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ATHENS, OH - For the first time since the 2000-01 season, the University at Buffalo will be sending three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. On Sunday, freshman Mark McKnight (McDonald, PA/South Fayette), senior Ed Pawlak (Lakewood, NY/Southwestern) and junior Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) each won individual titles at the MAC Championships, which earned them all a trip to the NCAA Championships.

As a team, UB placed fourth in the six-team field. Central Michigan won with 89.5 points, followed by Northern Illinois (73.0), Ohio (55.5), Buffalo (39.5), Eastern Michigan (36.0) and Kent State (36.0).

McKnight, who wrestles at 125 pounds, posted two wins on Sunday during his run to the title. He beat Ohio's Matt Smith by a 3-2 decision in the semifinals, before posting a 6-5 overtime victory in the championship match with Drew Opfer of Kent State.

Following the two-day tournament, McKnight was also selected as the MAC Freshman Wrestler of the Year. He is currently 32-6 on the season.

In the 174-pound bracket, Pawlak also posted two wins on Sunday to win the championship. First, he defeated Ohio's Ed Willis, 9-2. In the title bout, Pawlak then posted a 3-1 win over Mitch Hancock of Central Michigan.

Pawlak is now a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier.

Kyle Cerminara

Cerminara, who wrestles within the 197-pound weight class, earned two victories on Sunday during his march to an individual title, as well. In the semifinals, he won by a 6-0 decision over Greg Reardon of Northern Illinois. Then in the final, Cerminara posted a 4-3 decision over Ohio's Joel Weimer.

Now 37-3 on the season with the NCAA Championships remaining, Cerminara has tied a school record for single-season victories. Gary Cooper also recorded 37 wins during the 1999-2000 campaign. Cerminara will be making his second trip to the NCAA Championships - he also qualified during his freshman season.

The only other UB wrestler to place this weekend's MAC Championships was Patrick Lloyd (Middletown, NY/Valley Central), who finished fourth. Lloyd is a freshman who wrestles at 149 pounds.

McKnight, Pawlak and Cerminara will compete at the NCAA Championships in Saint Louis, MO on March 18th through the 20th.