WRESTLING

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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo wrestling team rallied from an early deficit to win the final six matches and claim a 31-12 win over visiting Mercyhurst at Alumni Arena.

The Bulls got a pair of major decisions and two pins to rebound from the deficit. Buffalo improved to 7-3 in dual matches while Mercyhurst fell to 7-5.

Buffalo started out sluggishly, losing three of the first four matches. The only winner for Buffalo was junior Mike Trotta (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) who scored an impressive 17-4 win over Mike Shumac at 133 pounds. Trotta twice scored near-fall points and added a reversal and three takedowns in the win.

Mercyhurst took a 12-4 lead when Jake Squire scored a fall at 5:41 over Buffalo freshman Kiel Illg (Lackawanna, NY/St. Francis), before the Bulls rallied in the upper weights.

Labe Black

Sophomore Labe Black (Ventnor, NJ/Absegami) started the Bulls' rally with a strong 12-3 victory at 157 pounds, getting a three-point near fall in the second period to turn the match in his direction. At 165 pounds, sophomore Tom Paladino (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage) continued to wrestle well, posting a 14-6 win with five takedowns and a reversal. Paladino's win squared the match at 12-12.

It was all Buffalo from there, as senior Gary Cooper (Adams, NY/South Jefferson) scored his 17th straight victory with a pin at 1:47 over Jared Snyder. Cooper had already built a 7-0 lead when he put Snyder in a cradle for the fall. It was Cooper's 13th career dual meet fall.

Junior Garrett Bontempo (DuBois, PA/DuBois) kept the momentum going with a solid 12-3 win over Ben McAvinew by getting four takedowns -giving him 99 in his dual match career - as well as riding time. At 197 pounds, Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) scored a 3-2 decision over Justin Mautz, who placed fifth at the Division II National Championships last season.

The Bulls finished the meet in style as heavyweight Tom Curl (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) pinned Angelo Caponi at 4:27 to close the match. Curl got his second takedown of the match to put Caponi on his back and secured the fall from there.

The Bulls will host Slippery Rock on Tuesday at 7 pm in the final home match of the season.

Buffalo 31, Mercyhurst 12

Weight Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time Match

125 Ricky Randazzo MC D Mike Sebaaly 6-2 0-3

133 Mike Trotta UB MD Mike Shumac 17-4 4-3

141 Will Tedder MC D Cliff Smith 5-3 4-6

149 Jake Squire MC F Kiel Illg 5:41 4-12

157 Labe Black UB MD Eric Squatrito 12-3 8-12

165 Tom Paladino UB MD T.J. Fera 14-6 12-12

174 Gary Cooper UB F Jared Snyder 1:47 18-12

184 Garrett Bontempo UB MD Ben McAvinew 12-3 22-12

197 Kyle Cerminara UB D Justin Mautz 3-2 25-12

Hwt Tom Curl UB F Angelo Caponi 4:27 31-12