CLARION, PA - The University at Buffalo dropped a heartbreaking 20-17 decision to Clarion University on Saturday night at Waldo Tippin Gymnasium.

The Golden Eagles got a pin and a major decision in the final two matches to rally past UB, 20-17. Both teams are 6-2 after the match and had been receiving consideration in this week's Intermat Top 25 poll.

The Bulls were hurt dearly by an ankle injury that kept returning NCAA qualifier Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) out of the lineup. The Bulls led 17-10 going into the final two weight classes, before two nationally-ranked Clarion wrestlers pulled the match out for the hosts.

Seventh-ranked Eric Mausser pinned UB's Harold Sherrell (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) at 2:44 to pull the Golden Eagles within a point before tenth-ranked John Testa scored an 11-3 win over UB freshman Tom Curl (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) at heavyweight.

The win wiped out a lead built by five straight wins by Buffalo from 149 to 184 pounds. Dave Edwards (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall) started the UB run with a 6-2 win to improve to 14-3 on the year. Labe Black (Ventnor, NJ/Absegami) shutout Jeremy Reitz, 2-0, at 157 pounds, before

Tom Paladino

Tom Paladino (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage) posted an 8-6 win over Chris Horning.

At 174 pounds, Buffalo senior Gary Cooper (Adams, NY/South Jefferson) made history with a 19-5 win over Dave Gardner. Cooper's win moved him to 8-0 in dual meets this year and was his 100th career victory, joining all-time win leader Josh States (102 victories) as the only two UB wrestlers to record 100 victories.

Senior Garrett Bontempo (DuBois, PA/DuBois) then moved his record to 21-5 on the season with a strong 21-8 win over Charlie Cilinski before Clarion rallied.

The Bulls will next see action at the New York State Collegiates, which Buffalo will host at Alumni Arena Friday and Saturday Jan. 18-19.

The dual match results:

Clarion 20, Buffalo 17

Weight Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time Match

125 Peter Derstine Clarion D Mike Sebaaly 12-6 3-0

133 Rad Martinez Clarion D Mike Trotta 9-4 6-0

141 Frank Edgar Clarion MD Adam Grillo 15-4 10-0

149 Dave Edwards Buffalo D Jim Perry 6-2 10-3

157 Labe Black Buffalo D Jeremy Reitz 2-0 10-6

165 Tom Paladino Buffalo D Chris Horning 8-6 10-9

174 Gary Cooper Buffalo MD Dave Gardner 19-5 10-13

184 Garrett Bontempo Buffalo MD Charlie Cilinski 21-8 10-17

197 Eric Mausser Clarion F Harold Sherrell 2:44 16-17

Hwt John Testa Clarion MD Tom Curl 11-3 20-17