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Budd Pulls in First Career Top 10 Ranking

Mark Budd

Budd, who is 22-3 this season, has won 32 of his last 37 matches, reaching the 50-career win plateau in a dual meet against Appalachian State on Dec. 20. During his run of dominance, which was sparked after a 6-3 loss to Bunch last Jan. 15, he has won the New York State Collegiate Championships, the Slippery Rock Open, the Mat Town USA Invitational and the UB Open. He also took third at both the Mid-American Conference Championships and the Oklahoma Gold Classic. Besides beating the top-ranked Division I wrestler, he also beat the top-ranked Division II wrestler, Andy Uhl of Findlay, 7-3, in a dual meet on Nov. 19.

Budd earned his first national ranking in WrestlingReport.com's Nov. 16 poll, entering at 30th. He has ascended ever since. Budd has risen to 17th in the NWCA/InterMat/NWMA's Jan. 3 poll and has also reached 15th in TheWrestlingMall.com poll and 14th in the Amateur Wrestling News poll.

Budd is one of three Buffalo wrestlers ranked in W.I.N.'s poll, with senior Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) fifth at 197 pounds and sophomore Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) 18th at 165 pounds.

The Bulls (5-1 overall) also reentered the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat poll in the receiving votes category in the Jan. 3 poll after not receiving votes in the Dec. 20 poll. It is the second poll this season in which the Bulls received votes in, also getting votes in the Dec. 8 poll.

Buffalo opens up its MAC slate on Friday with a meet at the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat's 22nd-ranked Northern Illinois in a 7:00 pm matchup.