Spring practice for the Bulls' 1996 season gets under way this week in a new venue. Through an agreement with the Buffalo Bills, UB will hold spring practice sessions at the Ralph C. Wilson Indoor Football Facility in Orchard Park. The facility is utilized by the Bills during their regular season. UB's spring football schedule runs from March 30 until the Blue-White game April 27 at 4 p.m. at UB Stadium.

Nelson Townsend, UB Director of Athetics,says the ongoing relationship with the Buffalo Bills has been a very positive interaction for both the university and the Bills over the years. "We have enjoyed hosting the Buffalo Bills in the past with some of their open mini-camp practices and now feel fortunate to benefit from their gracious agreement. As the only Div. I football program in the area allowed to have spring practice, we feel Craig and the team will be in a position to eliminate the weather as one of their concerns in preparation for next season."

Head Coach Craig Cirbus said, "I remain so impressed with the front office staff of the Bills. A coaching staff like theirs complemented by such fantastic management personnel are classic reasons why the Bills are such a successful franchise and commandeer so much pride in our community. We thank Mr. Wilson, John Butler and Coach Levy for helping to facilitate this arrangement." UB's spring practices are closed to the public. The Bulls open the regular season at UB Stadium Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Illinois State. To obtain tickets call 645-6666.

WRESTLING

Junior 118-pounder Jason Wartinger and senior 167-pounder Marcus Hutchins both suffered losses in the second consolation round of the 1996 NCAA Wrestling Championships Friday, eliminating them from the tournament in Minneapolis. After defeating Rider's John Carvalheira 12-2 Thursday night, Wartinger advanced to face Shawn Conyers of Ohio State in the third session Friday. After giving up an early takedown, Wartinger was unable to make up the deficit in losing 5-3.

Hutchins advanced to the second round of the consolations by defeating Virginia's Howie Miller 7-6, to face Jason Wedgbury of Northern Iowa. Down 2-0 after a near-fall scored by Wedgbury, Hutchins scored a reversal to tie the score at 2-2 going into the third period. However, in the final period, Wedgbury scored a one-point escape to take the lead for good 3-2.

Wartinger's and Hutchins' wins on Thursday night were the first ever for UB wrestlers at the NCAA Tournament on the Div. I level. The Bulls' two victories scored 2.50 team points for UB, placing them in 38th place entering Friday's competition. The University of Iowa won the team competition for the second straight season and fifth time in the last six years.

Wartinger finishes the season with a 35-6 overall record and 1-2 mark at the tournament. He lost in the first round to No. 4 seed Sheldon Thomas of Clarion University, ranked No. 2 in the country at 118 pounds for most of the season. Thomas won the 118-pound title at the meet. Wartinger's career record stands at 68-21. Hutchins finishes the season with a 28-8 overall record and a 1-2 mark at the tournament. He lost in the first round to Michigan State's Joel Morrisette, the No. 10 seed. Hutchins ends his career at UB with a 66-20 record and the distinction of being the only athlete in school history to appear in three national tournaments at the Div. I level.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The outdoor track and field season began with a pair of meets in North Carolina over Spring Break. At the season-opening Seahawk Invitational in Wilmington, the Royals picked up three second place finishes. Lisa Kragbe placed second in the 400 hurdles in 1:03.56. Shelly Hamilton cleared 5-4 for second in the high jump and the 4 x 100 relay team of Kragbe, Hamilton, Megan Sanford and Kim Shaw took second in 50.72 in the 26-team meet. On the men's side, Fumu Gakodi was the top finisher for the Bulls taking third in the 400 meters in 48.69.

From there, the teams traveled to Winston-Salem for the Wake Forest Invitational with close to 30 teams entered. Gakodi placed second in the 400 dash in 48.94; Kevin Winkler finished third in 49.06. Neil Murray was second in the pole vault at 14-3 1/4. Gretchen Welch finished second in the 5000 meters in 18:42.9 to lead the Royals. Hamilton placed third in the high jump at 5-6. The teams will be at the Raleigh Relays at North Carolina State on Saturday.

MEN'S TENNIS

The Bulls made the trek to Hilton Head, S.C. for Spring Break matches during the week. UB went 2-4 for the week with victories over Mid-Continent Conference foes Youngstown State (6-1) and Valparaiso (4-3). UB dropped matches to Mid-Con member Eastern Illinois (5-2), Connecticut (5-2), Eastern Kentucky (5-2) and Oral Roberts (5-1). Coach Russ Crispell's team is 3-4 on the spring schedule and 13-6 including last fall's matches.

Wadie Kawar, playing number one singles, led the Bulls with an impressive 5-1 mark during the week. The 5-9 senior from Amman, Jordan lost the first match to his Oral Roberts opponent then rattled off five wins, defeating top competition. UB is off until April 4 when they travel to Pittsburgh to face Duquesne.

-Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office