Bulls Unable to Rebound in Season Finale Against Bearcats 23-12

Green captures crown as the Bulls new single season takedown champion

VESTAL, NY – The University at Buffalo wrestling team was looking to rebound from a home finale loss on Saturday to Northern Illinois by finishing their season on the road, visiting the Binghamton University Bearcats on Sunday, February 22. Despite the Bulls 23-12 loss to the Bearcats, they were able to pick up key decisions while crowning a new Bulls single season takedown champion.

Kevin Smith

Junior Dan Bishop ended his four-dual match winless streak by defeating the Bearcats’ Tyler Malmberg at 125 in an 11-8 decision.

At 133, sophomore Kevin Smith wrestled in his second match back after missing three previous matches due to an upper body injury. Smith collected a 3-1 decision over Binghamton’s Mike Kleemanm, extending the Bulls’ lead to 6-0.

Desi Green

The 18th ranked wrestler in the nation, Desi Green added to his 18-1 dual meet record by capturing a 9-8 come from behind decision over the Bearcats’ Matt Kaylor. With 30 seconds remaining in the match, Green took Kaylor down for the lead and the eventual victory. With his victory today, Green has tied for seventh place for most wins in a season (35) and in fourth place for most dual meet wins in a season (19). With three takedowns, Green has been crowned the UB single season record holder for most takedowns (67). With Green’s win today, he finishes the season on a seven-dual match winning streak.

“Desi finished his season on top at 149 by being ranked nationally, etching his name into the all-time victory categories in the UB record books and being crowned the single season takedown champion,” said head coach Jim Beichner.

Nate Rock

In his last dual match of his career, senior Nate Rock finished strong defeating the Bearcats’ Anthony Esposito in a 6-2 decision.

At 197, sophomore Jimmy Hamel faced the Bearcats’ usual 184-pounder, Josh Patterson. Patterson is currently ranked sixth in the Intermat/NWCA/NWMA NCAA Division I Individual Rankings. Patterson’s style of physical wrestling presented Hamel with a challenge. Hamel gave Patterson an aggressive fight however, lost by technical fall at 5:00 by the score of 16-0.

“In today’s match, we did not receive the matchups we desired due to bump ups by the Bearcats at 165, 184 and 197,” said Beichner.

The Bulls (9-11, MAC1-4) will prepare for the Mid-American Conference Championships held on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan on March 7-8 with the action beginning at 1pm on Saturday, March 7 and at 11am on Sunday, March 8.

Binghamton University 23, University at Buffalo 12
125: Dan Bishop (UB) dec., Tyler Malmberg (BU), 11-8.
133: Kevin Smith (UB) dec., Mike Kleeman (BU), 3-1.
141: Anwar Goeres (BU) fall, Andrew Stella (UB), 4:04.
149: No. 18 Desi Green (UB) dec., Matt Kaylor (BU), 9-8.
157: Justin Lister (BU) dec., John-Martin Cannon (UB), 4-0.
165: Nate Patterson (BU) dec., Ron Majerus (UB), 3-2.
174: Nate Rock (UB) dec., Anthony Esposito (BU), 6-2.
184: Ryan McGarity (BU) dec., Jason Brown (UB), 5-1.
197: Josh Patterson (BU) tech fall, Jimmy Hamel (UB), 16-0 (5:00).
285: Corey Waite (BU) dec., Brett Correll (UB), 3-2.