University at Buffalo
MAC Championships
Lantry Qualifies For NCAAs, Highlights Great First Day of MAC Championships
3/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
YPSILANTI, MI – Highlighted by Bryan Lantry qualifying for the NCAA Championships, the University at Buffalo wrestling team had a great opening day at the Mid-American Conference Championships hosted by Eastern Michigan University on Saturday.
After his opening opponent failed to make weight, Lantry shocked top-ranked Mack McGuire, ranked eighth in the nation. Lantry earned a 6-4 decision over McGuire to advance to the semifinals. Lantry fell to Central Michigan's Corey Keener in the semifinals. However, he can finish no worse than fifth, which is good enough to advance to the NCAAs.
Lantry is the first UB wrestler to advance to the NCAA Championships since Nick Flannery in 2014. Lantry will next wrestle Ohio's Cameron Kelly tomorrow.
Lantry is hoping to have some of his teammates join him in New York City. The Bulls have five other wrestlers that have put themselves in position to do so following solid results on Saturday.
Heavyweight Jake Gunning pinned his first opponent, Northern Illinois' Arthur Bunce, to advance to the semifinals. In the semis, Gunning won a 9-4 decision over Kent State's Devin Nye. Gunning will face top-seeded Blaze Cabell of Northern Iowa in the finals tomorrow.
At 125 lbs., Kyle Akins earned a 3-1 decision in his opening match against Central Michigan's Brent Fleetwood. Akins fell to Missouri's Barlow McGhee in the semifinals. However, he is still alive and will wrestle Old Dominion's Brandon Jeske in the consolation bracket tomorrow.
Colt Cotten dropped his opening match to Central Michigan's Justin Oliver at 149 lbs., but recovered to win two matches in the consolation bracket to keep his NCAA hopes alive. Cotten earned a sudden victory over Ohio's Cullen Cummings and a 3-2 decision over Gabe Morse of Northern Illinois. He is one win from qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
At 184 lbs., Joe Ariola won his opening match with an 8-4 decision over Northern Illinois' Quinton Rosser. After falling in the semifinals, Ariola earned a 4-1 decision over Cole Baxter of Kent State. He will wrestle Ohio's Andrew Romanchik tomorrow.
James Benjamin is also still alive at 197 lbs. Benjamin dropped his opening match to Kent State's Kyle Conel, but rebounded to win two matches in the consolation bracket. He earned a 6-2 decision over Old Dominion's Terrell Forbes and then pinned Central Michigan's Jackson Lewis. Benjamin will wrestle Eastern Michigan's Anthony Abro tomorrow.
"It was a great day," head coach John Stutzman said. "We wrestled hard and wrestled with determination. Akins and Lantry really set the tone. Now for the hard part - getting six guys to the NCAA Tournament."
As a team, the Bulls currently sit in sixth place with 44.5 points.
| 1. | Missouri | 103.5 |
| 2. | Central Michigan | 76 |
| 3. | Northern Iowa | 60 |
| 4. | Ohio | 52.5 |
| 5. | Kent State | 49 |
| 6. | Buffalo | 44.5 |
| 7. | Northern Illinois | 40.5 |
| 8. | Eastern Michigan | 40 |
| 9 | Old Dominion | 35 |
