Buonocore opened the season with a first place finish at the PJ Smith Pembroke Classic, winning all four of his bouts. He topped Florida's Ethan Vugman before back-to-back technical fall victories, 19-3 over Curtis Johnson and 15-0 over Coker Frank Bianco. He then pinned Cokers James Gonzalez in 5:50 to take the title at 141 pounds.