Binghamton, NY – Hofstra crowned four individual champions  and captured its 10th CAA team title in its 11 years in the league at the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Wrestling Championships at the Binghamton University Events Center Saturday night.

Seven-teams and 70 wrestlers competed for the CAA team crown and 23 individual berths to the 2012 NCAA Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri on March 15-17.

Pride seniors P.J. Gillespie at 165 and Ben Clymer at 184, junior Steve Bonanno at 125 and sophomore Luke Vaith at 141 captured CAA individual titles. It was Gillespie’s second conference title after winning at 149 pounds in 2009. It was Clymer’s second CAA title after winning at 184 in 2011. Bonanno and Vaith recorded their first conference titles.

Those four individuals plus Hofstra’s two second-place finishers, sophomore Jamie Franco at 133 and junior Justin Accordino at 149, have all qualified for the NCAA Championships.

In the final team standings, the Pride edged the host Bearcats of Binghamton by two points, 80.5-78.5. It was Hofstra’s second consecutive CAA championship since Binghamton broke the Pride’s streak of eight straight CAA conference titles from 2002 through 2009. Hofstra also won the final conference title in the East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) in 2001.

The CAA Championship is Hofstra mentor Rob Anspach‘s first as head coach of the Pride after taking over for Tom Shifflet last spring.

Following Hofstra and Binghamton in the team standings were Old Dominion (68.5 pts.), Boston University (34), Drexel (33.5), George Mason (30.5) and Rider.

2012 CAA Championship Results 

125 Pounds 
Jerome Robinson (ODU) dec. #4 Derek Steeley (Bing), 5-2
Chris McGinley (Boston) dec. #3 Chuck Zeisloft (Rider), 1-0
#2 Vince Rodriguez (GMU) tech fall Franco Faeraina (Drexel), 17-2, 0:00

Consolations
Chuck Zeisloft (Rider) major dec. Franco Ferraina (Drexel), 8-0

Semifinals
#1 Steve Bonanno (Hofstra) major dec. Jerome Robinson (ODU), 8-0
#2 Vince Rodriguez (GMU) WBF Chris McGinley (Boston), 5:35

Second Round Consolations
Chris McGinley (Boston) dec. #4 Derek Steeley (BU), 8-5
Jerome Robinson (ODU) dec. #3 Chuck Zeifloft (Rider), 6-1

Championship
#1 Steve Bonanno (Hofstra) major dec. #2 Vince Rodriguez (GMU), 9-0
3rd Place
Jerome Robinson (ODU) dec. Chris McGinley (Boston), 3-0

133 Pounds 
#1 Jimmy Morris (Rider) dec. Zachary Isenhour (GMU), 4-2
#3 Jamie Franco (Hofstra) dec. Patrick Hunter (Bing), 6-4 tb1
#2 Fred Santaite (Boston) dec. Josh Yurasits (Drexel), 8-3

Consolations
Patrick Hunter (Bing) WBF Josh Yurasits (Drexel), 1:40

Semifinals
#4 Scott Festejo (ODU) WBF #1 Jimmy Morris (Rider), 3:04
#3 Jamie Franco (Hofstra) dec. #2 Fred Santaite (Boston), 2-0

Second Round Consolations
#2 Fred Santaite (Boston) dec. Zachary Isenhour (GMU), 9-4
Patrick Hunter (Bing) dec. #1 Jimmy Morris (Rider), 8-7

Championship 
#4 Scott Festejo (ODU) dec. #3 Jamie Franco (Hofstra), 4-3
3rd Place
Patrick Hunter (Bing) dec. #2 Fred Santaite (Boston), 6-3

141 Pounds 
#1 Luke Vaith (Hofstra) dec. Dennis Herndon (GMU), 6-3
#4 Joe Bonaldi (Bing) dec. Tyler Scotton (Boston), 5-4 tb2
#2 Frank Cimato (Drexel) dec. Vinny Fava (Rider), 10-4

Consolations
Dennis Herndon (GMU) dec. Tyler Scotton (Boston), 4-0

Semifinals
#1 Luke Vaith (Hofstra) dec. #4 Joe Bonaldi (Bing), 8-3
#3 Justin LaValle (ODU) dec. #2 Frank Cimato (Drexel), 6-5

