CEDAR FALLS, IA - The University at Buffalo wrestling team recorded its biggest upset in program history by defeating 12th nationally-ranked Nebraska, 18-17 at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals on Saturday afternoon at the University of Northern Iowa Dome.
After upsetting Nebraska in the first round of consolations, the
Bulls (7-3-1) fell to the seventh nationally-ranked Maryland, 31-7.
In the opening round of the National Duals, Buffalo fell to ninth
nationally-ranked Boise State, 31-7This marked the first time the
Bulls have ever faced Boise State and Nebraska. The Bulls-Terrapins
dual was the fifth all-time meet with the Bulls holding a 4-1
overall record.
In the first round of the consolations, the Bulls pulled off the
program's biggest upset by defeating Nebraska, 18-17. The
Bulls jumped out to an early 6-0 lead as senior Dan Bishop and
sophomore Kevin Smith captured decisions at 125 and 133,
respectively.
Bishop earned a 7-5 decision over the Cornhuskers' David
Klingsheim at 125, recording five points in the third period for
the Bulls' opening victory. At 133, Smith collected three
takedowns to capture a 6-3 decision over Nebraska's C.J.
Napier.
Following the Bulls' loss at 141, Buffalo captured victories
at 149, 157 and 165. At 149, sophomore Desi Green received a
forfeit to give the Bulls a 12-3 lead.
Facing a 2-0 deficit after the first period, senior Andrew Stella
scored four points in the remaining time, including 2:18 of riding
time, to defeat the Huskers' Tyler Koehn, 4-2 at 157. After
two scoreless periods in the 165-pound bout, sophomore John-Martin Cannon scored seven points including a trio of takedowns to defeat
Nebraska's Alex Ward, 7-3.
After six bouts, the Bulls built their lead over Nebraska to 18-3.
Despite the Cornhuskers earning decisions at 174, 184 and 285 as
well as a technical fall at 197, the Bulls held on for an 18-17
victory over the 12th-ranked squad.
Following the Bulls' upset of Nebraska, Buffalo faced seventh
nationally-ranked Maryland. In the dual, the Terrapins won four
bouts by major decision, three by decision and one by forfeit for a
31-7 victory.
In a repeat bout from this year's UB Open, Green would face
off against Maryland's Jon Kohler at 149. In the championship
match at the UB Open, Green defeated the 2009 Edinboro Open
champion, 10-7. Looking for the same result, Green would find what
he was looking for as he defeated Kohler, 16-7 by major decision.
Green's third period performance made the difference in the
bout as he compiled 10 points.
Moving up a weight class from 197, junior Jimmy Hamel faced the
Terps' Pat Gilmore at 285. Trailing 3-1, Gilmore earned a
pair of escapes in the third period to pull close but Hamel managed
to hold on for a 5-3 decision with a third-period takedown.
Buffalo opened the day by falling to ninth nationally-ranked Boise
State, 31-9 in the first round of the National Duals. The Bulls
captured victories in three weight classes including 149, 165 and
197.
The bout at 149 would feature a pair of nationally-ranked
wrestlers, 20th-ranked Green and sixth-ranked Jason Chamberlain of
Boise State. Following two periods, Green and Chamberlain entered
the last period tied at 5-5. In the third period, the two would
exchange escapes before Green sealed the deal with a takedown to
defeat Chamberlain, 8-6.
At 165, Cannon's 4-2 first period edge would lead him to a
5-3 decision over Boise State's Michael Cuthbertson. The pair
would each exchange an escape in the time remaining with Cannon
walking away the victor.
In the 197-pound bout, Hamel continued where he left off at last
year's National Duals when he recorded a perfect 2-0 record.
With the score tied at 1-1, Hamel recorded a third-period takedown
on Boise State's Matt Casperson for a 3-1 decision.
With a strong performance at this year's National Duals, Green has
yet to lose at the event. Combined with his two wins at last year's
event, his record now improves to 5-0.
This year's National Duals featured 12 nationally-ranked
teams in the top-20 of the USA Today/Intermat/NWCA Division I
National Team Rankings with eight of the 12 teams in the
top-10.
The Bulls will remain on the road as they travel to Edinboro
University to face the 20th nationally-ranked Scots on Saturday,
January 16 at 7:00 pm.