Striving for Excellence

Everyone who has been in Alumni Arena has seen it on the way to the triple gym or pool.

It's the big mural of a muscular blue Bull sporting a UB logo and wrestling attire.

Most just see it, stop to take a moment to look, and think to themselves, "We have a wrestling team?" and walk on by.

But upon entering the wrestling team's facility, one becomes encompassed with numerous awards and recognitions to individual wrestlers and teams throughout the years of UB wrestling.

And then it hits you. UB has a good, if not great, Division I program in wrestling.

Wow.

Over eight years ago, a man by the name of Jim Beichner took over the reigns as head coach for the wrestling team and didn't hesitate in turning around this once troubled program.

The year before Beichner took over; the team was on a fast track to being the laughing stock of New York State wrestling with only six wins in three years.

Beichner's first year (1995-1996) brought hope to the wrestling program as the team went 10-4 that year and then 12-2 next season.

How much of a factor have Beichner and his staff been? The year before the current staff, the wrestling team posted a ghastly 0-16 record.

With that said, the inaugural year in the Beichner regime was done with the identical 0-16 team with the addition of two other wrestlers.

Talk about righting a sinking ship.

"We had a California kid who won one or two matches that year and we had a heavyweight who came off the football team to help us at heavyweight," said Beichner. "Other than that, that team was exactly the same team. We won 10 matches and lost four of them with the same exact schedule."

This was all before UB entered the Mid-American Conference, as they were wrestling in the East Coast Wrestling Association (ECWA) at that time.

In that first Beichner year, the Bulls placed third in the ECWA and sent two wrestlers to the NCAA's while Beichner received New York State Division I and ECWA coach of the year honors.

Fast-forward to this season and the Bulls are right back on top with a 10-3 overall record while sporting a 1-1 record in the MAC. Their only MAC loss came at the hands of a very talented, if not mirror image (of Buffalo), Ohio Bobcats.

"We struggled," said Beichner. "We've just gotten over it."

Exactly why has UB been so successful these last eight years? Beichner credits the success to his excellent staff as well to his players, noting that his players step up when adversity hits the team. His staff includes assistant coaches Josh Kosheck and Brandon Newill, both in their second seasons with Beichner.

"On the staff alone, we have 10 All-American plaques and two national titles between three coaches," said Beichner "They've always found a way every year in and out to fight adversity."

Buffalo, despite its gaudy record, suffered a let down this year at the New York State Collegiate Championships. In the Championships, the Bulls finished second to Army, whereas the year before they took home first place over the second place Army.

Even though Buffalo didn't take home top honors this time around, the Bulls responded positively in another method.

In four of the weight classes (141, 174, 197 and heavyweight), Buffalo placed the weight class title winners. Beichner applauded his wrestlers' efforts that weekend in taking top honors in the weight titles.

"We won in very good fashion in all four of those weight classes," said Beichner. "(We had) more than anyone else in New York State, and as many as we ever had before. And we had a heavyweight who made a difference who on paper wasn't expected to."

That heavyweight wrestler is transfer Greg Thomas, who has made quite the turnaround according to Beichner.

"He's our most improved wrestler in a very short period of time by far," said Beichner. "I can see there is talent and I can see there is ability and it's starting to come out."

Unlike MAC basketball where you rarely see a school in the top 25 throughout the season, the MAC wrestling schools are climbing their way up through the ranks.

"I don't take any of the MAC schools lightly. At one time last year, five out of six of us were ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes in the top 25," said Beichner.

This weekend the Bulls will get another taste of Top 25 wrestling with nationally ranked Central Michigan (No. 13) coming to Alumni Arena.

"For us to win, we're going to have to take the battle to them," said Beichner. "On paper I would think that anybody that would be following wrestling would say that they're favored. But fortunately, we don't wrestle on paper."

This could possibly be the match of the season to witness for Bulls fans as UB's top wrestler, Kyle Cerminara, will battle CMU's Joe Yager in the 197 pounds class. Cerminara is ranked No. 11 in the nation at the 197 pounds class, and second in the MAC behind CMU's Yager.

However, while this is being billed as the match of the year between Buffalo and CMU, it is doubtful that UB will have a strong fan turnout.

Typically there are a few hundred, if not less, people there to watch the Bulls compete. This is something that Beichner says needs to change.

"I think personally we need to promote the sport better. We're attempting to do it internally; I'd like to see it a little bit more externally. It's a very tough sport and is sometimes misunderstood but it's a sport that has been around forever."

The Bulls are doing their part, and if the fans show up, Beichner said he believes they will leave satisfied.

"If people come to the matches we would definitely appreciate it, and I think they would see that we are a team that works hard and deserves some attention."

Despite the inconsistent fan base, UB's consistent ability to win is something Beichner said should not change.

"If this staff stays together and we continue to do what we're doing, this program will be excellent," said Beichner. "It has an excellent future ahead of us and we would certainly like to have more people following us in the near future."

The Bulls host No. 13 Central Michigan at 7 p.m. Saturday in Alumni Arena