Bulls Host Gardner-Webb in Home Opener on Friday
12/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York wrestling team will host their first dual meet of the 2015-16 campaign on Friday when Gardner-Webb comes to Alumni Arena. The Bulls are 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the Mid-American Conference. UB is coming off a 30-3 loss at Eastern Michigan on Sunday in the Mid-American Conference opener. Heavyweight Jake Gunning was the Bulls lone winner, defeating Gage Hutchison in a 4-3 decision. Gardner-Webb is 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Southern Conference.
SETTING THE SCENE
- Friday will be the home opener for the Bulls
- The Bulls are 3-1 all-time against Gardner-Webb
- In their last meeting, Gardner-Webb defeated the Bulls, 32-7, last season
- The Bulls are coming off a 30-3 loss at Eastern Michigan in the MAC opener
- A win over Gardner-Webb would improve the Bulls to 5-2 - matching their best start since the 2010-11 season
JAKE GUNNING MOVES UP IN POLLS
Redshirt freshman Jake Gunning keeps impressing as he moved up to #26 in the latest Wrestling Report rankings at 285-pounds. Gunning has been dominating his opposition as he owns a 5-1 record so far this season with his lone loss coming to nationally-ranked Dawson Peck from Maryland in a close match, 3-1. Gunning ranks third on the squad with 14 takedowns so far this season.
COLT COTTEN BUILDS ON SOLID FRESHMAN CAMPAIGN
Redshirt sophomore Colt Cotten continues to improve for the Bulls and it seems like he is finally healthy. At 5-1, The Benton, PA native has had a great start to the season. Against Springfield, West Virginia and Lock Haven on Nov. 15, Cotten was the most impressive UB grappler as he collected a perfect 3-0 record with two major decision victories and a technical fall win. Cotten was awarded UB Athlete of the Week for the second time in his career for his efforts.
YOUTHFUL LINEUP GAINING EXPERIENCE AND CONFIDENCE
The way the UB wrestling team has started the season would make you think that they were a very experienced, upperclass-laden squad but that is not the case at all. The UB roster consists of 26 underclassmen including seven in their starting lineup. The seven underclassmen that have seen dual meet action have began to grow for head coach John Stutzman, leading the way is Colt Cotten and Jake Gunning. Kyle Akins and Bryan Lantry have also found their way as of late, earning tough wins over experienced grapplers. The confidence has begun to show as well for the youthful Bulls as they have not stepped back from any challenge, including against nationally-ranked opponents.
BLOOMSBURG CONNECTION
Head Coach John Stutzman came to Buffalo after spending eight seasons as the head coach at Bloomsburg. Three of his former wrestlers game with him to UB. Colt Cotten, Rrok Ndokaj and Tyler Rill all redshirted their freshman seasons at Bloomsburg.
ARIOLA EMBRACING MOVE TO 184 POUNDS
After a slow start to his redshirt freshman campaign, coach Stutzman moved Joe Ariola from 197-pounds down to 184-pounds and something seemed to click. Ariola won his final two MAC duals of the season by major decision and decision as he closed out the year with a 14-11 record. The redshirt sophomore has started off this season in impressive fashion, going 4-2 through six duals. The UB coaching staff will lean on Ariola to make strides the rest of the season.
NCAA QUALIFIERS APLENTY
The growth of the Buffalo wrestling program has been noticeable not only locally but also nationally. Over the past seven seasons, the Bulls have produced 21 NCAA qualifying wrestlers after only producing six during the previous five seasons. Buffalo set a program record during the 2011 campaign as they had six wrestlers qualify for NCAA's. As a program, the Bulls have notched 45 NCAA qualifiers since the 1996 season.
FECHKO AND GRANT ADDED TO COACHING STAFF
Looking to add some more familiarity to his program, head coach John Stutzman added a pair of new assistant coaches for the 2015-16 season. The first move Stutzman made this offseason was the hiring of Craig "Boomer" Fechko to take over as his lead assistant. Fechko comes to Buffalo from Dakota Wesleyan where he was the head coach for one season. He previously served as a volunteer assistant at Bloomsburg for John Stutzman during the 2012-13 season. Fechko will work with the Bulls lightweights. Stutzman then promoted Justin Grant from Volunteer assistant to assistant coach after one season at Buffalo. Grant wrestled for Stutzman at Bloomsburg and was a NCAA qualifier at 285-pounds for the Huskies. Grant will work with the Bulls heavyweights this season.
