Wrestling Season Ends on Day One of NCAA Championships
3/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
ST. LOUIS, MO - Saddled with tough draws for both of its wrestlers, the Buffalo Bulls wrestling team bowed out on day one of the NCAA national championships Thursday. Max Soria lost both of his matches, while Mark Lewandowski went 1-2, losing both of his matches to top 10 seeds.
Soria faced Jarrod Patterson of Oklahoma in his first match of the 125-pound bracket. As the number seven seed, Patterson finished the season with a 28-7 record. Soria couldn't find an open window to go on the offensive, and lost 6-1. In his consolation match, the Kings Park, NY freshman would take on Wyoming's Michael Martinez. Falling behind early in the match, Max would be forced to be the aggressor and Martinez took advantage, holding Soria at bay for a 7-2 win. The losses end Soria's season with a 21-19 overall record.
Lewandowski's draw would prove to be even tougher in the 165-pound bracket. The junior faced Maryland's Josh Asper in the preliminary round of the tournament. His opponent came in losing just one match all season to earn the seventh overall seed and proved why, getting a three-point tilt on Lewandowski to provide all the scoring he would need in a 5-0 shutout. In his first consolation match, Mark faced Zach Toal of Missouri. After the two wrestlers traded escapes, Lewandowski scored a dramatic takedown in the final ten seconds of the match to earn the 3-1 win and stay alive.
He would draw ninth-seeded Conrad Polz of Illinois in the next round. Polz was upset in the opening round of the tournament and took an early lead. As was the case for the day, Lewandowski's offense was stifled and he could muster only three points in a 6-3 loss to Polz. For the season, Lewandowski finished with a 33-9 overall record, with his win total matching a career high set last season and placing him in the top 15 for most wins in a single season in program history.
The national championship will run through Saturday.
RESULTS
125:
Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma) won by decision over Max Soria (Buffalo) (Dec 6-1)
Michael Martinez (Wyoming) won by decision over Max Soria (Buffalo) (Dec 7-2)
165:
Josh Asper (Maryland) won by decision over Mark Lewandowski (Buffalo) (Dec 5-0)
Mark Lewandowski (Buffalo) won by decision over Zach Toal (Missouri) (Dec 3-1)
Conrad Polz (Illinois) won by decision over Mark Lewandowski (Buffalo) (Dec 6-3)
