Friday, March 8
Kent, OH
All Day
University at Buffalo
vs
MAC Championships
Mitchell Advances to Finals, Seven other Bulls Move to Day Two of MAC Championships
3/8/2024 8:10:00 PM | Wrestling
KENT, OH – Sam Mitchell advanced to the finals and seven other Bulls advanced to day two as the University at Buffalo wrestling team competed at the Mid-American Conference Championships on Friday at Kent State's M.A.C. Center.
Mitchell won all three of his matches at 197. He began with a 10-0 major decision over Lock Haven's Cael Black and followed with a 3-0 decision over Sean Carroll of Northern Illinois. In the semifinals, Mitchell won a 9-1 major decision of Cameron Wood of Central Michigan.
Mitchell will wrestle for his first MAC title against two-seed Benjamin Mitchell of Cleveland State tomorrow. Mitchell's previous top finish was third place last season.
Mitchell was one of three UB wrestlers to advance to the semifinals. Tommy Maddox (133), Nick Stampoulos (157) and Chase Kranitz (184) also advanced to the semis but were unable to move on after all three lost to the top seed in their weight class.
After receiving a first-round bye, Maddox advanced the semifinals in exciting fashion. Trailing five-seed Marcel Lopez of SIUE, 4-0, in the third period, Maddox recorded his first point via an escape with just over one minute left. He then registered a takedown with 16 seconds left and was able to put Lopez on his back for the pin with just six seconds left in the final period.
Unseeded Stampoulos won his first two matches of the day to advance to the semifinals. Like Maddox, Stampoulos had a flare for the dramatic in his first match as well. Trailing, 4-0, in the third, Stampoulos got a takedown and then earned four nearfall points to pull out the 7-4 victory over fifth-seeded Alejandro Herrera-Rondon of Clarion. He earned a 6-4 decision over fourth-seeded Colton Washleski of Rider to advance to the semifinals.
Kranitz had a strong showing in his first two matches of the day. He earned a 15-3 major decision over Cleveland State's Joey Lyons in the opener, followed by a 12 -5 decision over Isaac Dean of Rider in the quarterfinals.
Hunter Shaut won his opening match over Tommy Bennett of Northern Illinois, 7-2. After dropping his next match to three-seed Evan Maag of George Mason, Shaut bounced back with a gutty 2-1 overtime victory over Lock Haven's Eric Alderfer to move on to Saturday.
The Bulls had three other wresters drop their opening match but win their second match to advance to day two. Caleb Brooks (141) got a first-period pin, Jay Nivison (174) earned a 7-3 decision and Lonell Owens-Pabon (285) got a takedown with just 12 seconds left to earn an 8-5 decision.
"We wrestled well today," head coach John Stutzman said. "We'll have eight guys placing with a chance to qualify a few."
Action resumes on Saturday at 11:30 am.
Mitchell won all three of his matches at 197. He began with a 10-0 major decision over Lock Haven's Cael Black and followed with a 3-0 decision over Sean Carroll of Northern Illinois. In the semifinals, Mitchell won a 9-1 major decision of Cameron Wood of Central Michigan.
Mitchell will wrestle for his first MAC title against two-seed Benjamin Mitchell of Cleveland State tomorrow. Mitchell's previous top finish was third place last season.
Mitchell was one of three UB wrestlers to advance to the semifinals. Tommy Maddox (133), Nick Stampoulos (157) and Chase Kranitz (184) also advanced to the semis but were unable to move on after all three lost to the top seed in their weight class.
After receiving a first-round bye, Maddox advanced the semifinals in exciting fashion. Trailing five-seed Marcel Lopez of SIUE, 4-0, in the third period, Maddox recorded his first point via an escape with just over one minute left. He then registered a takedown with 16 seconds left and was able to put Lopez on his back for the pin with just six seconds left in the final period.
Unseeded Stampoulos won his first two matches of the day to advance to the semifinals. Like Maddox, Stampoulos had a flare for the dramatic in his first match as well. Trailing, 4-0, in the third, Stampoulos got a takedown and then earned four nearfall points to pull out the 7-4 victory over fifth-seeded Alejandro Herrera-Rondon of Clarion. He earned a 6-4 decision over fourth-seeded Colton Washleski of Rider to advance to the semifinals.
Kranitz had a strong showing in his first two matches of the day. He earned a 15-3 major decision over Cleveland State's Joey Lyons in the opener, followed by a 12 -5 decision over Isaac Dean of Rider in the quarterfinals.
Hunter Shaut won his opening match over Tommy Bennett of Northern Illinois, 7-2. After dropping his next match to three-seed Evan Maag of George Mason, Shaut bounced back with a gutty 2-1 overtime victory over Lock Haven's Eric Alderfer to move on to Saturday.
The Bulls had three other wresters drop their opening match but win their second match to advance to day two. Caleb Brooks (141) got a first-period pin, Jay Nivison (174) earned a 7-3 decision and Lonell Owens-Pabon (285) got a takedown with just 12 seconds left to earn an 8-5 decision.
"We wrestled well today," head coach John Stutzman said. "We'll have eight guys placing with a chance to qualify a few."
Action resumes on Saturday at 11:30 am.
Players Mentioned
141
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
133
/ Wrestling
197
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
149
/ WrestlingUB Wrestling takes down Central Michigan! 💪
Monday, February 09
UB Wrestling heads out to the MAC Championships!
Thursday, March 06
Ed Michael | A Founding Father of UB Wrestling
Monday, February 17
In the Bullseye Podcast: Wrestling HC Donnie Vinson on the teams progress & season-long expectations
Thursday, February 06
