UB Press Release: Eight Bulls Ranked in the MAC

CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Mid-American Conference wrestling coaches announced the first January weight class individual rankings in conjunction with the league office today.  The rankings will be released on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the season, with one additional ranking system (two total) in January and February. Eight total wrestlers from Buffalo earned top four ranks with three being recognized as the top in their divisions.

Desi Green comes in at number one at 149 pounds, with the junior holding a 22-5 overall record. John-Martin Cannonearns top billing at 165 pounds after he reached the 20-win plateau for the third straight season. Jimmy Hamel is the final UB wrestler to top their weight, as his 21 wins are third most on the team. 

Kevin Smith is number two at 133 pounds with his team-high 24 wins this season. Breakout sophomore Mark Lewandowskimoved in to third place at 157 pounds and will look to rise even higher in the closing months of the season.

Other wrestlers coming in ranked are Andrew Schutt (141 pounds), Brian Sheehan (174) and Josh Peters (197), who are all ranked fourth in their respective weight divisions.

In the team standings, it's getting crowded at the top, with the coaches separating teams two through four by only two points. Buffalo is currently holding steady with a projected third-place finish, but with many young wrestlers coming into their own it should prove to be an exciting finish in one of the nation's toughest wrestling conferences.

2010-11

125 – 1. Nic Bedelyon (KSU); 2. Gabe Ramos (OU); 3. Christian Cullinan (CMU); 4. Jared Germaine (EMU).

133 – 1. Scott Sentes (CMU); 2. Kevin Smith (UB); 3. Tyler Small (KSU); 4. Filiberto Colon (EMU).

141 – 1. Germane Lindsey (OU); 2. Tristan DeShazer (NIU); 3. Chase Skonieczny (KSU); 4. Andrew Schutt (UB).

149 – 1. Desi Green (UB); 2. Donnie Corby (CMU); 3. Brad Squire (OU); 4. Marcel Klopton (KSU).

157 – 1. Bryan Deutsch (NIU); 2. Matt Cathell (KSU); 3. Mark Lewandowski (UB); 4. Eric Cubberly (CMU).

165 – 1. John-Martin Cannon (UB); 2. Mike Miller (CMU); 3. Ross Tice (KSU); 4. Kyle Lang (OU).

174 – 1. Ben Bennett (CMU); 2. Nick Purdue (OU); 3. B.J. Johnson (KSU); 4. Brian Sheehan (UB).

184 – 1. Jimmy Hamel (UB); 2. Casey Newburg (KSU); 3. Brad Dieckhaus (NIU); 4. Ryan Garringer (OU).

197 –1. Dustin Kilgore (KSU); 2. Erik Schuth (OU); 3. Nick Whitenburg (EMU); 4. Josh Peters (UB).

HWT – 1. Jared Trice (CMU); 2. Brandon Barlow (KSU); 3. Jeremy Johnson (OU); 4. David Wade (EMU). 

The preseason team rankings were also decided in the same forum.  The six schools were ranked based on the number of first through fourth-place votes that were earned in the individual voting system.  A first-place vote was worth four team points; a second-place vote earned three team points; third-seeded votes were worth two team points, while a fourth-place tally earned that team one point in the team ranking system.  The preseason team rankings for the MAC are as follows:

2010-11 MAC January Rankings

1. Kent State (26)

2. Central Michigan (21)

3. Buffalo (20)

4. Ohio (19)

5. Northern Illinois (9)

6. Eastern Michigan (5)