UB senior Garrett Hicks officially welcomed freshman Kane Smith to the big-time on Sunday afternoon in Alumni Arena as the Bulls dropped a close match to UNC-Greensboro, 22-20.
The match drew a crowd estimated at over 400 fans, a large part of which came to see how Smith, now at UNC-Greensboro, would fare at the colligate level after being a two-time New York State High School Champion from Salamanca. As a local wrestler himself, Hicks knew what he was up against and proved to be too well seasoned for his young opponent. The senior handily defeated Smith in a 10-2 major decision, which was highlighted by three near-fall points in the third period.
"Just not to lose," Hicks said after the match about his game plan. "He was a big superstar in this area in high school and my dad taught him how to wrestle. Today it was my turn to teach him."
UB's head coach Jim Beichner said that the fans' anticipation for the match didn't faze Hicks.
"(Hicks) wrestled a guy that is probably respected as one of the best guys to come out of this section and he went out there and he dominated," Beichner said. "That is a very good win for Garrett."
The Bulls, who are 5-3 in dual meet action this season, were unable to pick up the team win in large part because of a forfeit in the first match of the night at 125 pounds. Not filling the 125-pound slot cost UB six team points in a two-point defeat.
"We didn't put a 25-pounder out there and the last time we put a 25-pounder out there he got pinned," Beichner said. "We gave up six points in that forfeit and I think that is the first one I have ever given up in my coaching career. It cost us the match. There were five different things in that match that could have given us a win and none of them would have been very difficult."
In addition to their woes at 125 pounds, the Bulls also faced problems in the 149-and 165-pound weight classes. Junior Pat Lloyd narrowly lost a 7-6 decision as a result of a controversial takedown call in the second period at 149 pounds, and the nationally-ranked Mickey Moran lost an 8-0 major decision at 165 pounds, while fighting cramping in his calves which forced him to stop the match twice for injury time.
"We lost a match we should have won," Beichner said. "One of our guys had severe cramps and that is a very painful situation to be in. I think Pat Lloyd went out there and in the first period he did a great job and he probably earned a win there, but as a result of a close call, he lost by a point."
On the plus side for Buffalo, senior Harold Sherrell won his second straight match against a nationally-ranked opponent. Sherrell, who is ranked 16th in the country, faced off against the 12th-ranked Tyler Shovlin at heavyweight and pulled off a 5-2 upset, improving his record to 23-4.
"Harold is on a roll," Beichner said.
Junior Mark Budd also picked up a win for the Bulls as he easily beat the 24th-ranked Chris Bencivenga in an 11-2 major decision.
"When you wrestle somebody that is ranked and beat him the way Mark Budd beat him, it is very significant," Beichner said.
Budd, who is currently ranked 14th in the country with a record of 24-3, has propelled himself on the national scene this season following an overtime victory against the number-one ranked Shawn Bunch of Edinboro University on Dec. 9.
"It boosted my confidence and I know I can beat anybody after I beat him," Budd said about his win over Bunch.
Beichner added that Budd's win over Bunch has played a pivotal role in helping the grappler see himself as a wrestler to beat.
"We never had a win against the number-one ranked guy in the country," Beichner said. "For Mark, it makes it easy for him to start to believe that he is one of the best guys in the country. Ever since the middle of last year, up until today he gets better. He's doing an outstanding job for us."
Also picking up wins for the Bulls were junior John Cummings, who posted his sixth straight victory in a 5-2 decision in the 157-pound weight class, and senior Kyle Cerminara, who collected a forfeit at 197 pounds. Cerminara is currently undefeated on the season with a record of 26-0 and is ranked fourth in the nation.
The Bulls will travel to Oswego on Friday for the New York State Championships.
