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— Binghamton Wrestling (@BearcatsWrestle) December 20, 2024
Off to Nashville! ??#ONEBinghamton pic.twitter.com/yjGfAoT2Ba
VESTAL, N.Y. – In one of the biggest challenges the team will face this season, the Binghamton wrestling team will face three programs ranked in the top 20 at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals Sunday at the Ensworth Frist Campus in Nashville, Tenn.
In a tripleheader, the Bearcats (1-1) will wrestle three-time defending national champion and current No. 1 Penn State (3-0), No. 16 Missouri (1-3) and No. 19 Little Rock (5-0). Binghamton previously wrestled another ranked team in No. 17 Illinois to open its season at Journeymen's WrangleMania on Nov. 9. While the Bearcats were defeated 30-10, they picked up two ranked wins during the match. Will Ebert shut out No. Edmond Ruth 2-0, while Brevin Cassella earned a 14-1 major decision against No. 11 Danny Braunagel.
Following the Binghamton's most recent dual, a 26-12 victory over EIWA Independence Division rival Long Island University on Sunday, the Bearcats now has four wrestlers who are ranked nationally. That is their most so far this season. Cassella, Ebert and Cory Day each remain ranked in both the FloWrestling and InterMat polls. Joining them is Carson Wagner, who entered the InterMat poll at No. 33 for 125 lbs. This comes after the sophomore pinned No. 32 Robbie Sagaris in 48 seconds during the Bearcats' dual against LIU, improving his record to 9-5.
The dual victory against the Sharks also moved Binghamton Head Wrestling Coach Kyle Borshoff up to third on the program's all-time wins list with 47, passing Mark Gumble. Borshoff trails Steve Erber (152) and Pat Popolizio (81) for the most dual wins for a coach in program history.
Journeymen Collegiate Duals
Date | Times: Sunday, Dec. 22 | 3 p.m. (Penn State), 5 p.m. (Missouri), 7 p.m. (Little Rock)
Location: Ensworth Frist Campus, Nashville, Tenn.
Live Results: X - @BearcatsWrestle
Watch: Rokfin
Binghamton Wrestlers Projected Lineup (Overall Record, Dual Record)
125 | No. NR/33 Carson Wagner (9-5, 1-1)
133 | Micah Roes (5-4, 1-1) or Jack Kazalas (4-3, 0-0)
141 | Nate Lucier (3-5, 0-2)
149 | Ivan Garcia (6-4, 1-1) or Caleb Sweet (6-2, 0-0)
157 | Fin Nadeau (3-5, 0-2) or Jordan Brown (5-2, 0-0)
165 | Carter Baer (5-3, 0-1) or Roberto Padilla (2-6, 0-1)
174 | No. 13/12 Brevin Cassella (10-3, 2-0)
184 | No. 29/23 Will Ebert (10-3, 1-1)
197 | Cayden Bevis (3-4, 0-1) or Andrew Bailey (1-4, 0-1)
285 | No. 19/17 Cory Day (7-3, 1-1) or Charlie Tibbitts (4-3, 0-0)
*rankings based on FloWrestling/InterMat
Penn State Projected Lineup
125 | No. 16/12 Luke Lilledahl
133 | No. 7/10 Braeden Davis
141 | No. 3/3 Beau Bartlett
149 | No. 2/2 Shayne Van Ness
157 | No. 3/4 Tyler Kasak or Alex Facundo
165 | No. 1/1 Mitchell Mesenbrink
174 | No. 2/2 Levi Haines
184 | No. 1/1 Carter Starocci
197 | No. 6/7 Josh Barr or Lucas Cochran
285 | No. 2/2 Greg Kerkvliet
*rankings based on FloWrestling/InterMat
Penn State Notes
The Nittany Lions have won their last 59 duals dating back to 2020. Penn State most recently shut out Wyoming 54-0 on Dec. 15. The 54-point margin is the second largest in Penn State's history, with the team recording five pins, four technical falls and one major decision throughout the match.
Penn State's roster features 10 ranked wrestlers, including 2024 national champions Levi Haines (No. 2 at 174 lbs.), Carter Starocci (No. 1 at 184 lbs.) and Greg Kerkvliet (No. 2 at 285 lbs.). Mitchell Mesenbrink is also ranked No. 1 in the country at 165 lbs.
Penn State has won all three of its duals against Binghamton, with the last match being a 40-2 victory for the Nittany Lions over the Bearcats on Nov. 17, 2017 in front of more than 3,000 fans at the Events Center.
Missouri Projected Lineup
125 | Gage Walker or Luqman Masud
133 | Kade Moore or Jake Crapps
141 | No. 13/16 Josh Edmond or Owen Uhls
149 | Zeke Seltzer or Nate Pulliam
157 | No. 26/32 James Conway or Joel Mylin
165 | No. 12/19 Cam Steed
174 | No. 1/1 Keegan O'Toole
184 | No. 8/10 Colton Hawks
197 | Jesse Cassatt
285 | Jarrett Stoner
*rankings based on FloWrestling/InterMat
Missouri Notes
After beginning its season with a 25-14 win at Northern Colorado, Missouri has lost its last three duals, all to ranked opponents. The Tigers fell to Virginia Tech 23-10, Illinois 23-14 and Northern Iowa 24-10.
Missouri has found success in tournament competition. The Big 12 program first won the Tiger Style Invite, with Keegan O'Toole, Cam Steed, Josh Edmond and Colton Hawks each winning an individual title. Most recently, the Tigers finished second at Southern Illinois Edwardsville's Cougar Clash on Dec. 7, with Jarrett Stoner winning the heavyweight bracket.
O'Toole, a two-time national champion (2022, 23), is ranked No. 1 in the country at 174 lbs., with a record of 8-0 this season.
Missouri has won both of its previous matches against Binghamton, with the last meeting being a 33-6 victory for the Tigers at the 2021 Collegiate Wrestling Duals.
Little Rock Projected Lineup
125 | Tyson Roach
133 | No. 3/5 Nasir Bailey
141 | Cole Minnick
149 | No. 17/16 Jordan Williams
157 | No. 25/20 Matty Bianchi
165 | No. NR/21 Joey Bianchi
174 | No. 30/33 Tyler Brennan
184 | No. 10/16 Brock DelSignore
197 | No. 5/5 Stephen Little
285 | Apollo Gothard
*rankings based on FloWrestling/InterMat
Little Rock Notes
This is the first time Binghamton will ever face Little Rock in wrestling.
Little Rock's five victories this season have come against Central Missouri (32-6), Nebraska-Kearney (38-10), Northwestern (29-10), Central Michigan (27-15) and Chattanooga (32-6).
In its fifth season as a program in 2023-24, Little Rock achieved success with Nasir Bailey and Stephen Little earning All-America honors at nationals. Head Coach Neil Erisman was voted Coach of the Tournament at nationals by his peers and would also be named Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
Bailey enters the weekend ranked No. 3 in the FloWrestling poll at 133 lbs., with a 4-1 record, while Little is ranked No. 5 in both the FloWrestling and InterMat polls at 197 lbs., with a record of 6-0.