Meet the Bulls

At 197 pounds, junior Kyle Cerminara is that guy in the weight room people try to emulate.

As UB's most dominant wrestler, it is Cerminara's work ethic off the mat that truly sets him apart. One look at him, and it is easy to believe he won the 197-pound New York State Collegiate title this past weekend at Nassau Community College, or that he is currently ranked atop the Mid-American Conference in the 197-pound weight class with a 26-3 record.

"There aren't many people that look like him physically," said Assistant Coach Josh Koscheck, who in 2001 was the 174-pound Division I National Champion with a 42-0 mark at Edinboro University. "He's a beast. He possesses all the physical skills necessary to be a champion."

"My biggest advantage on the mat is the physical strength I have over my opponents," said Cerminara. "I train extremely hard. My weaknesses on the mat come from technique, but never will an opponent outwork me."

Not the most vocal teammate, Cerminara's lead-by-example attitude has been a common virtue shared by many of this year's Bulls. In fact, Cerminara was just one of four UB wrestlers to come home from States with weight class titles. His teammates senior Mike Trotta (141 pounds), senior Ed Pawlak (174) and junior heavyweight Greg Thomas all dominated their respective weight classes.

Currently at 10-2 (1-0), the Bulls are making an impact in the MAC, where no other team has reached double digits in the W column. And with four of their last five matches coming against conference foes, Cerminara and the Bulls will look to sweep the competition before traveling to Athens, Ohio on March 6 to 7 for the MAC championships.

It will be there where Cerminara's hopes for an NCAA bid come true. Two years ago, as a freshman, he made his first run at the NCAA's where he faced the best in the history of collegiate wrestling - a man who has met the president, graced the front of Wheaties, attended the ESPY's, and has his own website: None other than Iowa State's Cael Sanderson, who won his fourth consecutive NCAA championship that year, accumulating an undefeated career record of 159-0. And as Sanderson's fourth to last collegiate opponent, some of Cerminara's confidence stems from having already faced his toughest challenge.

"After facing Cael, you know you've just faced the best," said Cerminara. "There is a little bit of confidence that comes from knowing that every opponent after him probably won't be as good."

So far this season, Cerminara is certainly one of the favorites to go the distance at 197 pounds. And chances are he will achieve his personal goal of becoming the first Division I All-American from UB - a feat that would make his former coach at Lewiston Porter High School, Eric Gross, extremely proud.

"I started wrestling in sixth grade, but it wasn't until high school where I really began to excel at it," said Cerminara. "My coach Eric Gross, who wrestled in college, really pushed me and wanted for me to be the best."

After going 42-0 his senior year with a state title, he was the best. He finished fifth in high school nationals and chose UB because he wanted to be near home.

As for his plans after UB, the sociology major has his sights set on law enforcement, possibly with the FBI or CIA.

"I think something like that I would really enjoy," he said.

Five Random Questions

1.) Q: So be honest, has the football team contacted you yet?

A: (Laughs) No.

2.) Q: Do you watch the WWE?

A: No, honestly I have never seen it.

3.) Q: So you think "Hollywood" wrestling distorts the public's view of what your sport truly is?

A: I think that's pretty true actually.

4.) Q: What is your pre-match routine?

A: Usually I pace back and forth and do some sprints to warm up. Then I think of something other than wrestling - something that makes me happy.

5.) Q: Do the girls dig the cauliflower ear?

A: I guess you could say some of them do.