AMHERST — "One-hundred, thirty-three-pound national champion,” the University at Buffalo student exalts while walking the halls at Alumni Arena.

It’s a daily occurrence for Mark Budd, senior captain of the UB wrestling squad. But not everybody who mentions Budd’s national championship prospects sings his praises.

“I hear it in practice,” Budd said. “If I'm slacking (assistant) coach (Brandon) Newill will come up to me and ask, ‘Don’t you want to be a national champion?’ ”

Newill, who arrived at UB the same year as Budd, said he pushes the nation’s 19th-ranked 133 pounder, according to the latest Intermat/NWCA/NWMA poll because that's how Budd likes it.

“Sometimes great athletes want to be coddled,” Newill said. “Mark kind of thrives under the harshest practice conditions. He does better in those conditions than if you were to hold back or give him a break.”

Few can succeed in college wrestling without a tremendous work ethic. Yet in a room soaked in determination, Budd sets the standard.

“His work ethic is through the roof,” Newill said. “It was good when he got here, but it’s (grown) tenfold from where it was and that’s what’s gotten him to where he is now.”

Newill said it’s the extra 20 minutes a day Budd puts in, adding up to an extra session a week. Right now, Budd is working on improving his weakness, top position, with Newill’s help.

“Coach Newell was one of the best top position wrestlers in the country (at Pittsburgh-Johnstown),” Budd said. “I stay after practice every day to work on top. Finally, I’m starting to pick it up.”

Heading in to tonight’s home finale against Kent State, Budd is 30-4 on the season, including a victory over fourth-ranked Tyler McCormick of Missouri at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in December.

Standing at 98 career victories, Budd will likely become the fourth Bull to achieve 100-career wins next week at Binghampton. Then it’s off to defend his 133-pound title at the Mid-American Conference championships. After that, Budd gets a crack at his dream.

“I think about it all the time,” Budd said. “All of my notebooks say ‘Mark Budd — 2007 national champion,’ That’s the ultimate goal."

"It’s a wide-open weight class,” Newill said. “It’s going to come down to whoever has that great national tournament and Mark Budd can be that guy.”

Contact Jonah Bronstein at bronsteinj@gnnewspaper.com