WRESTLING

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Wrestler of the Week

Senior Shawn Kegel (Wantaugh, NY/MacArthur) finished third in the Las Vegas Invitational with a 6-1 record in the 133 pound bracket. Kegel, who also placed first at the Bearcat Open and the Bloomsburg Invitational currently has a 16-2 season record. After going 2-0, Kegel lost his quarterfinal match, but bounced back with four straight wins to claim third place. Kegel's third-place finish was the highest ever by a UB wrestler at the Las Vegas Invitational

Kegel defeated Rob Loper (University of Pittsburgh), currently ranked third in the nation and the tournament's top seed at 133 pounds and this season's number two ranked wrestler in the nation in preseason polls.

Kegel is not currently ranked in the national rankings, however with his performance in the Las Vegas Invitational, he is expected to move into the top 20. Kegel posted wins over the third and seventh ranked wrestlers in the nation and placed higher than the 11th, 15th, 16th and 17th ranked wrestlers.

Bulls Finish 21st At Las Vegas Invitational

The University at Buffalo took part in its second invitational of the season as it traveled to the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational this past weekend.

The Bulls, along with Cal Poly, fininshed in 21st place with 38 points. This was the best finish ever by a UB squad at the invitational. Illinois, currently ranked fifth in InterMat's NCAA Division I rankings, won the event with 156 points. Fifty-two teams competed in the the invitational. Last season, the Bulls placed 27th with 20 points.

States and Bontempo Wrestle Well At Las Vegas

Also having positive outings for the Bulls at the Las Vegas Invitational were senior Josh States (Lockport, NY/Lockport) (184) and sophomore Garrett Bontempo (DuBois, PA/Dubois) (174). Both wrestlers finished in the top 12 of their respective brackets.

States and Bontempo joined Kegel as the only Bulls' wrestlers to move on to the second day of competition.

States opened up the tournament with three straight wins, the first a major decision. In the quarterfinals, States' streak came to an end at the hands of Doug Lee (Oregon), the top seeded wrestler in the 184-pound bracket and the eventual third-place finisher. States finished the tournament 3-2.

Bontempo started the tournament in the outbracket with a win, however lost his first-round match to third seeded Corey Bell (North Carolina), 8-6. In the wrestlebacks, Bontempo recorded four straight wins before falling to fifth-place finisher, Steven Schenk (Wyoming). Bontempo finished the tournament with a 5-2 record.

Bulls' Injury report

Senior John Eschenfelder (N. Syracuse, NY/Cicero-N.Syracuse) did not wrestle in the Las Vegas Invitational this weekend due to a lower back injury suffered earlier in the week at practice. Eschenfelder is expected to wrestle this weekend at the Binghamton Duals. Also nursing a lower back injury is Joe Downey (Norwich, NY/Norwich). Downey suffered the injury during his first-round match at the Las Vegas Invitational. Downey is also expected to wrestle at Binghamton.

States, Eschenfelder Climbing Up the Record Books

Through two invitationals and two dual meets, States has already moved up the charts in the UB record books. His nine wins this season move him into a tie with Scott Slade (1978-82) for fifth place in career wins (81). States also takes over 15th place in overall career record (81-45) with a winning percentage of .643. Eschenfelder, with five wins on the season moves to 13th on the overall career wins list with 67.