WRESTLING

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WILKES-BARRE, PA - The University at Buffalo wrestling team continued its strong performances in the final event of the 2002 year with five finalists and three champions at the very competitive Wilkes Open over the weekend.

The biggest surprise for Buffalo was the outstanding performance turned in by sophomore

Tom Paladino

Tom Paladino (Bethpage, NY/Bethpage), who claimed the 165-pound title despite not being among the top four seeds. Paladino won three straight matches to reach the finals and avenged an earlier loss in the Oklahoma Gold Classic back in November with a 3-1 win over Rutgers' Chris Ressa.

"Tommy really wrestled great, that was a really pleasant surprise for us to see him win," said Buffalo coach Jim Beichner. It was Paladino's first tournament title as a collegian.

Senior Gary Cooper (Adams, NY/South Jefferson) followed up Paladino's title with one of his own at 174 pounds. Cooper, who was also in the finals at the Beast of the East Tournament last weekend, defeated Montclair State's Edward Aliakseyenka by a 7-3 score in the finals. Cooper began his day with a pin en route to the title. With his five victories, Cooper moved into third place all-time with 94 career victories, trailing just John Stutzman (95) and Josh States (102) on the UB ladder.

Buffalo's final champion was sophomore

Kyle Cerminara

Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) at 197 pounds. Cerminara was dominant throughout posting double digit scores in each match, with his closest match an 11-6 win over Nassau Community College's Chris Weidman in the finals. It was Cerminara's first tournament title this season after reaching two previous finals.

"This was the first tournament that Kyle just opened up and wrestled," said Beichner. "He really dominated the entire tournament."

Placing second for Buffalo was sophomore Labe Black (Ventnor, NJ/Absegami) at 157 pounds and senior Garrett Bontempo (DuBois, PA/DuBois) at 184 pounds. Black lost a heartbreaking 6-4 overtime decision to Sacred Heart's Robert Belville, while Bontempo was pinned in the finals by Maryland's Jake Stork, currently ranked in the top 20 in the nation at 184 pounds.

Junior Mike Trotta (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) took third place at 133 pounds, rebounding to defeat Jason Smith of Rider - who had defeated him in the quarterfinals - by a 6-0 score in the consolation finals. Other top six finishers for Buffalo included Brian Sebaaly (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) at 141 pounds and Tom Curl (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) at heavyweight.

Buffalo is next in action at the Buckeye Duals next Saturday with Eastern Illinois, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Drexel and host Ohio State.