Thursday, two UB wrestlers, senior Gary Cooper and sophomore Labe Black, traveled to Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. to compete in the NCAA Division-I Championships and strive for every college athlete's dream, to be an All-American.
Cooper, Buffalo's all-time leader in wins (112) and single-season victories (37), reached the nationals for the first time by winning the 174-pound title at the Mid-American Conference championships. Black finished third in the 157-pound division at the MAC Championship, but due to the strong weight class he battled, he was voted a wild card and received a first round bye at the nationals.
The two athletes raised UB head coach Jim Beichner's total to 15 different wrestlers he has brought to nationals since coming to UB in 1995.
In his first round match, Cooper faced Harvard's Pat O'Donnell and won in exciting fashion. Leading by as many as five points (7-2), and in control throughout, Cooper allowed an escape and a takedown that made the score closer and eked out a 10-9 win.
"Gary got a little tired at the end, but he wrestled well to get a solid lead," said Beichner.
Cooper's second round match against Oklahoma State's Chris Pendleton did not go as well. He started off strong, scoring the first takedown 15 seconds in, but Pendleton soon took over, pinning Cooper at the 5:55 mark.
Black was eliminated after a pair of close losses. The first loss went to West Virginia freshman Matt Lebe by a 4-1 score that dropped him into the 157-pound consolation bracket. The second went to Hofstra's Mike Patrovich with a 4-2 score. Black finished his sophomore season with a 28-16 record.
"He learned from his experience and the object is to learn ... but Labe was not happy with his performance, you don't go to be happy to be there, you go to be an All-American," said Beichner.
On Friday afternoon Cooper faced off against Cornell's Tyler Baier in what would be his final match representing UB. The score was tied 1-1 when Cooper was hit with a stalling call and Baier scored a takedown with 15 seconds remaining to clinch a 4-1 win.
"Gary had a bit of an up and down career going into his final season, but he really put it all together this year," said Beichner. "It was very satisfying to see him as a fifth-year senior reach his goals of winning a MAC title and getting to the national championships when he had been so close as a true freshman. He finished his career realizing the potential we all knew he had and for that he can leave with his head held high."
