WRESTLING

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Mark McKnight

BROCKPORT, NY - Sophomore Mark McKnight (McDonald, PA/South Fayette) dropped a 6-1 decision to Oklahoma's Sam Hazewinkel, the No. 1-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds in Intermat's individual rankings, in the finals as the University at Buffalo finished seventh in a field of 11 teams at the Oklahoma Gold Classic at Brockport State on Saturday.

McKnight finished the day 3-1, as he knocked off Kent State's Drew Opfer, last year's runner-up to McKnight at the Mid-American Conference championships who is now ranked 13th in Intermat's rankings, in the semifinals in an 8-4 decision. McKnight registered two takedowns in his first two matches, beating Bloomsburg's Ivan Ustics and Army's Fernando Martinez.

Buffalo picked up 53 points in the competition to take seventh out of the field of 10 Division I teams and one Division III squad. Oklahoma, ranked eighth in the National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, took first with 212.5 points and MAC rival Kent State took second with 92.5. Pennsylvania, ranked 20th in the nation, took third with 89.5.

Pat Lloyd

Sophomore Pat Lloyd (Middletown, NY/Valley Central) wrestled his way to a fourth-place finish, as he lost to Oklahoma's Matt Storniolo, ranked sixth at 149, in the semifinals, but rebounded to beat Ohio State's Stephen Wolery in a 4-3 decision to guarentee a fourth-place finish. He lost to Ohio State's Ryan Needle, an honorable mention in Intermat's rankings, to finish 3-2 at the tournament.

Dana Gingerich

Redshirt freshman Dana Gingerich (Spring Grove, PA/DeLone Catholic) opened his year by placing fourth at 141 pounds. Gingerich lost in the quarterfinals to Cleveland State's Mike Hurley, but rebounded with three straight wins in the consolation bracket to earn the place finish at 141 pounds.

Mike Ragusa

Redshirt freshman Mike Ragusa (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) finished sixth in the 165-pound weight class, finishing 3-2. Ragusa won three straight matches to place, including a 3-1 overtime win against teammate freshman Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) and a 4-2 decision against Pennsylvania's Rich Fergusean.

UB's opens its dual-meet season on Thursday as it hosts the Eastern Wrestling League's Bloomsburg, who finished fourth at the Oklahoma Gold with 84.5 points, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Arena.