While UB students headed home for Thanksgiving, the Bulls wrestling team traveled to Lock Haven, PA to participate in the Mat Town Tournament. The Bulls had several athletes take top honors, including two individual titles, in various weight classes.
One of the individual titles went to freshman Jimmy Hamel, wrestling in the 197-pound weight class. In Hamel's young collegiate career, this was his first individual title. En route to the title, Hamel first won against Lock Haven's Josh White with a 17-7 decision. He followed that with a 13-3 decision win over Raymond Bennett of Millersville. In the championship match, Hamel took on and defeated the top-20 ranked wrestler Nick Sommerfeld of Columbia to win the division title.
Junior Mickey Moran won the second of the Bulls' two titles, winning the 184-pound weight class. The first bout placed Moran against Jon Rothman of Hofstra, during which the Bull earned a victory by a 12-2 decision. In the semifinal match, Moran defeated Kenji Porter of Columbia by an 8-3 decision. In the championship match, Moran was able to defeat unattached wrestler Cam Simaz with an 8-6 decision to take the title.
In addition to the two individual titles, Buffalo had three players finish in the top four of their respective weight classes.
In the 149-pound class, senior Dana Gingerich earned a third-place finish. After losing by fall in his opening contest against Shane Smith of Millersville, Gingerich had to fight through the wrestlebacks. After five consecutive wins in the wrestlebacks, including two by fall, Gingerich earned his spot in the final match for third-place. In his final match, Gingerich was victorious over Lock Haven's Ollie Cooperwood by a 10-5 decision to take third in his class.
Senior Jeff Parker was able to take third place in the 285-pound class. After an overtime loss in his first match of the tournament to Cornell's Maciej Jochem, Parker was able to win his next three matches in his bracket. Parker defeated Gabriel Murtoff of Lock Haven, unattached wrestler Ryan Tomei, and Dan Craig of Lock Haven to earn a chance at third place in the heavyweight consolation bracket. In his final match, Parker won by a 7-5 decision against Cameron Wade of Penn State to take the third place for the Bulls.
The final Bull to place at the invitational was junior Joe Wilson, who took fourth in the 133-pound weight class. Wilson lost his opening match against Matt Bronson of Virginia. Following the loss, Wilson was placed in the consolation bracket and shutout Jeff Rotella and Paul Grogan of Rutgers, both by a score of 4-0. Wilson then faced unattached wrestler Andrew Grabfelder in the consolation final. The Bull won by a 6-1 decision, to take fourth place in the division.
The Bulls will return to action this weekend as the team will travel to Las Vegas to compete in the two-day Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
