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Wrestlers End Season at NCAA Championships

STATE COLLEGE, PA- The UB wrestling team ended their 1999 season this past weekend with three wrestlers competing in the NCAA National Championship.

Jacob Schaus (Falconer, NY/Falconer) suffered some bad luck with his draw and other match outcomes that forced him to face three wrestlers seeded in the top-11. He opened against 11th-seeded Jason Moaney of Clarion and was defeated 3-1, putting him in the consulation bracket. Because of an upset, Schaus then had to face 6th seeded David Wells of Cal-Poly. Schaus proceeded to beat Wells 6-2 and advance. Then came the improbable.

Kevin Boross of North Carolina State defeated 1st seed and undefeated Mark Smith of Oklahoma State, who was favored to win the individual title, forcing Smith to the consulation bracket to face Schaus. In a tough match, Schaus kept it close but Smith held on for the 6-4 win, eliminating Schaus and ending his college career with 98 career victories.

John Eschenfelder (Syracuse, NY/Cicero) also competed at the NCAA Championships, qualifying in the heavyweight division. He drew 3rd-seeded Leslie Apedoe of VMI in the first round and was defeated 8-3. In the wrestlebacks, Eschenfelder defeated Brent Lancaster of George Mason 7-4 to advance. Again, due to an upset, Eschenfelder then had to face 9th-seeded Wes Hand, a member of team national champion Iowa. In a close and hard fought match, Eschendfelder couldn't hold on for the win, falling 8-5 and ended his season.

Brian Schaal (Attica, NY/Alexander) at 125-pounds was the third Bulls wrestler to qualify for the Championships. Schaal drew the toughest first round matchup of any of the UB participants, facing 2nd-seeded Jeremy Hunter of Penn State, who was competing in front of his home crowd. Hunter used that home crowd advantage to defeat Schaal on a technical fall, 18-2, at the 5:25 mark. Schaal then faced Lee Carroll of North Carolina State in the wrestlebacks.

Carroll got out to a quick start, leading 11-3 after the first period. Schaal was not going to give up easily on the match and the end of his college career. Schaal fought back hard, scoring seven straight points in the last two periods, including a near fall, but fell short of the win, losing 11-10. Schaal ended his career with 74 career wins, which ranks sixth all-time in UB history.

The Bulls as a team finished tied for 62nd with James Madison University with 1.5 points. Iowa won the team title, edging out Minnestoa by just two points. Iowa finished with 100.5 points and Minnesota 98.5 points.