Wrestling Weekly Release

Bulls Soar Past Eagles in Home Opener 31-9

Kevin Smith

The Bulls captured a 31-9 home-opening dual meet victory over Ashland University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena. Sophomores Kevin Smith and John-Martin Cannon and junior Jimmy Hamel each collected falls in the Bulls’ dominating performance over the Eagles.

The Bulls quickly erased Ashland’s 3-0 lead as Smith pinned AU’s Jacob Creed at 5:50. Smith dominated the four-time North Carolina State champion throughout the first two periods, not allowing Creed to score a single point in the 133-pound bout.

Andrew Stella

With the score tied up at 6-6, Desi Green picked up a close 10-9 decision over Ashland’s T.J. Rigel. Picking up four takedowns in his victory, the 16th nationally-ranked wrestler moved into 20th place in the all-time UB list for most takedowns in a career (75).

At 157, the Bulls widened their margin to 13-6 as senior Andrew Stella collected a 12-0 major decision. Following a scoreless first period, Stella turned it on in the remaining periods as nine of his 12 total points came off three-point nearfalls.

John-Martin Cannon

Moving up a weight class from last year, Cannon came out to rebound from his performance at last week’s UB Open. In the first ten seconds of the match, he took Ashland’s Peter Lewis to the mat. Cannon recorded five takedowns in the first period alone. On his final takedown of the second period, Cannon was able to work Lewis to his back, recording a fall at 4:25.

Redshirt-freshmen Matt Bogardus at 174 and Josh Peters at 184, scored their first career dual meet victories. Both wrestlers won in 6-3 decisions. In his bout at 174, Bogardus wrestled the final period injured.

In the 197-bout, Hamel attacked the Eagles’ Josh Grider from the start. In the first period, the 20th nationally-ranked wrestler built an 8-2 lead including a two-point nearfall. In the second period, Hamel buried Grider’s shoulders to the mat for his first career fall at 4:28.

Jimmy Hamel

Hamel and Green at the Top in the MAC

The Mid-American Conference wrestling coaches in conjuction with the league offices have announced the 2009 preseason individual rankings. Ranked at the top of their respective weight classes are Hamel at 197 and Green at 149. In the preseason MAC team rankings, the University at Buffalo wrestling team has been predicted to finish fifth.

Three additional Bulls were listed in the top four of their individual weight classes. At 125, senior Dan Bishop occupies third while Smith and Cannon are slated in the fourth spot at 133 and 165, respectively.

Desi Green

Up Next: Hofstra

On Sunday, the Bulls will return to dual meet action as the starting-ten travel to Hofstra University to face the Pride at the Mack Sports Complex at 1:00 pm. Last season, Buffalo fell to #13 Hofstra, 24-13. Of the current Bulls, Green captured a major decision while Cannon and Hamel each picked up decisions. Three of the Pride grapplers in the 125, 133 and 174-bouts were ranked in the top 20.

Heading into Sunday’s match, the Pride have four wrestlers nationally-ranked including 15th-ranked Steve Bonnano at 125, 20th-ranked Justin Accordino at 149, ninth-ranked Jonny Bonilla-Bowman at 157 and tenth-ranked Ryan Patrovich at 174.