Ragusa, a 174-pounder who is 21-13 this season, started the weekend by becoming the seventh UB wrestler to reach 20 wins this year, as he earned a 20-8 major decision against Eastern Michigan's Don Funk. The win put Buffalo (9-4 overall, 2-2 MAC) ahead for the first time in the match, as Ragusa's major helped spur the Bulls on to a 29-12 win, as they pulled in 20 team points in the final four bouts.
On Sunday, Ragusa's win against Sinnott provided a much-needed spark heading into the upperweights, as the former Massachusetts state champion posted a 5-4 overtime win against the 13th-ranked Chippewa. Ragusa earned an escape in the second overtime. Then after allowing an escape, he posted a takedown with five seconds left to clinch his first victory against a nationally-ranked competitor.
The award, the first in Ragusa's career, helps cap off the 174-pounder's comeback story. After redshirting in his first year at Buffalo, Ragusa looked as if he were headed to a successful season when he placed sixth at the Oklahoma Gold Classic in 2004. During practice the next week, however, he tore his LCL and was forced to sit out the rest of his freshman campaign. He has come back this year to place at two tournaments, win 20 matches and also win the starting 174-pound job despite being a natural 165-pounder.
Junior John Cummings (Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore) became the fifth UB wrestler to earn the MAC's Wrestler of the Week award after a two-pin performance against Appalachian State and Mercyhurst on Dec. 27. Buffalo posted four straight MAC Wrestler of the Week awards from Nov. 22-Dec. 13. Junior Mark Budd (Orrville, OH/Orrville) earned the fourth honor after beating Division I's top-ranked Shawn Bunch of Edinboro, 6-4, to pick up the award on Dec. 13.
Sophomore Mickey Moran (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler Area) picked up his first conference accolade on Nov. 22, as he went 3-0 at a Buffalo quad-meet to earn the award. Senior Kyle Cerminara (Lewiston, NY/Lewiston-Porter) followed with his third career MAC Wrestler of the Week award on Nov. 29, as he posted two wins over nationally-ranked opponents to earn the Mat Town USA Invitational title at 197 pounds and also earned the Harris Lipez Most Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament. Cerminara repeated the honor on Dec. 6 after winning the Las Vegas Invitational title at 197 pounds, defeating three nationally-ranked wrestlers and setting the school's career-record for wins in the process.
The Bulls finish up their MAC slate when they head to Kent State on Friday for a 7:00 pm match.
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