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Bulls Send Three To NCAA Championships

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo wrestling team had three wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships to be held at Penn State University, on March 18-20.

John Eschenfelder (Syracuse, NY/Cicero) qualified for the NCAA in the heavyweight division after capturing the Mid-American Conference title last weekend. Eschenfelder currently has a record of 24-9 on the season and was 10-4 in dual meet competition. He also had a perfect 5-0 record against MAC opponents and was ranked as the top wrestler in the conference most of the season. He finished tied for the team high with seven wins by fall this season and needs five more wins to move into the top-10 rankings for UB career wins.

Senior tri-captain Brian Schaal (Attica, NY/Alexander) also qualified for the NCAA Championships at the 125-pound weight class. Schaal finished the season with a 22-10 overall record and a 9-5 dual meet record. Schaal finished second in the MAC Championships behind Brian Thompson of Kent. This season, he tied for the team high with seven wins by fall. In his last year at UB, Schaal has moved into the top 10 career win list with 74 career victories.

Jacob Schaus (Falconer, NY/Falconer) will be making his third trip to the NCAA Championships, but his first with UB. A transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, Schaus finished the season with a 33-10 overall record at the 174-pound weight class. Those 33 wins are the second highest number of wins for a season in UB history. Schaus also finished second at the MAC Championships behind nationally ranked Ryan Cunningham of Central Michigan.

Freshman Gary Cooper (Adams, NY/South Jefferson) was selected as an alternate for to the NCAA Championships after his second place performance at the MAC Championships in the 165-pound weight class. Cooper's performance at the MAC tournament also earned him co-freshman of the year honors in the MAC. He finished the season with a 23-17 record.

These Bulls wrestlers will travel to Penn State this weekend. The NCAA Championships begin on Thursday, March 18 and continue through Saturday, March 20.