Eastern Michigan last year 33-6 and has dominated the Eagles the past four years.
In the 125 pounds division, Mike Sebaaly is currently 19-11 overall and 5-4 in dual meets. He leads the team in escapes with eight. Mike Trotta is wrestling very well for the Bulls at the 133 pounds division. He is currently 26-11 overall and 8-4 in dual meets. Cliff Smith is 12-9 overall and 3-4 in dual meets at the 141 pounds division. At 149 pounds, Ryan Bentley is 6-7 overall and 1-3 in dual meets this season.
Labe Black earned MAC wrestler of the week for his performance against 10th-ranked David Bolyard of Central Michigan and improved to 9-3 in dual meets this season at 157 pounds.
"Labe has been on the fringe of beating Top 10 guys for quite some time now," said Beichner. "He is much closer to being in that Top 10 than he ever has been before."
Tom Paladino is 24-10 overall and 8-4 in dual meets at the 165 pounds division. Tom is only a sophomore and is already making an impact in the MAC.
At 174 pounds, Gary Cooper is 28-5 overall and 11-1 in dual meets this year. He had his first dual meet loss and his 18-match winning streak snapped against Mitch Hancock of Central Michigan. Cooper leads the team in falls and in both 2-point and 3-point near falls.
The season for sophomore Kyle Cerminara this year has been as smooth as last year's run in the NCAA championships. However, he suffered his first MAC loss in his 2 years with the program. He is currently 27-9 overall and 8-2 in dual meets this year.
"If he goes back to just a short period of time before the ankle injury and wrestles the way he wrestled at Wilkes," said Beichner, "and opens up and let his natural ability go, he can place and be an All-American. He can win another MAC Championship."
Garret Bontempo became the first wrestler to receive a Top 20 ranking this season. He is 10-2 in dual meets this season and 28-6 overall and leads the team in takedowns with Gary Cooper in second.
In the heavyweight division, Tom Curl is 18-14 overall and 6-5 in dual meets this season.
From 157 pounds up to the heavyweight division, this area of the Bulls seems the most consistent throughout the season and has the shot to be MAC Champions.
"We want to beat all three of our next opponents, but the pressure we are going to put on ourselves is going to be focused on the MAC's and National qualifiers," said Beichner.
Gary Cooper and Ryan Bentley are the only two seniors on the team this year, which is good news for the future of this program.
"This team is very young, and because of their youth and because they're talented, they are going to get better," said Beichner.
Ahead for the Bulls is the remainder of the MAC schedule. Then, it's the MAC Championships, where anybody can win and qualify for Nationals.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
