BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo wrestling team was criteria points away from finishing their weekend of Mid-American Conference action with a pair of wins. As it was, the Bobcats of Ohio University earned one more near-fall than the Bulls and, despite a 16-16 tie, were credited with the victory.

Buffalo finished the regular season with a 9-6 dual meet mark and 1-4 in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo defeated Eastern Michigan, 19-16, while losing to Northern Illinois by a 31-6 score on Saturday at Ypsilanti, MI.

Kyle Cerminara

Sophomore Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) was the only Bull to go unbeaten on the weekend, posting a 3-0 mark to improve to 30-9 on the season, 11-2 in dual meets and 4-1 against MAC competition. Seniors Ryan Bentley (Ripley, NY/Ripley) and Gary Cooper (Adams, NY/South Jefferson), sophomore Labe Black (Ventnor, NJ/Abasegami) and freshman Mike Sebaaly (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) all went 2-1 on the weekend for Buffalo. Cooper finished the season with a team-best dual meet mark of 13-2 and finished his UB career with 39 dual meet victories, good for third best all-time (behind Bruce Hadsell and Josh States).

The Bulls opened with a 19-16 win over Eastern Michigan, remaining unbeaten against the Eagles in Buffalo's MAC tenure. Sebaaly, Mike Trotta (Oceanview, NY/Oceanview), Bentley, Black and Cooper posted wins for Buffalo, but the match was tied at 16-16 until Cerminara downed Travis Craft by an 11-5 score to give the Bulls the win.

The Huskies of Northern Illinois gained a share of the MAC title with a strong 31-6 win over Buffalo in the second match of the day. Cerminara and Bentley each won for the only Buffalo victories. In a matchup of

Ryan Bentley

Top 20-ranked wrestlers, NIU's Ben Heizer (ranked eighth) defeated 20th-ranked Garrett Bontempo (DuBois, PA/DuBois) by an 11-2 score at 184 pounds. Labe Black's only loss of the weekend came to third-ranked Scott Owen by a 13-2 score in the same match.

Wins by Sebaaly, Black, Cooper, Bontempo and Cerminara helped Buffalo earn a 16-16 deadlock with Ohio, before the Bobcats won on back points scored in the match. Ohio heavyweight Erik Jones beat UB's Tom Curl (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) by a 4-0 score in the final match to pull the match even.

With his two victories, Bentley moved his career dual meet total to 36, good for 11th place all-time.

The Bulls are now off until the Mid-American Conference Championships on March 8-9 at Central Michigan University.

Buffalo 19, Eastern Michigan 16

Wgt Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time

Hwt Dane Bonnigson EMU D Tom Curl 8-4

125 Mike Sebaaly UB D William Green 8-0

133 Mike Trotta UB D Zac Pyles 7-5

141 Josh Wiles UB MD Cliff Smith 11-4

149 Ryan Bentley UB D Nick Conklin 12-6

157 Labe Black UB D Chad Roush 6-5

165 Tim Hoff EMU F Tom Paladino n/a

174 Gary Cooper UB D Adam Gilmore 13-9

184 Eddie Magrys EMU D #20 Garrett Bontempo 10-7

197 Kyle Cerminara UB D Travis Kraft 11-5

Northern Illinois 31, Buffalo 6

Wgt Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time

Hwt Jack Dennis NIU D Tom Curl 7-4

125 Marlon Felton NIU F Mike Sebaaly n/a

133 Sam Hiatt NIU D Mike Trotta 10-3

141 #18 Josh Wooton NIU TF Cliff Smith 19-4

149 Ryan Bentley UB D Oliver Vazquesz 4-3

157 #3 Scott Owen NIU MD Labe Black 13-2

165 Jeremy Benesh NIU D Tom Paladino 6-4

174 Bill Lowney NIU D Gary Cooper 2-1/OT

184 #8 Ben Heizer NIU MD #20 Garrett Bontempo 11-2

197 Kyle Cerminara UB D James Oliva 4-3

Ohio 16, Buffalo 16 (OU wins on critera)

Wgt Winner Team Dec. Loser Score/Time

125 Mike Sebaaly UB MD Matt Stevens 10-2

133 Anthony Carrizales OU D Mike Trotta 4-1

141 Jon Spires OU D Cliff Smith 10-6

149 #4 Jake Percival OU MD Ryan Bentley 12-3

157 Labe Black UB D Robert Lyons 6-1

165 Luke Moore OU D Tom Paladino 2-1

174 Gary Cooper UB D Ed Willis 5-3/OT

184 #20 Garrett Bontempo UB D Mark Shrout 8-5

197 Kyle Cerminara UB D Joel Weimer 5-2

Hwt Erik Jones OU D Tom Curl 4-0