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Budd Downs Top-Ranked Wrestler in the Country

Mark Budd/ Photos Courtesy of Mark Gallagher

ERIE, PA - It hasn't happened since 2002-03. Shawn Bunch ended up the losing end of a wrestling match to someone other than 2005 national champion Travis Lee of Cornell, as junior 133-pounder Mark Budd (Orrville, OH/Orrville) earned a sudden-victory, 6-4, decision to highlight the University at Buffalo's meet against nationally-ranked Edinboro at the War at the Shore on Friday night.

Edinboro did manage six wins as the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat's 19th-ranked Fighting Scots snuck away from the Erie Civic Center with a 20-13 win, even though the Bulls managed two wins against nationally-ranked wrestlers.

This is the first time in the school's Division I history that a wrestler has posted a win against a No. 1-ranked wrestler, as Budd improved to 19-3 on the season. He has won 29 of his last 34 matches.

Budd, ranked 14th in the Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N Magazine polls, fell behind Bunch in the first period, as Bunch posted a takedown, but Budd earned an escape to make it 2-1 entering the second period. Bunch earned an early escape in the second period, but Budd responded with a takedown of his own to tie the score at three. Bunch escaped yet again, giving him a 4-3 lead heading into the final two minutes. Budd chose to start in the down position and earned an escape 30 seconds in to tie the score.

In the sudden victory overtime, Bunch took a shot and Budd countered, taking Bunch to the ground near the edge of the mat. Budd got both arms around Bunch's legs to seal the takedown with 15 seconds left on the clock.

The win is Budd's first against Bunch in four meetings, with Bunch besting the Buffalo wrestler three times in 2004-05, twice by 6-4 scores and once by a 6-3 margin.

Sophomore Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) also posted an impressive win against a top 20 grappler, as he took out the NWCA/InterMat/NWMA's 15th-ranked Deonte Penn, 7-4, at 165 pounds. Moran posted a first-period takedown and then added a reversal and a takedown to grab a 6-2 lead. He held on despite a third-period takedown by Penn in the final period to improve to 17-5.

Senior Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) posted his 20th straight victory with an impressive 12-4 major decision against Jim Gibson. Cerminara had three takedowns in the first two periods to take a solid 7-2 lead into the last period, but he added two more takedowns and an escape in the final stanza, including a last-second two-pointer to earn the team four points.

Senior Harold Sherrell (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) won his third straight 2-0 decision against an Edinboro wrestler, as he beat Koel Davia by earning an escape in the second period and also earning a riding time point. Sherrell also beat Mike LaBella twice at 197 pounds in 2004-05.

Edinboro got out to an early 4-0 lead as Ricky Deubel, ranked 26th by WrestlingReport.com, earned a major decision. After Budd's shocking win, Ricky McLaughlin (141 pounds), Las Vegas Invitational champion Gregor Gillespie (149 pounds) and Matt Hill (157 pounds) each won matches to give the Scots an 11-3 lead. Nationally-ranked grapplers Eric Ring and Alex Clemsen added wins at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively, for the Scots to seal the win.

Buffalo returns to the mats on Tuesday, Dec. 20 with a tri-meet at Alumni Arena, as Appalachian State and Mercyhurst, which was shocked by Division II inner-city rival Gannon, 19-18, in the first meet at the War at the Shore, at 11:00 am.

Edinboro 20, Buffalo 13
125: Ricky Deubel (EU) maj. dec. Louie Rubin, 12-4
133: Mark Budd (UB) dec. Shawn Bunch, 6-4 (sv)
141: Ricky McLaughlin (EU) dec. Dana Gingerich, 8-5
149: Gregor Gillespie (EU) maj. dec. Pat Lloyd, 11-2
157: Matt Hill (EU) dec. John Cummings, 8-4
165: Mickey Moran (UB) dec. Deonte Penn, 7-4
174: Eric Ring (EU) dec. Mike Ragusa, 4-0
184: Alex Clemsen (EU) dec. Garrett Hicks, 9-3
197: Kyle Cerminara (UB) maj. dec. Jim Gibson, 12-4
HWT: Harold Sherrell (UB) dec. Koel Davia, 2-0