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SAINT LOUIS, MO - University at Buffalo freshman wrestler Mark McKnight (McDonald, PA/South Fayette) posted a pair of opening-round victories at the NCAA Championships on Thursday. McKnight, who wrestles at 125 pounds, first defeated third-seeded Matt Valenti of Pennsylvania with a riding-time advantage in the second tiebreaker session. McKnight then followed that up with a 7-5 win over Cornell's Mike Mirmile.

Mark McKnight

With his two victories, McKnight has advanced to the quarterfinals. He will face sixth-seeded Kyle Ott of Illinois on Friday.

UB's other two wrestlers in the NCAA Championships, senior Ed Pawlak (Lakewood, NY/Southwestern) and junior Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter), each lost their opening bouts, but responded with victories in their next matches.

Pawlak, who wrestles at 174 pounds, first lost a 4-3 decision to second-seeded Tyler Nixt of Iowa. He then came back by winning his opening match in the consolation bracket over Oregon State's Jed Pennell, 7-5. On Friday, Pawlak will face E.K. Waldhaus of Oklahoma.

Cerminara also went 1-1 on the day, which moved him atop UB's all-time single-season victories list with 38 wins this season. He lost his opening bout with second-seeded Chris Skretkowicz of Hofstra by a 2-1 score in overtime. Then in his first action in the consolation bracket, Cerminara recorded a pin 2:08 into his match with Millersville's Aaron Smith. Cerminara's first opponent on Friday will be Fresno State's Marcio Botelho.

"After getting a tough draw in the first round, as far as highly-ranked opponents for all three of our wrestlers, I was pleased with our performances today," said UB head coach Jim Beichner. "Even the losses we had were close, so I definitely feel that our guys wrestled extremely well today."

Wrestlers that place eighth or better in their respective weight class are recognized with All-America status.

Visit http://www.ncaasports.com/wrestling/mens/brackets for a complete look at the NCAA Championships brackets.