BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The University at Buffalo wrestling team swept Indiana and Indiana Tech in a pair of duals Sunday afternoon. The Bulls defeated Indiana, 21-16, for their first ever win over the Hoosiers. Then UB took down Indiana Tech, the nation’s 2nd-ranked NAIA program, 19-16.
Buffalo mounted a furious comeback to beat Indiana. After falling behind 16-3, the Bulls won the final five matches to earn the victory.
Colt Cotten got the Bulls off to a good start with a 4-1 decision over 20th-ranked Chris Perez. The upset win was Cotten’s first over a ranked opponent this season.
After Cotten’s win, Indiana won the next four matches to take a commanding 16-3 lead. But the Hoosiers wouldn’t win another match.
James Benjamin sparked the comeback with a pin of Jake Hinz just 1:20 into the match. It was Benjamin’s third pin of the season as the senior grappler improved to 9-2 on the year. Up next, Jake Gunning earned a 3-1 decision over Fletcher Miller to cut the Indiana advantage to 16-12.
Kyle Akins kept the Bulls rolling with an upset win over 20th-ranked Elijah Oliver. Akins, wrestling in only his second match of the year, coming off an injury, earned an 8-3 decision to bring the Bulls to within 16-15.
Bryan Lantry gave the Bulls the lead with a 3-1 decision over Garrett Pepple. Lantry improved to 7-1 on the season.
With the Bulls leading 18-16, it came down to the final match of the dual – Jason Estevez vs. Cole Weaver at 141. Estevez, who had lost his previous two duals, stepped up and earned a 2-1 decision to preserve the win for Buffalo.
“It was a great team win,” head coach John Stutzman said. “We were down and battled back. Hats off to Kyle Akins and Colt Cotten for beating nationally-ranked guys and Estevez for coming through.”
In UB’s second match, the Bulls were able to hold off a feisty Indiana Tech squad, 19-16.
Again it was Cotten who got Buffalo off to a good start. The senior 149-pounder earned a tech fall victory over Robert Humphrey in the first match of the dual to put the Bulls ahead, 5-0. Alex Smythe followed with an 8-3 decision over Jacob Gross to extend the UB lead to 8-0.
Indiana Tech won the next three matches to take a 9-8 lead and the Bulls found themselves having to come from behind to earn the victory. Nate Rose got the start at 197 and earned a 14-2 major decision over Trevor Yank to put the Bulls ahead, 12-9.
Gunning earned his second win of the day, a 16-2 major decision over Guy Henson to extend the UB lead to 16-9. The Warriors won the last two matches, one by major decision, to make the final score 16-13.
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