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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo wrestling team will have members of the program representing the school in a cultural exchange program that sends some of the top wrestlers in the country to Europe for training and competition.

UB assistant coach Sean Gibbs was chosen to be an assistant coach for this elite team, while Zeke Jones, a World Silver Medalist, will serve as the head coach. In addition, John Eschenfelder (North Syracuse, NY/Cicero North) will be traveling as a competitor.

The cultural exchange program takes some of the top wrestlers in the country on a 10-day tour of Europe to train and compete against top wrestlers from other parts of the world. The U.S. team includes one returning NCAA Champion from last year as well as four returning All-Americans on the 11-man squad. Eschenfelder was chosen to travel and compete with the team at the heavyweight division. Coach Gibbs feels that this experience could enhance future opportunities for UB wrestlers to partake in this event on a yearly basis.

The team will make two stops in Bulgaria, at Sophia and Slovid, and also stop in Milan, Italy during the trip. The focus will be on training and competing with some of the top athletes in the world, mainly in freestyle wrestling with some training in Greco-Roman.

Eschenfelder was a Mid-American Conference Champion and an NCAA National Championship qualifier for UB in 1999 when he finished with a 25-10 overall record. He redshirted last season and will return for his senior season this year where he is currently ranked sixth in the nation at heavyweight. He currently has a 62-37 overall career record for the Bulls.

Gibbs has been as assistant coach with the Bulls for the past five seasons and has been instrumental in the recruiting efforts over the past several years. This past season, Gibbs helped sign Bill Prince (Frewsburg, NY/Frewsburg) and Labe Black (Absegami, NJ/Absegami), who both come to UB ranked in the top 10 in the country as high school seniors. The UB program has a 50-23 record over the five years Gibbs has been with the program.