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Buffalo Wrestling announces matchups for Blue and White intrasquad match

By Matt Gritzmacher
Matt Gritzmacher

UB Wrestling officially opens the season on 1 November at Maryland's Terrapin Duals and doesn't see regular season action in Alumni Arena until 11 December, but we get our first look at the squad on Saturday in the third annual Blue and White Match, an intrasquad scrimmage that will help head coach John Stutzman whittle down a roster of 31 grapplers down to ten starters.

John will be covering the Wrestling season preview here over the next ten days, but the team released the lineups for the Blue and White match this evening, so we might as well start our season coverage here.

Hollister, a redshirt-sophomore, and Akins, a redshirt-freshman, both worked behind senior standout Max Soria last season. Hollister was 9-8, mostly in open tournaments, while Akins did not compete as a true freshman after a standout high school career in Illinois.

Neither Lantry nor Retell saw action in dual meets last year, but were 26-9 and 14-13, respectively, in open competitions. Lantry's 26 wins were second-most on the team. UB's main guys at 133, Jason Estevez and Sean Peacock, appear to be moving up to 141.

There's going to be quite the competition here. Estevez (12-8) and Peacock (19-13) were both standouts for UB last year at 133, and Rocco Russo got time in four duals, while Lapi went 25-14 in open competition, one of just five Bulls to post 20 or more wins.

HYYPPPPPEEEE TRAINNNNN

Cotton took the season by storm last year, returning from injury to register two falls (should have been three) in seven matches, and even appearing a not-awful column from Bucky Gleason. Meanwhile, Tommy Forte is an absolute stud coming out of Indiana. From last February:

In a recent interview with his local TV station, future UB Wrestler Tommy Forte spoke about his pursuit of a second Indiana state title after finishing second last year:

"I want another picture up on that wall. I'd chop off my arm if it was needed. To me second place isn't anything."

Fortunately, we'll be seeing a two-armed Forte in Blue and White next year, as last night the senior from Mishiwaka High School claimed his second state title and fourth top-three finish in his career, capping a 37-0 season. I'm not sure if there's more beyond the state level (ask John) but things are good.

Forte is ranked 9th and 15th nationally by Intermat and FloWrestling respectively, in his weight class. He is a beast.

A recent preview from New York Wrestling News makes it sound like Forte is planned to redshirt, but things can change I suppose.

UB will be looking to fill a hole left by the graduated Wally Maziarz in this one.

Rill registered two falls and ten takedowns at 174 in only three matches last year before losing his sophomore season to injury, while Therrien was 14-17 competing at 157 with only one dual meet appearance.

Ndokaj was the main guy at 165, going 8-17 on the year, while Holcomb was 15-10 in open competition.

Ariola was fantastic last season, going 14-11 and finishing second on the team with 29 takedowns at 197, while Brett Perry was 12-13 on the year.

Silvis is moving down from heavyweight, while Nate Rose is a true freshman coming off an appearance at the World Championships.

Gunning redshirted the season, but won more than any other Bull, going an outstanding 28-8 in open competitions. James was 5-13 in split time with Silvis.

***

John will have a full wrestling preview (maybe a series?) up before the season starts, and we'll have some level of post on the results from Saturday's action, which is open to the public and begins at 10:00 AM Saturday in Alumni Arena.

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