Wrestling Weekly Release

Kevin Smith Named MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week

Kevin Smith

University at Buffalo wrestler Kevin Smith has been selected as the Mid-American Conference’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week on January 23.

Smith, an exercise science major with a 3.57 grade point average, won the 133-pound weight title as he helped the Bulls capture the team crown at the New York State Collegiate Championships. Wrestling in Oswego, just a few miles from his hometown of Mexico, top-seeded Smith posted a 6-1 decision over Army’s Whit Dunning, the second seed, for the title and enough points to give UB the six-point difference over the Black Knights in the team standings. Smith swept through the 133-pound bracket with four wins, including a pin in the second round.

Smith is 27-5 overall this season and holds a 12-1 mark in dual-meet bouts this season.

Bulls Drop Close Match to Ohio, 19-15

Dan Bishop

The University at Buffalo wrestling team suffered its first loss of the season in MAC action to the Ohio Bobcats by the score of 19-15. The Bulls received wins from Dan Bishop, Smith, Desi Green and Jimmy Hamel.

The Bulls jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead. At 125, Bishop opened the matchup by pinning Tim Silvers at 3:05. At 133, Smith captured a 7-3 decision over Quentin Keyes, who earlier this season eliminated Smith from the Reno Tournament of Champions in Reno, NV.

Desi Green

The Bulls next victory came at 149 as Green defeated Seth Morton in a 9-6 decision. With this victory, Green collected his 29th overall win as well as his 13th dual meet win of the season, leading the team in both categories. Green is now one win away from reaching the top ten of UB's single-season victories list. He is also three wins from the top ten in dual-meets victories in a single season.

The Bulls won the 197-pound bout with Hamel picking up a close 2-1 victory over Christopher Iammarino, pulling the Bulls within one, 16-15. The Bulls chance of a victory came up short, dropping the 285-pound matchup by a 6-4 decision.

Next Up: Central Michigan

The Bulls will be in action on Saturday, January 31 at 2:00 pm as they travel to Mount Pleasant, MI to take on the ninth ranked team in the nation and MAC opponent, Central Michigan. In MAC competition, the Bulls are currently 1-1 while Central Michigan is 1-0.

The Bulls will look to capture their first ever victory over the Chippewas with the Bulls possessing an all-time record of 0-13 against the Chippewas. In last year’s meeting between these two teams on February 2, UB suffered a 32-3 defeat at the hands of Central Michigan.

In the latest Intermat/NWCA /NWMA Division I Individual Rankings, the Chippewas currently have five wrestlers nationally ranked in the top 20 at 125, 133, 149, 165 and 174.