Binghamton head coach Matt Dernlan has high expectations for his team on the mat, but near the top of the list for his 5-6 squad is the development of a consistent identity. That seemingly innocuous goal has proved hefty for a Bearcat wrestling team hampered by injury.
Despite their setbacks, the Bearcats (5-6, 3-1 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) have managed to post an impressive .750 mark in the EIWA this season. But as its overall record shows, the team is still looking to find — and keep — a steady winning edge.
“Even though we’ve had some good performances, we haven’t necessarily been able to follow up those performances in the following match,” Dernlan said. “So we’ve really been trying to challenge the guys to develop a level of consistency, no matter what the match, no matter what the environment, no matter what the situation — always find a way to be your best.”
After closing 2014 at the Midlands Championship hosted by Northwestern, Binghamton kicked off 2015 with a winning start in North Carolina.
Facing Southern Conference opponent Gardner-Webb on Jan. 9, the Bearcats edged the Bulldogs (4-8, 1-2 SoCon), 20-15. Opening up scoring for Binghamton was 125-pound senior David White. Fresh off a performance that merited an eighth-place finish at Northwestern, White earned a decision victory to put the Bearcats up first, 3-0.
Binghamton split the first six matches before the Bulldogs took the lead, 15-10. 184-pound junior Jack McKeever then put Binghamton back within striking distance, 15-13, with a decision win. And after a pair of wins from 197-pound redshirt senior Caleb Wallace and senior heavyweight Tyler Deuel, BU succeeded in its comeback effort.
On Jan. 11, the Bearcats faced their second SoCon opponent of the weekend in Appalachian State. Against the Mountaineers (5-6, 2-0 SoCon), Binghamton found itself the victim of a slow start and fell, 22-15.
Binghamton then took on its former CAA-rival, Hofstra, on Jan. 16. The Bearcats opened the evening against the Pride (4-7, 2-3 EIWA) with another decision win from White.
“For [White] to place in that tournament and continue to gain momentum this month, he’s really found his stride at 125,” Dernlan said.
Despite falling behind after White’s opening win, BU’s comeback rally was successful this time. 157-pound freshman Vincent DePrez’s 1-0 victory incited a run that saw BU win five of the final six matches. A final decision by Deuel broke the dual’s 16-16 tie, allowing Binghamton to earn its first win over Hofstra in the rivalry’s EIWA era, 19-16.
Facing Columbia on Jan. 18, the Bearcats suffered a close 19-18 loss at home. White, 165-pound redshirt freshman Zack Zupan, McKeever and Deuel posted wins in the close effort.
Dernlan believes that his team is forced to come from behind so often in part due to the number of injuries in the lower-weight classes, forcing the upper-weight wrestlers to trek uphill.
“When you don’t have your main guy, you’re really putting a big burden on the backup guy,” Dernlan said. “The upper weights are going to have to continue to step up for us.”
But the tides turned for BU in Friday’s match against Drexel. Despite another tough opening against the Dragons (4-7, 1-1 EIWA), a pin by White gave BU the cushion it needed to survive the deficit. Binghamton won its final five matches to take the dual, 22-14. In their respective classes, White, McKeever and Deuel earned NCAA rankings of 27, 31 and 22, respectively.
The Bearcats finished 3-2 overall in dual meets during the break, standing now at 3-1 in the coveted EIWA. That’s an impressive start for a team that started conference duals 1-3 last season.
“We’re still taking it one match at a time,” Dernlan concluded. “But in the other sense, it’s really good to establish ourselves being new to the conference. It’s good that we’re establishing our presence within the league.”