Representing Buffalo well, the Bulls took the Mat Town USA Tournament by storm over the weekend. With seven Bulls finishing in the top three in their weight class, which included two title winners and a pair of co-title winners, the Bulls made their presence known at the tournament in Lock Haven, Penn. This total far surpassed any other team at the tournament.
Head coach Jim Beichner was delighted with the team's performance and effort.
"For the most part we performed very well," Beichner said. "There was no team scoring but we probably would have won the tournament if there were team points. That was with out some of out starters in, so we were really pleased with the results."
Senior captain Mark Budd preserved his undefeated record by taking the 133-pound division title. He improved his season record to 11-0.
"In the years I have been coaching I don't know how many guys have been able to start out their season like Mark Budd has done," Beichner said. "With three tournament wins and to still be undefeated at this point in the season, that is pretty significant."
Budd notched three victories to seize the title taking, Edinboro's Kyle Fluke, 9-4, in the semi-finals and Old Dominion's B.J. Compton in the finals, 15-6.
"Budd is really setting a great pace for us and we are glad he is the team captain," Beichner said. "The NCAA limits us to 20 hours of team wrestling a week and Budd is a guy that does almost twice as much work on his own. He leads by example both on and off the mat."
Junior Ryan Needle took home his first title at the Mat Town USA Tournament. Needle placed first in the 149-pound division, which was a step up from his usual 141 pound class.
"We tried 141 pounds for Ryan Needle and he did not feel good there so he wanted to go up a weight class and we decided to give it a shot," Beichner said. "He really dominated at 149 pounds and he was never in danger through out the weekend of losing a match. He is setting a good pace and is going to have to make a choice if he wants to stay up there. It's his weight class. It's his decision."
Juniors Mickey Moran and Nate Rock dominated the 174-pound division with each going 3-0. The two met each other in the finals for the second Moran vs. Rock inter-team finals but once again the match didn't occur with a no-contest being ruled and the two shared the 174 pound title.
"There was no true first place," Beichner said. "We basically called both those guys champions and called it a no-contest. When you are wrestling your teammate there is no winner. It's a no win situation, we don't want someone to get hurt and as coaches we decide not to wrestle those matches."
Also placing for the Bulls were freshman Andrew Stella who took fifth-place at 141 pounds and freshman Jason Hilliard who earned third at 149 pounds. Junior Mike Ragussa was nudged out of the title by Penn State's Dave Rella and eventually took second at 165 pounds. Both freshman Ricky Scott and junior Jeff Parker notched third-place victories at 197 pounds and heavyweight respectively. Senior Ray Lamb and Freshman Jimmy Hamel also placed for the Bulls both tying for fifth-place at the 197-pound division.
"The guys are wrestling very well and our conditioning is excellent," Beichner said. "We don't lose matches because we are out of shape. We are pleased with where we are at but realize we still have a ways to go. There are still certain issues we need to work on but we are showing improvement. We are buckling down and working on our defects."
The Bulls will next head to the Sin City over the weekend to compete in the 25th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The Bulls placed 16th in the tournament last year and look to improve their record.
"Vegas is the toughest tournament in the country and I think we are ready," Beichner said. "The guys are excited and we don't go out there because it is Vegas, we go out there because it is the Las Vegas Invitational. We are not going there for the lights and the flash of Vegas. We are not there to have that sort of fun. We are going there to compete. We are there to win wrestling matches and that is our fun."
The two-day tournament will begin on this Friday and will host more than 50 colleges from throughout the country.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
