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Mark McKnight

KENT, OH - Sophomore Mark McKnight (McDonald, PA/South Fayette) finished second in the 125-pound weight class, as he was the highest finisher for the University at Buffalo wrestling team at the Mid-American Conference Championships, which wrapped up on Saturday afternoon at Kent State University.

McKnight lost the championship match to Central Michigan's Luke Smith, 2-1. Smith is ranked 18th in the NWCA/Intermat poll and was the top-seeded wrestler in the tournament, next to second-seeded McKnight, who was ranked 19th in the same poll.

After the championship round match, McKnight rebounded by pinning Drew Opfer of Kent State in the true-second place match. With the second win over Opfer, McKnight improved his season record to 27-13 and earned a wild card berth to the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis on March 17. McKnight, the lone qualifier from the Bulls, lost in the All-American Round at nationals last year.

Central Michigan wrapped up its fourth straight conference championship, as it was the lone team to cross the 100-point barrier, finishing with 119.5. Northern Illinois came in second with 59 points, followed by a strong performance from host school Kent State with 46.5 points. Ohio, Eastern Michigan and Buffalo rounded out the scoring.

Three other wrestlers placed at the tournament as sophomore Mark Budd (Orrville, OH/Orrville), sophomore Jake Blowers (Johnstown, NY/Broadilbin-Perth), and junior Harold Sherrell (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) each placed third and freshman Dana Gingerich (Spring Grove, PA/DeLone Catholic) took fourth.

Budd (133 pounds) lost in the first round to Kent State's Clayton Stark, but rebounded with a win over Ohio's Matt Smith on Friday. He then avenged his loss to Stark with a 14-6 major decision, but lost the true-second place match to nationally-ranked Sam Hiatt of Northern Illinois, 4-3.

Blowers (165 pounds) lost to David Bolyard of Central Michigan in the first round, but earned a 6-0 decision against Kent State's Nick Brenner in the first consolation match. He then won by forfeit before losing to Northern Illinois' Johnny Galloway in the second-place match.

Sherrell (197 pounds) lost to Ohio's Joel Weimer twice, but beat Eastern Michigan's Tony Lyssiotis and Kent State's Ben Rings to take third-place.

Gingerich (141 pounds) pinned Central Michigan's Brandon Carter in the first consolation round, but dropped two matches to earn the fourth-place spot.