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Buffalo Drops Conference Opener to Northern Illinois, 30-6

Jeff Parker

Starting the meet off at the 184 lb. weight class, the Bulls were unable to pick up a win until Parker's heavyweight bout. The Foxboro, Massachusetts native took his match with Dave Benner into two overtime sessions before he was awarded the win based on riding time. Parker's 17th victory of the season ties his personal season-best mark set in the 2004-05 season.

Mark Budd

Redshirt freshman Dan Bishop (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall) challenged the Huskie's nationally-17th ranked Pat Castillo in the 125 lb. bout, but Castillo was too much, scoring seven takedowns and was awarded riding time to pick up his first MAC win of the season. Budd managed to retain the UB momentum, as he began his quest for a consecutive MAC Championship. However, Chad Vandiver would give the nationally 12th-ranked Budd a tough battle, taking the match into overtime at 1-1. However, experience would provide the outcome, as Budd scored a three-point near fall in the first overtime, to win his tenth dual match, 4-1.

With the score at 21-6 in NIU's favor, redshirt freshman Justin Hunt (Salem, NY/Salem) attempted to cut the deficit with a close match at 157 lbs. Hunt scored an early reversal in the third period against Kalen Knull to tie the score at 4-4, but an escape and one point awarded for riding time would send the Huskies to a commanding 24-6 lead.

Nationally ninth-ranked Mike Grimes scored a major decision over redshirt freshman Jason Hilliard (Genoa, NY/Southern Cayuga), 14-5, at 149 pounds, while the Huskie's other nationally ninth-ranked Johnny Galloway downed junior Mike Ragusa (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro), 11-4, to increase its lead and put the conference match away.

The Bulls next host the 38th annual New York State Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships on Jan. 19-20, which will feature 16 of the best collegiate teams in the state, and also will play host to four state-ranked high schools ini dual meet action. The preliminary rounds are scheduled for 11 am on Friday.

Northern Illinois 30, Buffalo 6
Jan. 14, 2007 • Buffalo, NY

125 – #17 Castillo (NIU) maj. dec. Bishop (UB), 16-6
133 - #12 Budd (UB) dec. Vandiver (NIU), 4-1 (ot)
141 - Metcalfe (NIU) dec. by fall Stella (UB), at 4:04
149 - #9 Grimes (NIU) maj. dec. Hilliard (UB), 14-5
157 - Knull (NIU) dec. Hunt (UB), 6-4
165 - #9 Galloway (NIU) maj. dec. Ragusa (UB), 11-4
174 - Da. Burk (NIU) dec. Rock (UB), 8-3
184 - #16 Du. Burk (NIU) maj. dec. Lamb (UB), 14-3
197 - McClone (NIU) dec. Scott (UB), 2-1 (ot)
285 - Parker (UB) dec. Benner (NIU), 4-3 (ot)