Bulls Add 16 Newcomers to Wrestling Program

Jim Beichner

BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo head coach Jim Beichner announced the signing of 16 incoming athletes to join the wrestling program for the upcoming 2008-09 season. Among the newcomers are 11 qualifiers from last winter's New York State Championships, including one 2008 state champion and four state runners-up. This is the largest class of newcomers in Beichner's 13 years at UB.

The Bulls signed three grapplers in the 125-pound weight class. Heading the list is Chris Conti (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia) who finished second in the 2008 New York State Division II Championships. Conti won a state championship in 2006 and placed fifth in 2007. He has been nationally-ranked by Amateur Wrestling News and Wrestling USA Magazine.

Also at 125 pounds is Taylor Golba (Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's), a 2007 New York State Catholic champion and state qualifier. Golba also earned All-American honors at the 2007 Fargo Junior Nationals in freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions, placing sixth in both disciplines. He was also ranked the 11th-best 103-pound junior by Amateur Wrestling News.

Alex Marianetti (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) also joins the Bulls at 125 pounds. He is a two-time state qualifier, finishing fifth in 2007.

At 133 pounds, the Bulls welcome Luke Bohn (Watertown, NY/Watertown). Bohn is the 2008 Division I state champion and was ranked 15th by Amateur Wrestling News among 135-pound seniors. He also ranked 22nd, according to Amateur Wrestling News, among all high school grades for 135-pounders.

Brian Hittle (Gaines, MI/Durand) will wrestle at 133 and 141 pounds for the Bulls. Hittle won the 2007 Michigan Division III state championship and finished third in 2008 and fifth in 2005. Hittle earned honorable mention national rankings from Wrestling USA Magazine and Amateur Wrestling News in the 145-pound class. He was listed as the 18th-best senior recruit among all Michigan wrestlers by michigangrappler.com.

Also joining the squad at 133 pounds is Nick Sorrentino (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham Wading River), a sophomore transfer from Division III York College in Pennsylvania. Sorrentino scored three victories in limited action as a freshman.

The Bulls also signed two additional 141-pounders. Mark Lewandowski (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) earned NHSCA Junior National All-American honors in 2007 after finishing second in the New York State Division I Championships. He placed fifth in the 2008 state meet. Will Fechter (Middle Island, NY/Longwood) was a finalist in the 2007 state meet.

At 157 pounds, John-Martin Cannon (Brockport, NY/Brockport) joins the program. Cannon finished third in the 2007 and 2008 state championships. He was ranked 23rd among 145-pound juniors by Amateur Wrestling News and finished seventh in the 2007 Super 32 meet.

Also at 157 pounds is Ron Majerus (Mexico, NY/Mexico). Majerus was the state runner-up in 2007 and placed third in 2006 and fifth last season. A 2007 NHSCA Junior National All-American, Majerus was also ranked by internet publication intermatwrestle.com and Amateur Wrestling News.

A pair of state runners-up join the Bulls in the 165-pound class. Matt Bogardus (Fulton, NY/Fulton) finished second in the New York Division I State Championship in 2008 and took fifth place in 2007. Bogardus earned national rankings from Amateur Wrestling News in the 135, 145 and 160-pound classes.

Also at 165 pounds is Ryan Black (Warrensburg, NY/Warrensburg), the 2008 New York State Division II runner-up. Black also finished fourth at the 2006 and 2007 state championships. As a junior, Black ranked 10th according to Wrestling USA and 15th by Amateur Wrestling News. He also earned honorable mention status from Amateur Wrestling News as a top 160-pound senior. Black can also see time in the 174-pound competitions.

Josh Peters (Vestal, NY/Vestal) comes to UB in the 197-pound class. Peters was the state runner-up in 2008 and finished fifth in the 2007 championships. He was ranked 26th by Amateur Wrestling News among 189-pound juniors and earned honorable mention as a senior.

The Bulls also added three heavyweights. Brett Correll (Shelby Township, MI/Eisenhower) finished third the last three seasons in the Michigan Division III Championships. He wrestled at 215 pounds from his freshman to junior seasons and moved up to 285 pounds as a senior and was ranked among the top 10 seniors in all weight classes by michigangrappler.com. Intermat, Amateur Wrestling News and WIN Magazine all named Correll among the top high school heavyweights in the country regardless of their year in school. Correll also placed fourth in the 2008 NHSCA Senior Nationals at 285 pounds.

Also joining the program at 285 pounds are Tyler Peter (Mexico, NY/Mexico), a three-time New York State Division I qualifier and Jedd Mason (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall), a 2008 New York State Division II qualifier.

Expect to see about an even mix of newcomers and returning veterans on the mats for the Bulls. "This class will help bring depth to our program," said Beichner. "We should be close to three deep at all ten weight classes. This is a class high in character and work ethic and are solid student-athletes."

The Bulls also announced their schedule for the upcoming season featuring five tournaments and the regular slate of Mid-American Conference and top regional matchups.

UB opens the season on November 2 hosting the UB Open at Alumni Arena. The Bulls then travel to North Carolina for weekend dual matches November 15 and 16. The squad's first home dual meet is November 26 when the Bulls host MAC rival Eastern Michigan.

The highlight for December will be an appearance at the Reno Tournament of Champions meet in Nevada. UB is included in a field of 28 programs from around the country including 18 teams that scored at last season's NCAA Championships, including top 10 finishers Oklahoma State and MAC champion Central Michigan.

Two January competitions of note include the National Duals at Cedar Falls, IA (January 10-11) and the annual New York State Collegiate Championships at Oswego (January 16-17). The Bulls were the runners-up at last year's state meet held at Alumni Arena.

"We will be headed to the National Dual Meet Championships for the first time," said Beichner. "I personally feel that it will be an honor and privilege to compete on the same stage with the best programs in the country. The more opportunities you have to compete head to head against the best, the more likely you will begin to feel like you are one of them."

The February slate includes five dual meets with the Bulls hosting four against Kent State, Edinboro, Hofstra and Northern Illinois. The MAC Championships are scheduled for March 6-7 in Ypsilanti, MI while the NCAA National Championships conclude the season at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis starting March 19.

"We are very excited that we have been able to increase the strength of our schedule and look forward to a very competitive season," said Beichner. "The addition of new high level competitions will be the highlight of our season."

Click Here For Full 2008-09 Schedule