Second Round Consolations
Dennis Herndon (GMU) dec. #2 Frank Cimato (Drexel), 11-9 tb1
Vinny Fava (Rider) dec. #4 Joe Bonaldi (Bing), 8-6

Championship 
#1 Luke Vaith (Hofstra) dec. #3 Justin LaValle (ODU), 3-1
3rd Place
Dennis Herndon (GMU) dec. Vinny Fava (Rider), 6-4
True Second
#3 Justin LaValle (ODU) dec. Dennis Herndon (GMU), 5-3

149 Pounds 
#1 Donnie Vinson (Bing) WBF B.J. Suitor (Boston), 1:19
#3 Zac Cibula (Rider) dec. Shane Fenningham (Drexel), 4-1
#2 Justin Accordino (Hofstra) major dec. Kevin Timothy (GMU), 10-2

Consolations
Shane Fenningham (Drexel) dec. Kevin Timothy (GMU), 7-4

Semifinals
#1 Donnie Vinson (Bing) tech fall #4 Brennan Brumley (ODU), 15-0, 4:00
#2 Justin Accordino (Hofstra) dec. #3 Zac Cibula (Rider), 7-2

Second Round Consolations
#3 Zac Cibula (Rider) WBF B.J. Suitor (Boston), 1:55
#4 Brennan Brumley (ODU) dec. Shane Fenningham (Drexel), 2-1

Championship 
#1 Donnie Vinson (Bing) major dec. #2 Justin Accordino (Hofstra), 12-3
3rd Place
#3 Zac Cibula (Rider) dec. #4 Brennan Brumley (ODU), 8-3

157 Pounds 
#1 Justin Lister (Bing) WBF Jaaziah Bethea (GMU) , 0:43
#3 Austin Sommer (Drexel) WBF Ramon Santiago (Rider), 4:30
#2 John Nicholson (ODU) dec. Nick Tourville (Boston), 13-8

Consolations
Ramon Santiago (Rider) dec. Nick Tourville (Boston), 1-0

Semifinals
#1 Justin Lister (Bing) dec. #4 Tyler Banks (Hofstra), 7-2
#2 John Nicholson (ODU) major dec. #3 Austin Sommer (Drexel), 14-5

Second Round Consolations
#3 Austin Sommer (Drexel) med. forfeit Jaaziah Bethea (GMU)
Ramon Santiago (Rider) dec. #4 Tyler Banks (Hofstra), 6-5 tb2

Championship 
#1 Justin Lister (Bing) WBF #2 John Nicholson (OSU), 1:32
3rd Place
Ramon Santiago (Rider) dec. #3 Austin Sommer (Drexel), 10-5
True Second
#2 John Nicholson (ODU) dec. Ramon Santiago (Rider), 5-3

165 Pounds 
#1 Joe Booth (Drexel) dec. James Brundage (Rider), 6-3
#4 Tristan Warner (ODU) dec. Ty Knepp (GMU), 5-1
#3 Matt Kaylor (Bing) major dec. Mitchell Wightman (Boston), 13-4

Consolations
James Brundage (Rider) major dec. Ty Knepp (GMU), 12-3

Semifinals
#4 Tristan Warner (ODU) dec. #1 Joe Booth (Drexel), 3-1 tb2
#2 P.J. Gillespie (Hofstra) dec. #3 Matt Kaylor (Bing), 6-4 tb1

Second Round Consolations
James Brundage (Rider) dec. #3 Matt Kaylor (Bing), 9-5
#1 Joe Booth (Drexel) dec. Mitchell Wightman (Boston), 3-1

Championship 
#2 P.J. Gillespie (Hofstra) dec. #4 Tristan Warner (ODU), 4-1
3rd Place
#1 Joe Booth (Drexel) major dec.James Brundage (Rider), 12-3
5th Place
#3 Matt Kaylor (Bing) dec. Mitchell Wightman (Boston), 4-2

