Gunning and Akins Qualify for UWW World Team Trials
5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
LAS VEGAS – After a strong showing at the UWW Junior Nationals, University at Buffalo wrestlers Jake Gunning and Kyle Akins qualified for the UWW Junior Freestyle World Team Trials which will take place in Dallas beginning May 20.
Gunning took fifth at the Junior Nationals to earn All-American honors. He breezed through his first two matches, winning both by tech falls. After losing a close match to Patrick Grayson in his third dual, he won his next two matches in the consolation bracket, again by tech falls. Gunning earned a 4-1 decision over Daniel Stibral to earn fifth place.
Akins dropped his first match to Daton Fix, a top-ranked wrester. He rebounded nicely to win his next two matches, including a tech fall victory over Iowa's Perez Perez. After dropping his next match, Akins earned a tech fall victory over Brandon Courtney for seventh place.
"This is important for our program," head coach John Stutzman said. "Gunning and Akins work really hard and I thought they should have been at the national tournament. This is another step in their journey of becoming a national champion. Both these guys want to make the world team, so that's really exciting for us."
Both Gunning and Akins will next compete at the UWW Junior World Team Trials in Dallas beginning May 20. If they win their weight class, they will qualify for the UWW World Junior Championships.
