Wisconsin Badgers
Buffalo
Five Things to Know: Buffalo
October 31, 2021 | Wrestling
No. 23 Badgers open season at Field House
MADISON, Wis. — Excitement abounds for the start of the Wisconsin wrestling 2021-22 season, one of the most anticipated in recent years for the program and fourth-year head coach Chris Bono and his staff. No. 23 Wisconsin (0-0, 0-0 B1G) returns to the UW Field House for its first home dual meet — and competition — of the 2021-22 season this Monday, Nov. 1 against unranked Buffalo (0-0, 0-0 MAC).
Quick Links
- Know Before You Go: Wrestling at the Field House
- Buffalo Bulls Roster and Match Preview
- Wisconsin Match Notes (PDF)
- Watch on BTN+ (subscription needed) with Joe Miller on the call
Don't miss head coach Chris Bono's latest Jump Around Weekly update video.
Here are five more things to know before the Badgers step on the mats:
1. RETURNING FIREPOWER - Wisconsin's roster returns two NCAA All-Americans — Trent Hillger (285 pounds, 6th) and Eric Barnett (125, 8th) — in addition to five NCAA qualifiers — Barnett, Kyle Burwick (133), Trent Hillger, Andrew McNally (174) and Chris Weiler (184).
2. TRANSFER TALENT - Two talented transfers join the Badgers' roster. McNally, formerly Kent State, is a three-time NCAA qualifier at 174 and 2021 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Champion. New teammate Austin Gomez joins from Iowa State, where he was a NCAA qualifier in 2019 at 149 before pausing his wrestling career due to injury.
3. GOLDEN AMOS - Freshman Braxton Amos had an electrifying summer on the international circuit. He was named a 2021 Olympic alternate for Team USA Greco-Roman and claimed the '21 Junior World Championship gold medal in Greco and bronze medal in freestyle, one of only three Americans ever to double-medal and the highest to place. Amos will start at 197 for the Badgers against Buffalo.
4. SCOUTING THE BULLS - Buffalo finished 4-3 overall in 2020-21 and qualified two wrestlers to NCAAs, including Michael Petite (157). The Bulls return starters at nearly every weight, led by two-time national qualifier Derek Spann at 133. Petite placed fourth at the MAC Championships and advanced to Day 2 of NCAAs this past spring. Sure to be a gritty season-opener, Wisconsin holds a 2-0 record against Buffalo under Chris Bono. UW won 33-3 in 2019-20 season and 25-12 to open the 2018-19 season, Bono's first match leading the Badgers.
5. LINEUPS: PROBABLE STARTERS
| Weight | #23 WISCONSIN | BUFFALO |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | #11 Eric Barnett | Tristan Daugherty |
| 133 | Ethan Rotondo or #24 Kyle Burwick | #HM Derek Spann |
| 141 | Joseph Zargo or Dominic Dentino   | Ben Freeman |
| 149 | #12^ Austin Gomez | John Arceri |
| 157 | Garrett Model | #HM Michael Petite or Ty Raines |
| 165 | Dean Hamiti or Josh Otto | Jay Nivison or Noah Grover |
| 174 | #9 Andrew McNally | Giuseppe Hoose |
| 184 | #18 Chris Weiler | Pete Acciardi |
| 197 | Braxton Amos | Eli Sherran or Sam Mitchell |
| 285 | #6 Trent Hillger | Toby Cahill |
| Head Coach | Chris Bono | John Stutzman |
| Asst. Coach | Jon Reader (Assoc. HC) | Evan Ramos |
| Asst. Coach | Seth Gross | Kyle Shoop |
| Preseason Team and Individual Rankings FloWrestling Oct. 17, 2021 ^ = FloWrestling ranked A. Gomez 12th nationally at 141 pounds, but he's competing at 149. #HM = Honorable Mention |
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Players Mentioned