174 Pounds 
Alex Rinaldi (Drexel) dec. #4 Caleb Wallace (Bing), 4-0
#3 Jim Resnick (Rider) tech fall Seth Robertson (GMU), 17-1, 4:52
#2 Kyle Czarneck (Boston) dec. Jermaine John (Hofstra), 3-1

Consolations
Jermaine John (Hofstra) major dec. Seth Robertson (GMU), 12-0

Semifinals
#1 Te Edwards (ODU) dec. Alex Rinaldi (Drexel), 10-7
#2 Kyle Czarnecki (Boston) injury def. #3 Jim Resnick (Rider), 6:52

Second Round Consolation
#4 Caleb Wallace (Bing) med. forfeit #3 Jim Resnick (Rider)
Jermaine John (Hofstra) major dec. Alex Rinaldi (Drexel), 12-3

Championship 
#1 Te Edwards (ODU) dec. #2 Kyle Czarnecki (Boston), 6-2
3rd Place
#4 Caleb Wallace (Bing) WBF Jermaine John (Hofstra), 0:55
True Second
#2 Kyle Czarnecki (Boston) dec. #4 Caleb Wallace (Bing), 7-3

184 Pounds 
#1 Ben Clymer (Hofstra) major dec. Niccolo Becattini (Drexel), 10-2
Hunter Meys (Boston) WBF #3 Clint Morrison (Rider), 3:51
#2 Nate Schiedel (Bing) WBF Ryan Hembury (GMU) 3:13

Consolations
Clint Morrison (Rider) tech. fall Ryan Hembury (GMU), 17-2, 0:00

Semifinals
#1 Ben Clymer (Hofstra) dec. #4 Billy Curling (ODU), 4-0
#2 Nate Schiedel (Bing) dec. Hunter Meys (Boston), 4-2

Second Round Consolations
Hunter Meys (Boston) WBF Niccolo Becattini (Drexel), 4:20
#4 Billy Curling (ODU) dec. #3 Clint Morrison (Rider), 2-0

Championship 
#1 Ben Clymer (Hofstra) dec. #2 Nate Schiedel (Bing), 6-0
3rd Place
Hunter Meys (Boston) dec. #4 Billy Curling (ODU), 3-2

197 Pounds 
#1 Bagna Tovuujav (GMU) major dec. Cody Reed (Bing), 15-4
#3 Brandon Palik (Drexel) dec. Donald McNeil (Rider), 3-1
#2 John Hall (Boston) dec. Tim Murphy (Hofstra), 10-4

Consolations
Donald McNeil (Rider) major dec. Tim Murphy (Hofstra), 16-6

Semifinals
#1 Bagna Tovuujav (GMU) dec. #4 Joe Budi (ODU), 3-1 tb1
#3 Brandon Palik (Drexel) dec. #2 John Hall (Boston), 8-1

Second Round Consolations
Cody Reed (Bing) dec. #2 John Hall (Boston), 9-5
#4 Joe Budi (ODU) dec. Donald McNeil (Rider), 5-3

Championship 
#1 Bagna Tovuujav (GMU) dec. #3 Brandon Palik (Drexel), 3-1 tb1
3rd Place
#4 Joe Budi (ODU) dec. Cody Reed (Bing), 7-5 tb1

285 Pounds
#1 Kyle Frey (Drexel) dec. Matt Tourdot (ODU), 3-2
#4 Paul Snyder (Hofstra) dec. Evan Craig (Rider), 2-1
#3 Kevin Innis (Boston) dec. Adam Barnette (GMU), 8-2

Consolations
Matt Tourdot (ODU) dec. Evan Craig (Rider), 6-3

Semifinals
#1 Kyle Frey (Drexel) dec. #4 Paul Snyder (Hofstra), 2-1
#2 Nick Gwiazdowski (Bing) major dec. #3 Kevin Ennis (Boston), 13-3

Second Round Consolations
#3 Kevin Innis (Boston) dec. Matt Tourdot (ODU), 10-6
#4 Paul Snyder (Hofstra) WBF Adam Barnette (GMU), 6:42

Championship 
#2 Nick Gwiazdowski (Bing) dec. #1 Kyle Frey (Drexel), 3-1
3rd Place
#3 Kevin Innis (Boston) dec. #4 Paul Snyder (Hofstra), 3-2

For final brackets, see:

Click to access 829847.pdf

— Hofstra Athletic Communications

Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y.—Hofstra crowned four individual champions and added two runnersup to edge host Binghamton by two points (80.5-78.5) and capture the program’s second straight CAA Wrestling Championship and 10th in the last 11 years. The seven-team event was held at Binghamton’s Events Center with seven teams and 70 wrestlers competing for the team crown and 23 NCAA individual berths.

