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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The University at Buffalo wrestling team dropped to 7-4 overall on the season with a pair of losses on the first day of the Virginia Duals hosted by the University of Virginia.

The Bulls dropped a 26-9 decision to the University of Pennsylvania, ranked #23 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association this week and as high as #16 by The Wrestling Mall, in the day's first match.

The lone winners for Buffalo were Ryan Bentley (Ripley, NY/Ripley), Josh States (Lockport, NY/Lockport) and John Eschenfelder (N. Syracuse, NY/Cicero, N. Syracuse). Bentley shutout Max Galka at 141 pounds by a 7-0 score; States posted a 6-3 win over Marcus Schontube at 184 pounds and Eschenfelder nipped Michael Faust, 2-1, at heavyweight.

In the second match of the day, the Bulls lost narrowly to West Virginia by a 19-16 score. Once again, Bentley, States and Eschenfelder posted impressive wins and were joined in the winners circle by Charlie Voorhees (Warsaw, NY/Warsaw) at 125 pounds and Billy Jacoutot (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) at 149 pounds.

Voorhees began the match for Buffalo with an impressive 13-3 win over Gregory White while Bentley (7-1 win at 141 pounds) and Jacoutot (3-1 win at 149 pounds) helped the Bulls to an early lead as Buffalo won three of the first four matches.

However, the Mountaineers got key wins at 157, 165 and 174 before States broke through for Buffalo with a 7-0 whitewash of Jon Foster. However, WVU clinched the match by winning at 197 pounds with a win before Eschenfelder closed the match with a 4-1 win over Ryan Kehler.

At 157 pounds, freshman Labe Black (Ventnor, NJ/Absegami) lost a 5-2 battle to 13th-ranked Joe Carr in a key match.

With his two victories Friday, Bentley improved to 21-3 on the season, while States moved to 18-3 and Eschenfelder 12-2 on the year with a pair of wins.

The Bulls will continue with dual meet action on Saturday.