WRESTLING

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The UB wrestling team saw immediate success in the school's first year in the Mid-American Conference last season and looks to do even better this year.

After a third place finish in the regular season last year, the Bulls placed fourth in the MAC Championships. This year, the Bulls have a talented group, but a very young group, that is eager to get started on the new season. The extra incentive for the team is the MAC Tournament at the end of the year will be hosted by UB.

"Hosting the MAC Championship is huge," said UB Head Coach Jim Beichner. "At the beginning of the year I wasn't sure how the team would come together but I know that our guys are feeling good about having that championship here in our home gym."

"The advantages are that you're in your hometown, with your own fans to cheer and support you," added Beichner. "When you have those people watching you its hard to go out there and do anything except succeed. It gives you an extra boost out there on the mat."

The Bulls have plenty of obstacles in front of them before those MAC Championships. The team is young, with just two seniors slated as starters in the ten weight classes, and will have to rely on that youth to carry the team at times.

"Sometimes you have three or four senior captains who can carry the team, but that's not the case this year with us," said Beichner. "This season will be carried on a bunch of young people's shoulders. Are they capable? Yes, they're very capable. I think we have the confidence, the preparation and the ability to compete despite being young."

"This is probably one of the most talented teams we've been able to put on the mat to date but we're also very young and inexperienced at some weight classes," stated Beichner.

That talent starts with some of the strong returning athletes for the Bulls, starting at the 125-pound weight class. Charlie Voorhees is a second year starter, seeing his action last year at 133 pounds. He's a redshirt sophomore who will feel more at home in this weight class. Voorhees was 9-23 last year and 3-11 in dual meets, but competed strong in the MAC, going 2-3 in the conference.

Bill Jacoutot is another young, but experienced starter going into his second season as the number one wrestler at 141 pounds. He had a successful season last year, going 15-17 overall and was hampered by an ankle injury the last half of the season. He placed third at the Bloomsburg Invitational and fourth at the New York Collegiate Championships before the injury. He picked up 12 of his 15 wins before the injury but fought tough and returns this season healthy and ready to go.

Senior Jake Partlow will be a third-year starter for the Bulls and will be looked at as one of the team's strengths at 157 pounds. He comes into the season ranked second in the MAC as voted on by the coaches.

Partlow is a past 20-win wrestler, going 21-17 two years ago and 14-9 last season. He missed the start of last season with an injury or would have easily surpassed 20-wins again. The coaching staff has seen Partlow step up more so this year based on the fact that he is a fifth-year senior going into his last season and he will be looked at to provide leadership for the team in one of the strongest weight classes for the Bulls.

The 165-pound weight class is a deep one in terms of talent for the Bulls. UB has two wrestlers who are constantly fighting for the starting spot at this position in sophomores David Guarino and Gary Cooper. Cooper was co-Freshman of the Year in the MAC last season and is ranked first in the conference at 165 pounds going into this season.

Cooper has the slight advantage as the starter but Guarino always gives a hard test and is constantly pushing for that top spot and makes it tough to decide who will be on the mat on any given day.

Josh States is a two-year starter and a consistent 20-match winner. He went 20-14 last year wrestling at 197 pounds and went 26-18 the year before. He enters this season ranked third in the MAC at 197 pounds, but will be starting at 184 pounds for the Bulls.

States has beaten some top-15 wrestlers and placed in almost every tournament. He finished fourth at the MAC Championships last year and was third at the Bloomsburg Invitational.

At heavyweight, the Bulls have Charlie Pessa to take over the starting role at the beginning of the season and he will be joined in the weight class by Mike Garofalo. Garofalo wrestled two years for UB and took last season off to concentrate on football. At one time he was ranked as high as 17th in the country in his weight class. He is a very talented and smart wrestler who will hopefully compete for an All-American position in the NCAA Tournament.

Last season's heavyweight, John Eschenfelder, will be redshirted this season after qualifying for the NCAA Tournament last year. Eschenfelder has his fifth year remaining and will be at UB for another year to finish up academics as an engineering major. Garofalo has one year remaining, having already used his redshirt season, and will get the start this year.

Some of the newcomers that will have to produce for the Bulls include junior Shawn Kegel, a transfer from Nassau C.C. He will be the number one guy at 133 pounds for the Bulls and brings some experience. Kegel is one of the most technically talented wrestlers on the team and has outstanding conditioning. He is an offensive wrestler who can wear his opponent down. Kegel was picked preseason as the fourth best wrestler in the MAC at 133 pounds.

Redshirt freshman Ryan Bentley will be the starter at 149 pounds after working harder than he ever has this fall. He is mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming season and enters as the fifth ranked wrestler at this weight class in the MAC. After a redshirt season last year, he hasn't seen much experience but is expected to come in and help the team.

