After an exceptional performance at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Wrestling Championships, redshirt senior wrestler Kaleb Burgess qualified as the 23rd seed for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships in Cleveland, OH.
After qualifying through scores posted in the regular season, freshman diver Adele Melamud qualified for the 1-meter and 3-meter NCAA Championship events. Melamud is the fifth diver in program history to qualify for the event, and the first freshman in program history to qualify for the event.
After losing a decision to a top seeded wrestler in the first round, Burgess was placed into the consolation bracket. Burgess’s first match in the consolation bracket ended with a major decision 12-1 in his favor to advance him to the second day of competition.
On that same day, 700 miles south of Cleveland, Melamud competed in the preliminary rounds of the 1-meter diving competition, where she placed 51st. Melamud was one of just six freshmen competing in the event.
Back in Cleveland the next day, Burgess’s championship competition ended after a 16-6 major decision loss.
Meanwhile, Melamud placed 44th in the 3-meter diving event with a score of 241.85. This was a historic competition for UB’s diving program and a huge accomplishment for Melamud, who was the only freshman diver out of the MAC that competed.
Ciah Courtney is the Senior Sports Editor and can be reached at ciah.courtney@ubspectrum.com
