Bulls Take Second At New York State Wrestling Championships

Mickey Moran

"A" Tournament Brackets (final)

"B" Tournament Brackets (final)

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo wrestling team earned a second place finish in the 39th Annual New York State Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships. Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) claimed individual honors for Buffalo at 184 pounds. The United States Military Academy edged the Bulls for the team crown, scoring 152 points to UB's 147.5.

Moran claimed the 184 pound crown in dramatic fashion, scoring a sudden victory 3-1 decision over top-seeded Nate Holley of Cornell. In the semifinals, the Buffalo junior also took down a Cornell wrestler, as he took down third-seeded Justin Kerber, 6-3.

Dan Bishop

For the second-straight year, sophomore Dan Bishop (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall) took second place honors at 125 pounds. Bishop was awarded a medical forfeit in the semifinals before falling to the top seed, Fernando Martinez of Army, 5-0 in the final. Also taking second place honors for the Bulls was redshirt freshman Jimmy Hamel (Natick, MA/Natick). Hamel earned a hard-fought 3-2 decision victory over John Taylor of Niagara County Community College in the semifinals before taking on second-seeded Nick Sommerfeld in the finals. Columbia's Sommerfeld was able to edge Hamel, 4-3, in the final.

Four wrestlers, Andrew Stella (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home), Pat Lloyd (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central), John Cummings (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore) and Mike Ragusa (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) earned third place honors for UB. Stella earned third at 141 pounds with a 3-0 victory over Willie Horwath of Ithaca. Lloyd took home third place at 149 by edging Army's Casey Thome in the third-place match, 4-3. Cummings claimed a third place finish in the 157 pound weight class as a result of a victory over Nassau's Tyshaun Patrick, 1-0. Ragusa was able to earn third place by not allowing his opponent, Cory Barber of Cortland, to escape during the 30 second overtime period, but earning an escape of his own. Ragusa took that 174 pound third-place match, 5-4.

Jimmy Hamel

Joe Wilson (Chester, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) and Jeff Parker (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) claimed fourth place finishes for the Bulls. Wilson fell in the third-place match, 9-2, to Dave Colagiovanni of Cortland and Parker was beaten by Nate Thobaben of Army, 6-1, in his third-place bout. Scott Rendos (Brockway, PA/Brockway) fought his way back through the wrestlebacks to claim a seventh place finish. In his placement match, Rendos took down Jason Wake of RIT, 10-1.

The Bulls will be back on the mats next Saturday, January 26 in Alumni Arena as they duel with the Ohio Bobcats in the first home Mid-American Conference match of the season. Wrestling is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Team Scores (Top 5 Only)
1. Army - 152
2. Buffalo - 147.5
3. Cornell - 116. 5
4. Columbia - 116
5. Nassau CC - 99.5

Individual Champions
125 - Fernando Martinez, Army
133 - Chris Notte, Nassau
141 - Matt Kyler, Army
149 - Anthony Constantino, Columbia
157 - Matt Dunn, Columbia
165 - Shaheim Bradshaw, Brockport
174 - Joey Hooker, Cornell
184 - Mickey Moran, Buffalo
197 - Nick Sommerfeld, Columbia
285 - Maliej Jochym, Cornell

Most Outstanding Wrestler - Shaheim Bradshaw, Brockport