After Hofstra and Binghamton in the team standings were Old Dominion (68.5 pts.), Boston University (34), Drexel (33.5), George Mason (30.5) and Rider.

Three Bearcats won titles: junior 149-pound Donnie Vinson, senior 157-pound Justin Lister and freshman heavyweightNick Gwiazdowski. Vinson, ranked No. 4 in the country, racked up a pin, technical fall and major decision and earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. In the finals against second-seeded Justin Accordino, Vinson rolled to a 12-3 major decision. Lister posted two pins en route to his title at 157. he put a stamp on his third straight CAA crown with a pin in 1:32 over second-seeded John Nicholson of ODU. Gwiazdowski won twice to capture the heavyweight title. In the final, he earned a 3-1 decision over top-seeded Kyle Frey of Drexel.

Junior 184-pound Nate Schiedel won twice to place second, junior 133-pound Patrick Hunter went 3-1 to place third and freshman 174-pound Caleb Wallace won twice to take third. Hunter’s only loss was a tiebreaking 6-4 decision at the hands of eventual runnerup Jamie Franco of Hofstra and he knocked off the top two seeds in his weight class. Wallace won twice, including a dramatic pin of Hofstra’s Jermaine John in the third-place bout, before losing to Boston’s Kyle Czarnecki 7-3 for “true” second with an NCAA spot on the line. Also suffering a heartbreaking defeat was sophomore 197-pound Cody Reed, who was ahead 5-3 with 11 seconds left in his third-place match with Joe Budi of ODU. Budi, however, took advantage of a false whistle and grabbed an uncontested takedown to force overtime. In the one-minute tiebreaker, Budi shot in and ended the match, leaving Reed to await a possible NCAA at-large bid next week.

“Our top-level guys wrestled extremely well,” head coach Pat Popolizio said. “They are wrestling their best at the right time. I thought Patrick (Hunter) had a great tournament. I don’t know what happened in Cody’s match. Now he’s on the bubble for NCAAs.”

Four Bearcats secured NCAA Championship berths: Vinson, Lister, Schiedel and Gwiazdowski. Reed and senior 165-pound Matt Kaylor will hope for NCAA at-large selections next week. Kaylor went 2-2, suffering a 6-4 tiebreaker loss to eventual champion Paul Gillespie of Hofstra in the semifinals.

ATHENS, OH – The Buffalo wrestling team traveled to the campus of Ohio University Sunday for the Mid-American Conference championships. Though the team was unable to capture any individual champions, junior Mark Lewandowskiand freshman Max Soria earned automatic bids to the upcoming NCAA tournament.

After receiving a bye to the quarterfinals, Lewandowski defeated Kent State’s Ross Tice 3-1 in the semifinals to earn a shot at Central Michigan’s Mike Ottinger. After losing to Ottinger in December, Lewandowski finished the season on a 13-0 streak. The bitterly contest matchup went deep into overtime before Lewandowski lost on rideout, 4-3. Despite the loss, the Depew, NY native earned one of the conference’s two auto-bids at 165 pounds.

Soria lost both of his first two matches at 125 pounds, losing 9-3 to eventual champion Joe Roth (CMU) and 11-5 to Eastern Michigan’s Jared Germaine. With the conference boasting such a deep weight class at 125, the NCAA rewarded it with four automatic bids. With that fact, Soria was given a chance to wrestle for true fourth with a glimmer of hope to keep his season alive. Facing Northern Illinois’ Nick Smith, who came into the day ranked 20th in the nation in the coaches poll, Soria wrestled one of his best matches of the season and earned a 19-8 major decision to secure the true fourth place and an opportunity to wrestle in St. Louis.

