WRESTLING

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Moran and Ragusa Open Season With Titles At UB Open

Mike Ragusa

BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo wrestling team opened the season Sunday at home in the fifth annual UB Open. Junior Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) and senior Mike Ragusa (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) each won their weight classes at the non-scoring event and ten other Bulls placed in the top six.

Ragusa won four matches by a combined score of 62-19 on this way to capturing the 174 pound title. In the final, Ragusa defeated Don Ross of Clarion, 9-3. Moran also won his first four matches of the season en route to a UB Open victory in the 184 pound weight class. Moran pulled out a tight 4-3 decision in the final over Andrew Silber of American International to take the crown at 184.

In addition to the two champions, a trio of Bulls recorded second place finishes. Senior John Cummings (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore) won three-straight matches to open the tournament before falling in the final at 165 pounds to Rick Schmelyn of Bloomsburg, 5-2. Redshirt freshman Jimmy Hamel (Natick, MA/Natick) also finished second, he narrowly missed the title at 197 as he fell 4-3 to Jamie Luckett of Clarion in the final. Senior Jeff Parker (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) was victorious in his first three matches in the 285 pounds weight class before dropping a tight 2-0 decision in the final to Mike Spaid of Bloomsburg.

Mickey Moran

Along with Parker and Hamel, the Bulls had an additional place winner in each of those two weight classes. At 197, sophomore Jason Weber (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) earned a fifth-place finish while true freshman Robert Ryhal (Hermitage, PA/Kennedy Catholic) made an impressive collegiate debut with a fifth-place finish at 285. The Bulls had a pair of place winners at 157 pounds as well, with sophomores Tom Graff (Lagrangeville, NY/Arlington) and Justin Hunt (Salem, NY/Salem) finishing in the top six. Graff earned fourth place while Hunt finished fifth.

Senior Dana Gingerich (Spring Grove, PA/Deleon Catholic) recorded four falls en route to a 3rd place finish at 149 pounds. Gingerich registered victories by pin fall in the first round and the quarterfinals before dropping a 6-3 decision to unattached wrestler Corey Mason in the semifinals. Gingerich showed great resiliency following that setback however, as he responded with two victories by fall in wrestleback action to place third.

Dana Gingerich

Sophomore Dan Bishop (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall) dropped a close 3-1 overtime decision in his first bout of the day, but battled back with four straight victories to find himself in position to place at 125 pounds. Bishop fell in his final bout to Patrick Strizki of Maryland and placed fourth. At 133 pounds, redshirt freshman Corey Greene (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) won his first two matches before falling in the semifinals. Greene finished the tournament with a sixth place finish.

The UB wrestling team will be back on the mats next Saturday, November 10 when they travel to the Oklahoma Gold Classic in Brockport, NY.