Wrestling Weekly Release

Open 2009-10 Season at UB Open

Desi Green

Wrestling unattached, University at Buffalo sophomore Desi Green captured the individual crown in the 149-pound weight class at the seventh annual UB Open at Almuni Arena on Sunday, November 1. Sophomore Kevin Smith and junior Jimmy Hamel finished in second place at 133 and 197, respectively. The Bulls finished with nine total wrestlers in the top six, all wrestling unattached at the non-team scoring event.

Green Captures Individual Crown at 149

Following Green’s sixth-place finish at 157 in last year’s UB Open, he was determined to finish in the top spot. Green rattled off five straight victories to capture his first UB Open crown at 149. In his quarterfinals bout, Green won by technical fall over two-time Division II national qualifier Kayne Melko of #16 West Liberty State University. In his semifinal match, Green captured a 10-3 decision over unattached wrestler Craig Efert to move onto the championship match. In the final match for the 149-pound crown, Green faced the 2009 Edinboro Open Champion Jon Kohler of #10 Maryland. Green led early in the match with Kohler fighting back to make it a close bout. In the end, Green walked away the 149-pound UB Open Champion.

Hamel and Smith Finish in Second

Jimmy Hamel

Hamel strung together three victories to earn his spot in the championship round for the crown at 197. In the championship bout, Hamel battled with unattached wrestler Matt Wilps of Pittsburgh. No decision came out of three periods forcing an extra period with no points awarded. The two continued to fight with Wilps picking up an escape in the first-30 second overtime to hold on for the win, 2-1. Hamel finished the event a spot ahead of last year’s third-place finish.

In the 133-pound bracket, Smith collected four-straight victories to reach the final round. After finishing second last year, Smith was looking to capture his first UB Open title. En route to his finals appearance, Smith defeated 14th nationally-ranked Jimmy Conroy of Pittsburgh in a 5-3 decision. His opponent in the finals, Division I All-American and eighth nationally-ranked Steve Bell of Maryland was also looking to capture his first title at the event. Bell attacked aggressively off the start, taking a 4-1 lead following the first period. In the end, Smith fell to Bell in a 7-2 decision.

Third-Place Finish for Peters

After not placing last year, redshirt-freshman Josh Peters’ second time around was successful as he finished in third-place at 184, defeating Bradley Nielsen of Maryland in a 6-4 decision.

Kevin Smith

Schutt Finishes in Fourth

In his first collegiate competition, freshman Andrew Schutt finished in fourth place at 141. He captured victories in his first two matches before falling to unattached wrestler Mike Nevinger. In his bout for third place, Schutt fell to 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference Champion Matt Bogusz of Maryland.

Dabolt, Farmer and Walton Finish in Top Six at 125

Dylan Dabolt, Justin Farmer and Sean Walton each placed in the top six of the 125-pound weight class. Dabolt reached the semifinals before falling to two-time Eastern Wrestling League place-finisher Jason Guffey of Bloomsburg in a close 2-1 decision. Dabolt defeated Walton for fifth place in a 5-2 decision. In his first collegiate competition, Farmer reached the bout for third-place by defeating Walton but was unable to get by Chris Kochinsky of Pittsburgh.