Two true freshmen Bulls came in the top three at the tournament. Blake Roulo won his opening round match 6-4 over Shawn Fayette (Northern Illinois) and earned a 2-1 decision over Andrew Romanchik to earn a shot at the 149-pound title and the conference’s lone auto-bid. He fell to Kent State’s Ian Miller 12-3 in the finals, but earned true second with a double-overtime 3-1 win over Central Michigan’s Joey Kielbasa. Jake Waste needed to reach the finals to earn a chance at the NCAA tournament but lost 3-1 to Eastern Michigan’s Phillip Joseph in the semis. He rallied to finish third thanks to a 8-2 win over Northern Illinois’ Caleb Busson.

Senior Kevin Smith‘s quest for his first conference championship came to a frustrating end, as he lost in the semifinals to Northern Illinois’ Kevin Fanta 4-3. Needing to finish at least third to earn an auto bid, Smith lost in the consolation round to Central Michigan’s Scott Mattingly 9-2.

Waste, Roulo and Smith still have an opportunity to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, to be held Mar. 15-17. The 40 at-large qualifiers, which will be announced on March 7, with the at-large selections being made based on head-to-head competition, qualifying event placement, quality wins, results against common opponents, winning percentage, RPI, and coaches ranking and the number of matches contested at that weight class.

–buffalobulls.com

ITHACA, N.Y.—Cornell senior Cam Simaz has earned his second-straight Ivy League Wrestler of the Year honor it was announced by the conference on Monday. Simaz joinsFrank Perrelli and Steve Bosak in earning first-team All-Ivy honors, while the Big Red totals eight All-Ivy selections. The Big Red won its 10^th-straight Ivy League title this season after finishing with a 5-0 record. Cornell has won 53 straight Ancient Eight matches.

Simaz (197), Perrelli (125) and Bosak (184) all earned first-team honors at their respective weight classes, while Chris Villalonga (149), Craig Eifert (165) and Maciej Jochym(HWT) all earned second-team spots. Kyle Dake (157) and Mike Nevinger (141) were honorable mention.

Simaz (Allegan, Mich.) is the fourth-straight Cornell wrestler to earn Wrestler of the Year honors, joining Mack Lewnes ’11 who claimed the award in 2009 and 2010. Simaz is the topped ranked wrestler in the country at 197 pounds. He is now a four-time Ivy League first team honoree and rounds out his Ancient Eight career with an impressive 20-0 Ivy League record. Four of his five conference wins this season were bonus including a pin, two technical falls and a major decision. Simaz was named Ivy League and EIWA rookie of the year in 2009. He is a three-time All-American and three-time EIWA champion. The Big Red senior captain is 22-1 this season with his only loss coming from an injury default.

At 125 pounds, Perrelli (Hackettstown, N.J.) earns his second All-Ivy honor this season with a 5-0 conference record. The Big Red wrestler is 25-5 overall this season and is currently ranked No. 7 in the country.

At 184 pounds, Bosak (State College, Pa.) earns his second first-team All-Ivy honor. The Big Red captain was second-team All-Ivy in 2010. The All-American is 26-3 overall and 4-0 against the Ancient Eight. Bosak is currently ranked No. 5 by InterMat.

Two-time NCAA champion Dake was named All-Ivy honorable mention at 157 pounds after going 1-0 in Ivy League matches. Dake is 26-0 for the season and is currently ranked No. 1 in the country.

The Big Red will look to capture its sixth-straight EIWA title on March 3-4 at Princeton University.

Wrestler of the Year
Cam Simaz, Cornell, 197 (Sr., Allegan, Mich.)

Rookie of the Year
*Lorenzo Thomas, Penn, 165 (Fr., Pittsburgh)

First Team (10)
*Frank Perrelli, Cornell, 125 (Sr., Hackettstown, N.J.)
*Steve Keith, Harvard, 133 (Jr., Shoreham, N.Y.)
*Zack Kemmerer, Penn, 141 (Sr., East Greenville, Pa.)
Steve Santos, Columbia, 149 (Jr., Brick, N.J.)
Daniel Kolodzik, Princeton, 157 (Sr., Bellbrook, Ohio)
*Lorenzo Thomas, Penn, 165 (Fr., Pittsburgh)
*Stephen West, Columbia, 174 (Jr., Fresno, Calif.)
*Steve Bosak, Cornell, 184 (Sr., State College, Pa.)
*Cam Simaz, Cornell, 197 (Sr., Allegan, Mich.)
*Steve Graziano, Penn, 285 (So., Syosset, N.Y.)

