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Bulls Win Six Weight Classes as They Dominate UB Open

Kyle Cerminara

BUFFALO, NY - Senior Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) did everything within his power to break John Stutzman's (1996-97) record of 24 straight victories before 2006 ran in, but he was only able to tie the record while picking up his record third UB Open championship at the third annual event at Alumni Arena on Friday.

Five other Bulls also claimed championships and in all, 16 Buffalo wrestlers placed at the event, with at least one placing in all 10 weight classes to cap off the successful day.

Cerminara, who actually has won 32 matches in a row dating back to his Niagara and UB Open championships while redshirting in 2004, has wrestled only 24 matches against NCAA opponents this season, making his official record 24-0, despite wrestling 26 matches this season. The 197-pounder easily wrapped up his third UB Open title by pinning Nassau Community College's Joe Scioli, ranked seventh in the latest Junior College poll, in 51 seconds. In the semifinals, he had a 10-3 lead on Mount Union's Chris Hart before Hart left the match with an injury. In his first round match, he beat Edinboro's Pat Bradshaw, 7-2.

Mark Budd

Junior Mark Budd (Orrville, OH/Orrville) won his second straight UB Open title at 133 pounds and third tournament of the year as he beat Maryland's Steven Bell, wrestling unattached, 5-3, earning a sudden-victory takedown to clinch the win. Budd also beat two Junior College wrestlers during the tournament.

Garrett Hicks

Senior Garrett Hicks (Chautauqua, NY/Chautauqua Lake) posted a perfect 4-0 mark in the five-man 184 pound weight class to also win his second straight title. Hicks posted two pins and a technical fall en route to the title, clinching first place with a 14-3 major decision against freshman Ricky Scott (Walden, NY/Valley Central), who went 2-2 wrestling unattached to place third.

Pat Lloyd

Junior Pat Lloyd (Middletown, NY/Valley Central) also picked up his second UB Open title at 149 pounds, as he downed Edinboro's Joe Backmore, 13-5, in the finals. Lloyd won a thrilling 5-4 decision in the semifinals against Mount Union's Sean Connelly, coming back from a 4-2 deficit by earning a takedown with 12 seconds left to tie the score than gaining a riding time point as time expired. He also posted a pin of Slippery Rock's Chuck Wiltrout in the first round.

Harold Sherrell

Senior Harold Sherrell (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) (heavyweight) and sophomore Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) (165 pounds) each picked up their first UB Open titles. Sherrell posted a perfect 4-0 mark at heavyweight, as he earned the title after teammate Greg Thomas (Baldwin, NY/Uniondale), wrestling unattached, defaulted the championship match after winning his first three matches. Sherrell posted a 17-0 technical fall in the first round against Niagara Community's Colin Thompson before earning a 5-2 decision against Slippery Rock's Matthew Buschalder and a 5-1 decision against Nebraska's Stefan Tighe, wrestling unattached. It is Sherrell's third title of the year, and also improves his season record to 22-4.

Mickey Moran

Moran beat three JuCo wrestlers, including a 6-1 decision against Nassau Community's Mike Vingo, ranked first in the nation, in the finals. His posted two falls and also had a 6-2 decision against Michigan's Dario Mainella in the semifinals.

Junior John Cummings (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore/Nassau CC) (157 pounds) posted a second place finish, losing in the finals to Drew Schafer, 6-2. Still, Cummings record improved to 13-10, after his 3-1 performance at the tournament.

Also placing for Buffalo was senior Cliff Smith (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) (141 pounds) and sophomore Nate Rock (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) (174 pounds), who each took third and junior Mike Shannon (Albany, NY/Colonie) (141 pounds) and junior Jake Blowers (Johnstown, NY/Broadalbin-Perth) (165 pounds), who each took fifth. Wrestling unattached, freshman Jason Hilliard (Genoa, NY/Southern Cayuga) (149 pounds) placed fourth and freshman Dan Bishop (Whitehall, NY/Whitehall) (125 pounds) took sixth.

Buffalo opens up its Mid-American Conference slate on Friday with a meet at the USA Today/NWCA/InterMat's 22nd-ranked Northern Illinois in a 7:00 pm matchup.