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Cerminara Falls in All-America Round

Kyle Cerminara

Both upset in earlier rounds of the NCAA Championships, the two faced off in the All-America round of the tournament.

Unfortunately for UB’s all-time winningest wrestler, he came out on the short end of Michalak for the third time this season, losing 7-5 and ending his chances of becoming UB’s first two-time wrestling All-American since Jim Capone earned the honors in 1987-88 and 1988-89 at the Division II level.

Cerminara, who finishes his career with a 137-34 overall mark, started out strong, scoring a takedown 2:18 into the match near the edge of the match. Michalak, who was upset in second round by Hofstra’s Chris Wiedman, was awarded an escape from an optional start and then got in on a single leg and scored a takedown at the 1:21 mark. Cerminara earned an escape to tie the score entering the second period.

Michalak once again got an escape from the optional start and then earned another takedown to take a 6-3 lead heading into the final two minutes. Cerminara earned a penalty point and an escape in the final minute, but Michalak racked up more than two and a half minutes of riding time to keep Cerminara from being able to stage a comeback.

Cerminara, who earned All-American honors in 2004, wraps up a career that saw him win a school-record 41 matches as a junior and set school records for dual meet takedowns in a career (186) and in a season (64, 2004).

This season, he became the first UB wrestler to earn a Division I national ranking of second in the InterMat/NWCA poll. He also won a school record 34 straight matches and his 39-4 record is tied for second most wins in a season in school history.

The Bulls finish the tournament with five team points.