Second Team (10)
Billy Watterson, Brown, 125 (So., Pound Ridge, N.Y.)
Bryan Ortenzio, Penn, 133 (Sr., Camp Hill, Pa.)
Adam Krop, Princeton, 141 (So., Urbana, Md.)
Chris Villalonga, Cornell, 149 (So., Totowa, N.J.)
Walter Peppelman, Harvard, 157 (Jr., Harrisburg, Pa.)
Craig Eifert, Cornell, 165 (So., Mason, Mich.)
David Foxen, Brown, 174 (Sr., Garden City, N.Y.)
Shane Hughes, Columbia, 184 (Fr., Sussex, Wis.)
Micah Burak, Penn, 197 (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Maciej Jochym, Cornell, 285 (Sr., Williston Park, N.Y.)

Honorable Mention (9)
Robert Dyar, Columbia, 125 (Jr., Birmingham, Ala.)
Kyle Gilchrist, Columbia, 133 (Sr., Jefferson, Ohio)
Mike Nevinger, Cornell, 141 (So., Perry, N.Y.)
Steve Robertson, Penn, 149 (Fr., Lombard, Ill.))
Kyle Dake, Cornell, 157 (Jr., Ithaca, N.Y.)
Andy Lowy, Princeton, 174 (Sr., Brookeville, Md.)
Ophir Bernstein, Brown, 184 (Fr., Allen, Texas)
Sterling Hecox, Brown, 197 (Fr., Loves Park, Ill.)
Kevin Lester, Columbia, 285 (Sr., Nampa, Idaho)

*-Unanimous selection

New York, NY – Junior Steve Bonanno posted a major decision at 125 and the Pride captured eight of the 10 matches as 24th-ranked Hofstra defeated Columbia, 28-9 at University Gymnasium Sunday afternoon. The Pride, who ended the dual match portion of the regular season Sunday, improved to 12-3 on the year. Columbia slipped to 6-5 on the year. 

The Pride won the first six matches of the contest to jump out to a 22-0 lead after the 165-pound contest. 14th-ranked juniorSteve Bonanno started off the match with a 10-1 major decision over Robert Dyar at 125 pounds. Bonanno won his fourth straight match to improve to 25-6 on the year. Sophomore Jamie Franco boosted the lead to 7-0 with a 3-1 sudden victory decision over Kyle Gilchrist on a takedown in the waning seconds over the 133-pound extra period. Franco improved to-19-10 on the season. At 141, sophomore Luke Vaith won his fourth straight match taking an injury default win after leading Matt Bystol, 11-1 in the contest. Vaith, who is now 19-8 on the season, gave the Pride a 13-0 lead in the match. 

Pride junior Justin Accordino recorded a big third period on the way to a 5-2 victory over Steve Santos at 149 pounds. Accordino posted a takedown and a two-point near-fall in the third for his 11th victory in the last 13 matches. He is now 21-10. Junior Tyler Banks gave the Pride a 19-0 lead at 157 pounds with a 4-2 decision over Jake O’Hara. Banks won his second straight match to improve to 12-11 on the year. 19th-ranked senior P.J. Gillespie posted one of the most exciting wins of the day at 165 with a 5-4 decision over Eren Civan in the second sudden victory period. Gillespie has now won nine-in-a-row to improve to 26-5. 

Columbia got on the board at 174 pounds as Stephen West pinned Jermaine John (7-15) in 2:08 of the match to close the deficit to 22-6. But 12th-ranked junior Ben Clymer boosted the lead for Hofstra at 184 with a 4-1 decision over Shane Hughes. Clymer posted his 12th win in 13 matches to improve to 26-6. In another exciting contest, Nick Mills posted a takedown in the second sudden victory period to defeat Hofstra’s Tim Murphy, 4-2, at 197 pounds. Murphy slipped to 10-20 on the season. In the match finale, Pride junior Paul Snyder defeated Kevin Lester, 5-2, at 285 in a rematch of the 2011 New York State Collegiate Championship final that Lester won, 4-0. Snyder improved to 17-11 on the season as Hofstra posted the 28-9 victory. 