The Bulls are deep but inexperienced at 174-pounds. Ben Cooper, a transfer from Brockport, has the edge at this weight class. He has a strong work ethic and is the type of wrestler who keeps coming at you until he wears his opponents down. Garrett Bontempo is a Pennsylvania High School state champion who brings some talent to this position as well.

The 197-pound weight class will be filled by a newcomer in freshman Joe Downey. The coaching staff considers him one of the best student-athletes that has been recruited in the last four years. He is one of the most talented young wrestlers on the team and is ranked as one of the top five wrestlers in the conference.

"In order for us to be successful, these young guys are going to have to go out and get experience and grow up in a hurry," said Beichner. "If they can do that I think the season looks very good for us."

In looking at the schedule, the Bulls compete in some tough tournaments early in the year and face some strong teams before entering their second season in the Mid-American Conference.

"In the MAC, we compete against some of the toughest teams in the country with the like of Central Michigan (5th and 7th in the NCAA Championships) and Ohio (9th in 1998-99 NCAA's) who finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships the last two years and we fared well against these opponents," said Beichner. "In this conference, when you step out on the mat, every team is balanced and strong and you may win or lose any match based on an overtime takedown. The competition is that tight."

Even against that tough competition, the Bulls will not be backing down and will look to challenge teams on a regular basis.

"Our goal has always been to win a conference championship, get to the NCAA Championship and get some All-Americans and somewhere down the line to get some national champions. Being in the MAC helps us to achieve these goals."

"But even if you don't achieve your goals all the time, it doesn't make you a failure, you just failed to achieve your goal," stated Beichner. "It's the effort and the amount of work and what you've done to prepare and how hard you tried to achieve your goal that counts for me."

"All the coaches around this University feel the same way," added Beichner. "They may not all be achieving that goal yet, but they are giving everything they possibly can to make sure they are prepared to reach that goal and achieve a championship."

The Bulls are young but talented and have some experienced wrestlers returning and have a tough road ahead. But there is a lot of optimism for the team as to how far that talent will go. With the MAC Championship coming to Buffalo in March, the Bulls have their goals set and are preparing for nothing but success as they charge into the new millennium.

"We have a young team and a tough schedule and hopefully that will add up to us growing up in a hurry and learning fast but I know we'll give it our best effort," said Beichner. "By the end of the season, we're looking to compete for a championship and who knows, maybe the first MAC title for the University." Weight-by-Weight Breakdown

Sophomore Charlie Voorhees has the edge on being a starter for the second straight year after starting at 133 pounds last season. Gary Borelli was a New York State champion who will be competing for time at this spot along with Taisei Kikuchi, a hard worker who should help the team.

Junior Shawn Kegel, a transfer from Nassau C.C., is the early favorite to start at this position. He will be challenged for time by freshmna John Miller. Both of these individuals have great work ethics and Kegel is one of the most technical wrestlers on the team. He has great conditioning as well and should win some matches based on his ability to keep going without getting tired.

Bill Jacoutot is the clear cut favorite at this position. This will be his second year as a starter after a successful season last year. He suffered an ankle injury midway through last year that hampered his efforts late in the year but is back healthy this year. Adam Hamm took a year off last year and has the ability to wrestle well on top and should be a good backup for Jacoutot.

There is a large group of wrestlers at this weight class. Ryan Bentley will be the starter. He is a gifted athlete who has worked harder than he ever has coming into this season. He has come in mentally prepared and tougher. Senior Ian McConnell and freshman Danny Carlon will compete for backup time. Jeremy Beichner is a freshman who could possibly redshirt with the depth at this weight class.

This is the most clear cut starter at any position with Jake Partlow. He is a fifth-year senior that has a lot of experience going into the season. He is ranked first in the MAC in the preseason rankings and should show some leadership on the tea,. Mike DelSignore is a fershman who should backup or redshirt at this weight class.

This is the hardest fought weight class with two very tough, talented wrestlers in David Guarino and Gary Cooper. Both are great wrestlers with Cooper having the edge. He is currently ranked first in the MAC with Guarino challenging him for the starting spot every day.

This is the deepest weight class with a lot of talent. Ben Cooper has the edge due to his strong work ethic and is the type of wrestler who just keeps coming and wears his opponent out. Garrett Bontempo is a Pennsylvania state champion who may redshirt this season. Michael Brown has a possibility to start as well with his strong work ethic and great attitude. Taylor Lehmann and J.C. Montroy will also be battling for time at this position.

Junior Josh States is the favorite at this position. He has placed in almost every tournament in his career and has beaten some top-ranked opponents. Josh Carnrite will back him up and is a very strong guy who has the ability to lock someone up and pin them with his strength.

This position will be filled by a true freshman in Joe Downey, one of the best student-athletes that has been recruited into the program. He is one of the most talented atheltes on the team and is very strong and capable of success.