A HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY FOR SUNY NIAGARA WRESTLING

By Robert Norwich, senior writer

Sunday February 9, 2025 will mark the 34th anniversary of a historic event in SUNY Niagara (formerly Niagara County Community College/NCCC) wrestling history. SUNY Niagara, located 20 minutes from Buffalo, NY, embarked upon its inaugural wrestling season in 1973, led by former head coach (now assistant) Eric Knuutila. Knuutila, who was a standout wrestler at Corning Community College and the University at Buffalo guided and developed his program throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s and quickly became one of the most respected figures in wrestling, not only New York State, but also nationally. Knuutila’s team was ranked #1 in the region and poised to break through and win their first region III championship in 1989 but was upset and finished as the runner up to Delhi Community College.   

Knuutila’s second legitimate shot at claiming the elusive Region III wrestling championship came during the 1990-1991 season. Knuutila formulated a star studded lineup, from top to bottom, led by four wrestlers, Dan Uhteg Buffalo, NY, David Brainard Buffalo, NY, Chuck Mahoney Buffalo, NY and Jason Powers Buffalo, NY. The first contest of the 1990-1991 season was held on 11/16/90 with Niagara picking up a 21-15 dual meet victory over Penn-York Conference rival Alfred State College. Picking up victories for Niagara was Mark Sullivan (118), David Brainard (126), Mark Kessler (134), Jason Powers (167), Chuck Mahoney (177) and Todd Eisenhut (190). On the same day Niagara dropped a 33-14 dual meet vs. Middlesex C.C. Verses Middlesex, David Brainard, Dan Uhteg and Chuck Mahoney Buffalo, NY all picked up victories, while Paul DiGiacomo wrestled to a draw vs. Tom Agugilaro of Middlesex.

Knuutila’s team showed a sign of things to come with a dominant team victory at the “NCCC Student Senate Tournament”, held at Suny Niagara, on December 1, 1990. The Student Senate Tournament was the toughest tournament on Niagara’s schedule as junior college teams from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan traveled to Buffalo, NY to compete. Todd Eisenhut Buffalo, NY, David Brainard Buffalo, NY , and Chuck Mahoney Buffalo, NY. all took home 1st place honors and Niagara won the event with 127 ¾ team points, outpacing 2nd place Morrisville with 111 team points.      

Knuutila and his Suny Niagara wrestling program “got over the hump” and finally claimed their first region III championship, at Alfred State College on February 9, 1991. Uhteg and Brainard each claimed Region III individual titles, leading the team to score 82 team points, which bested runner up Morrisville’s 57.25. Since winning the first team title in 1991, the Suny Niagara wrestling program has won more than 20 Region III titles and is considered one of the countries elite Junior College wrestling programs. Knuutila has also coached six national champion wrestlers during his time at the helm at Niagara. According to relevant press releases from Buffalo, NY, two wrestlers from Knuutila’s 1991 squad went on to complete at four year colleges, as Dan Uhteg wrestled at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. and Chuck Mahoney went on to play football at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.