Blake Roulo Signs National Letter of Intent for UB

BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo Bulls wrestling team continues to build its program upward, both literally and figuratively. Adding to the excitement of a $400,000 renovation to its facilities, the UB staff announced the signing of Blake Roulo of Matoaca High School in Petersburg, VA. He is a 149-pound prospect who recently became just the second wrestler ever to win four NHSCA titles and is also ranked as the top senior in Virginia out of all weight classes.

"I'm excited about having the opportunity to work with such an outstanding athlete," head coach Jim Beichner said. "We look forward to many years of athletic and academic success here at UB."

Earlier this month, Roulo defeated Travis Himmelman out of Colorado 3-1 in the finals of the NHSCA (National High School Coaches  Association) senior nationals. In order to become the second four-time champion ever, Roulo had to go through six of the top seniors in the entire country, and he did it with ease. In other national tournaments, Blake finished second at the Freestyle Nationals and has third- and fourth-place finishes at the Greco Roman Nationals. In regular season tournaments, he performed well at the prestigious Beast of the East Championships, recording second, third and fourth overall finishes in his high school career.

"We're trying to take that next step," said assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Frank Beasley. "We've done very well with guys that weren't 'blue chip' athletes and I think guys that are like Blake and Jake (Waste) will help take us to another level – from competing for a MAC title to winning a MAC title and reaching all of our goals as a team."

After wrestling in the 145-pound weight class, Blake is projected to compete right away to make an impact on the 2011-12 team.

"He has shown that he is as good as anybody in the country regardless of weight class and we expect that they are the type of athletes that if they are called to step in to the lineup that they will be ready to go and be difference-makers," Beasley said of Roulo as well as fellow recruit Jake Waste.

Roulo joins Waste as the first two members of what is shaping up to be a very talented recruiting class. Waste, who committed during the early signing period in November, recently won his fifth national tournament at the FILA Jr. Greco Nationals. In his six wins en route to the title, he allowed his opponents to score only two points combined.

Roulo's National Rankings

#1 Senior in Virginia out of all weights
#41 Recruit in the country out of all weights by intermatwrestle.com
#42 Recruit in the country out of all weights by hswrestling.net
#43 Recruit in the country out of all weights by d1collegewrestling.net
#4 - 149 pound college prospect in the country by theopenmat.com
#5 - 145 pound wrestler in the country by Wrestling USA Magazine
#7 - 145 pound wrestler in the country by intermatwrestle.com
#10 - 145 pound wrestler in the country by theopenmat.com
#10 - 145 pound wrestler in the country by WIN Magazine