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Buffalo Earns Votes in USA Today/NWCA Poll

Kyle Cerminara

BUFFALO, NY - After a school-record 16th-place finish at the Las Vegas Invitational and a hard-fought 20-13 loss to 18th-ranked Edinboro on last Friday, the University at Buffalo wrestling team received votes in the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat poll for the first time this year.

Helped in part by two wrestlers ranked in the NWCA/InterMat/NWMA top 20 poll, the Bulls are one of nine teams to have also received votes in the top 25 poll. Senior Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) is fifth at 197 pounds as he is currently on a career-best 20-match winning streak. During the streak, the 2004 All-American has posted tournament wins at the Oklahoma Gold Classic, the Slippery Rock Open, the Mat Town USA Invitational and the Las Vegas Invitational. He also set career records for wins (118) and dual meet takedowns (154).

Junior Mark Budd (Orrville, OH/Orrville) entered the NWCA poll for the first time in his career, ranking 19th at 133 pounds, after beating the top-ranked wrestler in the nation, Shawn Bunch of Edinboro, 6-4 in sudden victory Friday. Budd, who is 19-3 this season, has won 29 of his last 34 matches and has taken out three nationally-ranked grapplers this year.

Sophomore Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) has also garnered attention from national polls lately, having earned a ranking of 17th in the latest W.I.N. Magazine poll. He is 17-5 overall this year and has rebounded nicely after a 7-23 rookie campaign. He beat Edinboro's Deonte Penn, ranked 20th in the latest NWCA poll, 7-3, on Friday.

Buffalo will return to the mats on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 11:00 am in a tri-meet with Mercyhurst and Appalachian State.