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1997-98 Season Review

The University at Buffalo wrestling team enjoyed another successful season in 1997-98, posting a 9-6 dual meet record, finishing third in the East Coast Wrestling Association tournament and sending three wrestlers to the 1998 NCAA Division Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, OH. By virtue of their 9-6 dual meet record, the Bulls completed three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 1985-86 (13-2), 1986-87 (10-3) and 1988 (8-5) seasons.

The Bulls had five of their 10 starting wrestlers with at least 30 wins on the season, led by senior 142-pounder Jeromy McVige (Albion, NY/Albion) with a 32-14 record. One of the nation's top Greco-Roman wrestlers, McVige enjoyed the best season of his career, finishing fourth at the prestigious Las Vegas Invitational, wrestling in the National Wrestling Coaches Association ( NWCA) All-Star Classic, hosted by the University at Buffalo, qualifying for the NCAA Championships and being ranked as high as 12th in the country by Amateur Wrestling News. In addition, McVige's 32 wins in 1997-98 are the fourth-best total in school history, while his 73 career victories are fifth-best.

Other veterans with strong seasons were senior 150-pounder John Stutzman (Bear, DE/William Penn) and junior 118-pounder Brian Schaal (Attica, NY/Alexander). Stutzman posted a 30-11 record, finished second in the New York State Collegiate Championships and became UB's all-time winningest wrestler with 93 career wins in his three seasons at Buffalo. Stutzman stands fifth all-time with a career winning percentage of .762, and is the school's all-time dual meet takedown leader with 135. Schaal recorded a career-best 30-11 overall record and an 11-4 record in dual meets. The Bloomsburg Invitational Champion at 118 pounds, Schaal upset Hofstra's nationally-ranked Roman Fleszar en route to a second place finish.