UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
AKRON, O.H. — University at Buffalo wrestler Alex Smythe took down some of the best competition in the nation to secure a spot on the U23 World Team, winning his weight class at the men’s freestyle U23 World Team Trials hosted by the University of Akron. Smythe will now compete at the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania, the week of Nov. 12-18.
Wrestling in the 74kg weight class, Smythe upset Wisconsin’s Evan Wick in the finals to earn the spot. After losing his first match in the best-of-three finals, Smythe came back to defeat the All-American in the final two bouts to earn the title. Smythe won the second match, 7-3, and secured the spot with a 6-5 win in the third and deciding bout.
Smythe’s path to the World Team began with a first-round 6-4 win over Minnesota’s Carson Brolsma. In the quarterfinals, Smythe beat former JUCO National Champion Dayton Racer to advance to the semifinals. Smythe then took down North Carolina’s Kennedy Monday to earn a spot in the finals.
