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Bulls Come Away With Fifth At Oklahoma Gold Classic

Mark Budd

Oklahoma took top team honors with 143 points, as the Sooners placed first in five different weight classes. Mid-American Conference rival Kent State earned 109.5 and second-place finish, while regular season opponents, Bloomsburg and Army, placed third and fourth, respectively.

Mike Ragusa

Budd cleaned house as the top seed at 133 pounds, going 3-0 and winning his first Oklahoma Gold Classic title of his career. The Orrville, Ohio native captured his first win against Brown’s Eli Harris with a 13-4 major decision, then bullied two Army opponents, William Simpson and Matt Kyler, downing Simpson 6-4 in the semifinals, and taking Kyler 6-1 in overtime.

As the second-seed, junior Mike Ragusa (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) hit a minor setback in the semifinals, falling to Brown’s Shawn Kitchner in overtime. Ragusa bounced back to claim fourth-place at 165 pounds. Also finishing fourth at 197 lbs. was senior Ray Lamb (Vineland, NJ/Absegami), who won three-straight matches en route to his best finish of his career at the annual classic.

Rounding out the rest of the Bulls who placed at Saturday’s event was junior Nate Rock (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata), who placed fifth after scoring a major decision and a pin to advance to the quarterfinals, only to fall to Kent State’s Aaron Miller. Heavyweight Jeff Parker (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) earned a similar placing, earning a fifth-place finish after rebounding in the consolation rounds. Freshman Andrew Stella (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) placed sixth for his first tournament placing of his collegiate career at 141 pounds.

Buffalo hosts Princeton in the Bulls’ home-opener and first dual meet of the season at Alumni Arena on November 18. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Team Standings

1. Oklahoma 143.0
2. Kent State 109.5
3. Bloomsburg 107.5
4. Army 85.0
5. Buffalo 63.0
6. Rutgers 42.5
7. Brown 41.5
8. Brockport 40.5