Bulls Qualify Two for NCAAs, Put Six on Podium at MAC Championships
SOURCE: ubbulls.com
March 09, 2024

 


KENT, OH - The University at Buffalo wrestling team qualified two and placed six on the podium as a successful weekend at the Mid-American Conference Wrestling Championships concluded at Kent State's M.A.C. Center on Saturday. Overall, the Bulls finished fifth as a team.

Sam Mitchell and Nick Stampoulos each punched their ticket to the national tournament at 197 and 157, respectively.

Mitchell wrestled in the finals at 197 against Benjamin Smith of Cleveland State. He dropped an 8-3 decision and had to wrestle one more match to qualify for the NCAAs. In the win-and-in match, Mitchell faced Kent State's Blake Schaffer. He got a takedown early in the third period and was able to hold on for the 5-2 victory and advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time in his career.

It was a magical run for the unseeded Stampoulos who beat three seeded wrestlers to qualify for nationals. In his first match on Saturday, Stampoulos earned an 11-1 major decision over fifth-seed Marcus Robinson of Cleveland State to punch his ticket to the national tournament and advance to the third-place match. Stampoulos dropped an 8-1 decision to three-seed Johnny Lovett of Central Michigan in the third-place match but it was still a successful first-time trip to the MAC Championships for the redshirt-freshman.

Chase Kranitz had a strong showing in his first MAC Championship appearance, placing third. He earned a pair of 7-3 decisions over Northern Illinois' Matt Zuber in the consolation semifinals and Colin Fegley of Lock Haven in the third-place match. There is hope Kranitz could earn an at-large bid to the national tournament.

Tommy Maddox opened Saturday with a 9-6 victory over Northern Illinois' Mikey Kaminski to advance to the third-place bout at 133. He lost in the third-place match but his fourth-place finish is his best ever performance at the MAC Championships.

Lonnell Owens-Pabon, who only began wrestling at 285 midway through the season after beginning the year at 197, turned heads with his performance. After dropping his first match of the day, Owens-Pabon bounced back to defeat Donovan Sprouse of George Mason to earn fifth place.

Jay Nivison also took home fifth place after a 7-3 decision over Tyler Stoltzfus of Lock Haven. Nivison did all his work in the second period with a takedown and a four-point nearfall.

Caleb Brooks (141) and Hunter Shaut (165) both took home seventh place with victories in their final matches.

"What a second half of the season," head coach John Stutzman said. "Qualifying two is a big deal for our program. I'm hoping Kranitz has a chance as he has wins over numerous national qualifiers. I'm so proud of these guys and my staff. They have bought into the program and it showed today."

The National Championships begin on March 21 in Kansas City.


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