WRESTLING

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BROCKPORT, NY - Competing in the first event of the 2001-02 season, the University at Buffalo wrestling team placed third at the Oklahoma Gold Classic. The Bulls racked up 99.5 points - only 3.5 back of second-place Cleveland State - to grab third in the field of nine teams. The Oklahoma Sooners won the tournament, which was held in Brockport, NY.

Dave Guarino

Dave Guarino (Derby, NY/Lakeshore) won the 165-pound weight class bracket. He defeated Cleveland State's Jeff Polk in the second round, following a first-round bye. Guarino then beat Army's Ron Schroeder in the third round, before he defeated Cleveland State's Jason Effner in the 165-pound final by an 8-3 decision. Guarino - a senior captain for the Bulls - won the Mid-American Conference Championship at 165 pounds last season.

Only a loss to Oklahoma's Josh Lambrecht in the final prevented Garrett Bontempo (Dubois, PA/DuBois Area) from winning the 184-pound weight class. En route to his second-place finish, Bontempo beat Cleveland State's Joe Phillips and Matt Benton of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

Gary Cooper (Adams, NY/South Jefferson) and Bill Jacoutot (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport) each registered third-place finishes for Buffalo. Cooper went 3-2 at 157 pounds, posting wins over Chad Sines of Bloomsburg, Cleveland State's Mike Smith, and Army's Jeremy Connor. Jacoutot went 4-1 at 149 pounds by defeating Army's Eric Miller and Fultz, Brockport's Stephen Howcroft, and Anthony Coleman of Cleveland State.

Three Bulls placed fourth in their respective weight classes. Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) competed at 197 pounds, Ryan Bentley (Ripley, NY/Ripley) at 141 pounds, and Troy Forte (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Mendon) at 133 pounds. Mahnseah Boley (Brockport, NY/Brockport/Niagara County CC) (197 pounds), J.C. Montroy (Walworth, NY/Wayne) (174 pounds), Charlie Voorhees (Warsaw, NY/Warsaw) (125 pounds) and Dave Edwards (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall) (149 pounds) each finished sixth in their respective weight classes.

Buffalo's wrestling squad will now prepare to defend its championship at the Bloomsburg Invitational, which gets underway on Saturday November 17th.