Brackets Released for NCAA Wrestling Championships
3/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships Brackets
BUFFALO, NY – The initial brackets for the 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships were released on Wednesday. The University at Buffalo wrestling team has three wrestlers competing – their most since 2013. Bryan Lantry (133 lbs.), Colt Cotten (149 lbs.) and Joe Ariola (184 lbs.) will all be making the trip to New York's Madison Square Garden beginning March 17.
Lantry drew a familiar foe as he will face off against Ohio's Cameron Kelly. A freshman, Kelly is 22-7 on the season. This will be the third meeting between Lantry and Kelly. A 13 seed, Kelly won both of the previous matches, including a 6-3 decision at the MAC Championships.
Cotten will go up against Matthew Kraus of Arizona State. Kraus is the 13 seed and has a record of 28-6 on the year. This will be Kraus' second trip to the NCAA Championships. Cotten has a 12-9 record on the season.
Finally, at 184 lbs., Ariola will wrestle third-seeded Victor Avery of Edinboro. Avery is a three-time EWL champion making his four appearance at Nationals. Ariola is 13-15 on the season.
"It's a great opportunity for our guys to go out and compete against the best in the country," head coach John Stutzman said. "The best thing about this is that anything can happen as long as you compete hard."
The double-elimination tournament begins on March 17 and runs through March 19.