The Pride will now prepare for the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Championships to be held at Binghamton University on Saturday, March 3 

#24 Hofstra 28, Columbia 9 
125- Steve Bonanno (H) maj. dec. Robert Dyar (C), 10-1
133- Jamie Franco (H) dec. Kyle Gilchrist (C), 3-1
141- Luke Vaith (H) wins by inj. def. Matt Bystol (C),
149- Justin Accordino (H) dec. Steve Santos (C), 5-2
157- Tyler Banks (H) dec. Jake O’Hara (C), 4-2
165- P.J. Gillespie (H) dec. Eren Civan (C), 5-4 in OT2
174- Stephen West (C) WBF Jermaine John (H), 2:08
184- Ben Clymer (H) dec. Shane Hughes (C), 4-1
197- Nick Mills (C) dec. Tim Murphy (H), 4-2 in SV2
285- Paul Snyder (H) dec. Kevin Lester (C), 5-2

DEKALB, IL – The Buffalo wrestling team picked up its first Mid-American Conference win of the season in the final day of the conference slate on Saturday afternoon, defeating Northern Illinois 23-14. The win was the team’s first in over a month and moves its overall record to 6-14, 1-4 in the MAC, while Northern moves to 8-9 overall and 0-5 in conference duals.

Max Soria snapped out of his own dual-meet slump in a big way, beating Derek Elmore 12-2 in the 125-pound bout. It was Soria’s first win in conference action and his first overall dual win since Jan. 14 against The Citadel. The freshman used four takedowns to get the team on a winning foot right off the bat.

Justin Farmer and Kevin Smith followed with decisions at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively. Farmer had lost seven of his previous nine matches but was in control the whole way against Rob Jillard, winning 7-1. Smith followed with a tight 3-1 win over Kevin Fanta. It was win number 51 in dual meets for the senior, tying him with Kyler Cerminara for most by any UB wrestler in program history. With a win tomorrow against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, he will sit alone atop the list. He also passed former teammate Jimmy Hammel for second place in the overall wins list, now holding 120 in his time with the team.

Following a loss at 149 to draw the Huskies within five, 10-5, Wally Maziarz won a crucial pin over Tyler Loethen to provide the turning point and extend the Buffalo lead. That again sparked a Buffalo run that would put the match out of reach for the host Huskies. Mark Lewandowski returned from an injury to win a 13-4 major decision at 165 pounds for his 30th win of the year. Jake Waste came just short of taking a major decision of his own, beating Caleb Busson 8-2 at 174 pounds for his 15th dual meet win of the season, joining Lewandowski on the list of most dual wins in a single season in program history (tied with four others in 12th place).

The team will travel just a few hours down the road to close out its regular season tomorrow, taking on SIU-Edwardsville. The Cougars are 5-14 overall and are coming off a 34-8 loss to Northern Illinois last Sunday. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The dual will kick off at 2 pm EST.

Results
125: Max Soria (UB) maj. dec. Derek Elmore (NIU), 12-2
133: Justin Farmer (UB) dec. Rob Jillard (NIU), 7-1
141: Kevin Smith (UB) dec. Kevin Fanta (NIU), 3-1
149: Shawn Fayette (NIU) tech. fall Dan Gormley (UB), 18-3 (7:00)
157: Wally Maziarz (UB) pins Tyler Loethen (NIU), 3:49
165: Mark Lewandowski (UB) maj. dec. Matt Mougin (NIU), 13-4
174: Jake Waste (UB) dec. Caleb Busson (NIU), 8-2
184: Brad Dieckhaus (NIU) dec. Justin Lozano (UB), 8-1
197: Mike Lukowski (NIU) dec. Justin Heiserman (UB), 3-2
285: Jared Torrence (NIU) dec. Jedd Mason (UB), 9-4