UB Wrestling finishes 2-1 at Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duals behind Cotten, Lantry, Gunning

After a successful opening weekend at the Terrapin Duals, the UB wrestling team took the short drive to the Albany area for the Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duals. The Bulls started out in dominant fashion in their first match against D-III Springfield College with Kyle Akins and Bryan Lantry collecting pinfall victories to put the Bulls up 12-0 early. Following a decision victory by Brandon Lapi, Colt Cotten and Tim Schaefer both won by techncial fall.

Muhamed McBryde's match was the closest call for UB when he won by an 8-5 decision. Tyler Rill and James Benjamin both won by pinfall and Joe Ariola won by technical fall. Then, to ca off an overall dominant performance, Jake Gunning won by fall as well giving UB the 51-0 shutout victory and their first 2 shutout season since the 2005-2006 season.

This article will be updated throughout the day so stay tuned for updates. UB will face West Virginia at 1:15 and Lock Haven at 3:15.

UPDATE - 3:40 PM

After winning their first match in dominating fashion the Bulls had a hard fought loss to #20 West Virginia in their second dual of the day. Kyle Akins and James Benjamin both gave top 10 wrestlers a run for their money but both lost close decisions 5-3, and 9-8 respectively. Akins lost to NCAA runner-up Zeke Moisey and Benjamin to Big XII runner-up Jake Smith.

Bryan Lantry scored a solid 10-4 decision to tie the match at 3, and Brandon Lapi won in exciting fashion in double overtime to give UB the lead. Colt Cotten would tack on a major decision to extend the UB lead to 7, however, that's as large as the UB lead would get as the team dropped five of it's final six matches, most in close fashion. Jake Gunning was the bookend win for the Bulls as he pulled off a minor upset of #27 AJ Vizcarrando in a 4-2 decision; however, it was too little too late as UB fell 19-13.

The team werstled hard and was in the match with a ranked opponent the entire way and had a chance to win at the end but the several close matches were UB's undoing. It's still a positive sign, though, that the program with a lineup still of mostly underclassmen is competing with some of the best in the nation.

UB's final match will be against Lock Haven later this afternoon; stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE - 5:XX PM

After dropping a tough decision to #20 West Virginia the Bulls looked to get back on track in their final dual of the day against Lock Haven. Kyle Akins and Brandon Lapi both dropped tough decisions 6-2, and 9-4 respectively. Lapi fought hard against returning All-American Dan Neff but couldn't get much traction for the win. Bryan Lantry continued an impressive day with a 10-4 decision, finishing the day a perfect 3-0.

Also, joining Lantry in the 3-0 club for the day was Colt Cotten who tacked on another major decision to his resume and brought his season record to 5-0. Cotten has been a wrecking ball so far this season, and it wouldn't surprise me if he jumped into the national rankings after his outing today.

Then UB and Lock Haven traded punches with UB winning matches at 165 and 184 while Lock Haven won bouts at 174 and 197 to set up a 14-16 score heading into the final match at 285 pounds. Luckily for UB Jake Gunning joined the 3-0 club on the day as well handing out a 4-0 decision to give UB the 17-16 win.

This was a win for the program and UB now sits at 4-1 on the season heading into next weekend's New York State Wrestling Championships held at Cornell.

***

Springfield College (W, 51-0 )

125: Kyle Akins (UB) pinned Nirchio (SPRG) 2:15                           (6-0)

133: Bryan Lantry (UB) pinned Keane (SPRG) 1:15                        (12-0)

141: Brandon Lapi (UB) dec. Colvin (SPRG) 10-3                           (15-0)

149: Colt Cotten (UB) tech. fall Pinto (SPRG) 5:24                           (20-0)

157: Tim Schaefer (UB) tech. fall Morgan (SPRG) 1:40                   (25-0)

165: Tyler Rill (UB) pinned Henson (SPRG) 4:12                             (31-0)

174: Muhamed McBryde (UB) dec. Bohriner (SPRG) 8-5                (34-0)

184: Joe Ariola (UB) tech. fall Burgos (SPRG) 4:36                          (39-0)

197: James Benjamin (UB) pinned Williams (SPRG) 4:36              (45-0)

285: #31 Jake Gunning (UB) pinned Kakauridze (SPRG) 4:42      (51-0)

#20 West Virginia (L, 19-13)

125: #3 Zeke Moisey (WVU) dec. Kyle Akins (UB) 5-3                       (0-3)

133: Bryan Lantry (UB) dec. Corey Stainbrook (WVU) 10-4              (3-3)

141: Brandon Lapi (UB) dec. Tony Deangelo (WVU) 3-1                  (6-3)

149: Colt Cotten (UB) maj. dec.  Jake Smith (WVU) 11-1                   (10-3)

157: #13 Dylan Cottrell (WVY) maj. dec. Tim Schaefer (UB) 12-3    (10-7)

165: Tim Wheeling (WVU) dec. Tyler Rill (UB) 7-3                              (10-10)

174: Weston Vonegidy (WVU) dec. Muhamed McBryde (UB) 7-5    (10-13)

184:  #31 Bubba Scheffel SV-1 Joe Ariola 7-5                                     (10-16)

197: #8 Jake Smith (WVU) dec. James Benjamin (UB) 9-8               (10-19)

285: #31 Jake Gunning (UB) dec. #27 AJ Vizcarrando (WVU) 4-2  (13-19)

Lock Haven (W, 17-16)

125: Jake Field (LHU) dec. Kyle Akins (UB) 6-2                                  (0-3)

133: Bryan Lantry (UB) dec. Rob Rehm (LHU) 7-4                             (3-3)

141: #12 Dan Neff (LHU) dec. Brandon Lapi (UB) 9-4                       (3-6)

149: Colt Cotten (UB) maj. dec. Cody Wheeler (LHU) 8-0                 (7-6)

157: Aaron McKinney (LHU) maj. dec. Tim Schaefer (UB) 9-1         (7-10)

165: Tyler Rill (UB) maj. dec. Cody Cordes (LHU) 17-7                     (11-10)

174: Tyler Wood (LHU) dec. Austin Weigel (UB) 9-3                          (11-13)

184: Joe Ariola (UB) dec. #32 Tristan Sponseller (LHU) 8-6            (14-13)

197: #32 Phil Sprenkle (LHU) dec. James Benjamin (UB) 8-7         (14-16)

285: #31 Jake Gunning (UB) dec. Brad Emerick (LHU) 4-0              (17-16)