Oklahoma Gold Classic
Wrestling Opens 2013 Campaign At Oklahoma Gold Invitational
11/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo wrestling team opens up their 2013-14 campaign on the road Saturday at the Oklahoma Gold Classic in Brockport, NY. This season marks the 15th season of the invitational as the Bulls will be joined by Oklahoma University, The College at Brockport, Bloomsburg University, Army and American University.
A young and talented UB wrestling team took its lumps last season after leaning heavily on a starting lineup that consisted of multiple wrestlers who were sophomores or younger. Now coming back to the team will be six starters from last year with a season of experience under their belt and a feeling that there's something still to prove. Joining them will be one returning national qualifier - redshirt junior Max Soria. Soria accumulated 25 victories last season including one NCAA Tournament victory and this year he will look to help the team climb back into the national focus.
The Bulls program will also welcome a completely new coaching staff for the 2013-14 season as former Bull standout John Stutzman takes over the reigns at Buffalo. After eight seasons developing Bloomsburg into a national power, Stutzman has been hired as the 15th coach in the 79-year-history of the program. Joining Stutzman at Buffalo are Bryce Hasseman, Quincy Osborn and former Bull great John-Martin Cannon.
Stutzman guided the Huskies to a record of 97-56-1 in his eight seasons, putting him third all-time in career wins. The team finished with double-digit wins in six of his eight seasons as head coach. He has coached three NCAA Division I All-Americans, eight Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) champions, 76 EWL place winners and 33 NCAA Division I national qualifiers.
Andrew Schutt returns to the Bulls for his senior season as the active winningest wrestler on the team with 48 career victories. Schutt entered last year with high expectations and the same will be placed on his plate this year following a junior season that saw him collect nine wins. Schutt's 2012-13 campaign was highlighted by a second place finish at the New York State Intercollegiate Championships, finishing with three wins and one loss.
Two other Buffalo wrestlers that will be relied on this season to perform at a high level are a pair of redshirt juniors in Wally Maziarz and Angelo Malvestuto. Maziarz has continued to improve each and every year on campus and the coaching staff believes he will have his best season yet as a junior, following a sophomore campaign that had him rank third on the team with 23 wins. Malvestuto seemed to settle down last year in his first season after transferring from Virginia Tech as he produced 12 big victories for the Bulls.
The Bulls are ready to come out charging after a very disappointing season last year, and with coach John Stutzman saying that he sees improvement at all classes of the team, the Bulls hope a successful postseason is in the cards for their wrestling program.
