Dabolt, Green and Hamel Finish as All-Americans in Bulls' Strongest Finish at University Nationals

Bulls finish with five wrestlers in top 16, two in the top eight of University Freestyle division

AKRON, OH - The University at Buffalo wrestling team recorded its strongest finish at the University Nationals on the campus of the University of Akron on April 24-26 as the Bulls finished with five wrestlers in the top 16 of the University Freestyle division. Two of the five finished in the top eight as All-Americans including Desi Green and Jimmy Hamel. Wrestling unattached for the Bulls in the University Greco division was Dylan Dabolt, who also joined Green and Hamel as an All-American.

Desi Green

At 66 KG, Green opened his first appearance at the University Nationals compiling five wins. Green opened competition with a first round victory over first-place Edinboro Open finisher, Jon Kohler of Maryland. Due to an injury forfeit by Shawn Harris of Virginia, Green moved onto the next round to face John Regan of Bucknell. Green made quick work of Regan by shutting him out in two periods for the victory in the best-of-three format. In his next bout, Green faced off against Ryan Cubberly of Mid-American opponent Central Michigan. In both periods no offensive points were awarded with each period heading into overtime. In overtime, Green lost each coin toss with Cubberly starting with a leg lock on Green. In the end, Green fell to Cubberly but not without a fight from the 18th nationally-ranked Bull. In wrestlebacks, Green compiled a 2-1 record. Green picked up a decisive victory in his first match followed by a close-fought three period fall to first-place Eastern Wrestling League finisher and 2009 NCAA Qualifier Tyler Nauman of Pittsburgh. In seventh place-deciding match, Green faced another MAC opponent in Jeff Sutich of Central Michigan. With only four points awarded in the match, Green walked away the victor, winning the first period 1-0 followed by a close 2-1 second period victory, earning Green the title of an All-American.

Jimmy Hamel

In his second trip to the University Nationals, Hamel finished as an All-American at 84 KG by collecting six wins including two in the opening rounds. Hamel picked up an opening round victory over 3rd place MAC Championship finisher Chris Estep of Kent State. In the next round Hamel defeated Brent Haynes of Missouri resulting in two victories with no points scored on Hamel. In his third match, Hamel was sent to wrestlebacks as Joe Curran of Iowa State captured the victory. In the wrestlebacks, Hamel strung together four victories before falling to Sonny Yohn of Minnesota. In the seventh place-deciding match, Hamel faced 2009 National Qualifier Austin Trotman of Appalachian State. Hamel fell behind to Trotman after the first period with Hamel keeping Trotman off the scoresheet in the next two periods for the win to become an All-American with a seventh-place finish.

Dylan Dabolt

The third Bull to finish as an All-American was Dabolt in the University Greco division at 60 KG. Wrestling unattached, Dabolt opened with a hard fought decision over Tyler Moore of Air Force. Dabolt fell in his next match to Phil Goodwin of Gardner-Webb, sending Dabolt to the seventh-place deciding match versus Jon Khoury of Brockport State. Dabolt kept the second-place finisher of the 2009 New York State Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships off the scoresheet, earning Dabolt an All-American finish.

Mark Lewandowski

To open competition at 74 KG, Mark Lewandowski faced previously nationally- ranked Matt Coughlin of Indiana. Lewandowski shut out Coughlin in two periods for a decisive victory, moving Lewandowski on to face John Testy-Bastings of Cornell. Testy-Bastings won two of the three periods needed, sending Lewandowski to wrestlebacks. In the wrestlebacks, Lewandowski captured three consecutive victories before being eliminated by Conrad Polz of Illinois with Lewandowski finishing in the top 16.

John-Martin Cannon

At 79 KG, John-Martin Cannon opened with a decision over Joe Ali of Oklahoma State by winning the first two periods. Cannon fell in his next match, sending him to wrestlebacks where he won three matches to finish in the top 16. Cannon captured back-to-back decisions before pinning 2009 National Qualifier Rick Schmelyun of Bloomsburg. In his next match, Cannon faced Andrew Sorenson of Iowa State. Cannon forced three periods from Sorenson before falling for a top 16 finish.

Jason Weber

Jason Weber had a strong showing at 120 KG. To open competition, Weber faced fellow MAC heavyweight Jarod Trice of Central Michigan. Trice, the second-place finisher at the 2009 MAC Championships and NCAA Qualifier defeated Weber in two periods, giving the decision to Trice. In the wrestleback portion, Weber strung together three victories to finish in the top 16 before falling to Air Force's Steve Larson. On his way into the top 16, Weber defeated second-place Colonial Athletic Association conference finisher Kyle Frey of Drexel in a hard fought three periods decision.

Following an opening round loss at 70 KG to James Rafferty of Army, Andrew Stella captured four straight decisions before being eliminated by Deral Brown of Newberry College. Stella won two of his four matches by defeating his opponents in the first two periods, resulting in a win.

Also representing Buffalo in the University Freestyle division were Taylor Golba at 60 KG, John Crisafulli at 63 KG, Josh Peters at 84 KG, Robert Ryhal and Brett Correll at 120 KG. Dabolt also wrestled unattached in the 60 KG University Freestyle division.