The Binghamton University wrestling team opened its season at home Sunday, with six place-winners, including a champion at the BU Open in the Events Center.
Binghamton freshman Donnie Vinson, who came into the tournament ranked 13th in the nation by Intermat, went 5-0 en route to becoming the champion at 149 pounds. Vinson won all of his matches by decision defeating Shane Strumwasser of Columbia 11-4, Joey Napoli of Lehigh 7-3, Corey Manson of Cornell 4-2, and Walter Peppelman of Harvard 2-0. In the finals, Vinson defeated Columbia’s Steven Santos 6-4.
“Donnie is a phenomenal wrestler who showed great improvement throughout his redshirt year,” said head coach Pat Popolizio according to a Binghamton University press release. “He has set his goals very high for this year and we expect he can meet those goals at the end of the season.”
The other Bearcat finalist was junior Anwar Goeres, who finished second at 141 pounds. Goeres defeated Bucknell’s Adam Healey 8-4 before recording consecutive pins of Philip Smith of Cornell and Zach Kemmerer of Pennsylvania. Goeres won his semi-final match over Harvard’s Tony Buxton 6-4. In the finals Goeres faced Cornell’s Kyle Drake, ranked 10th in the nation by InterMat, and lost a 3-0 decision, finishing the tournament with a record of 4-1.
“Anwar has shown he can beat high-level opponents,” Popolizio said. “He needs to be able to do this week-in, week-out on a consistent basis to finish his growth as a top-level competitor.”
Returning All-American senior Josh Patterson, ranked sixth in the nation by InterMat, went 5-1 in the tournament. Patterson pinned Columbia’s Cary Aldrich at 1:24 in the first period. He followed that victory with another one beating Army’s Collin Wittmeyer 8-4. After losing to Nate Holley of Cornell 10-6 in the quarter-finals, Patterson won three more matches giving him 100 career wins, 13 wins shy of the most victories in school history.
Last week, Patterson a three-time NCAA qualifier and a CAA Conference champion, was named to the CAA Wrestling Silver Anniversary Team. He also led the nation with 46 victories and 22 pins in 2009.
“Josh has been working hard on his few weaknesses and seems to be primed and ready to have an even better season than last year,” Popolizio said. “He has a new confidence in him, being a returning All-American, and he wants to cap his career with a national title.”
Sophomore Justin Lister finished in third place at 157 pounds, posting a record of 4-1 for the Bearcats. Lister won his first three matches by decision before losing in the semifinals to the champion, Harvard’s J.P. O’Connor, ranked fourth in the nation by InterMat. Lister followed the loss by posting a major decision victory over Derek Schreiner of Cornell 8-0 in the consolation finals.
Sophomore Matt Kaylor led the Bearcats with six victories. Kaylor won his first match by technical fall before losing to the champion at 165 pounds, Gabriel Burak of Pennsylvania. Kaylor then won five straight matches including a major decision and two pins. Kaylor’s first period pin of Harvard’s Adam Hogue was in the match for 5th place.
Binghamton’s other place winner was senior Corey Waite, who finished sixth at heavyweight with a record of 4-2 including a pin and a major decision victory.
The Bearcats are next in action at the Cornell Body Bar Saturday, before returning home to face Michigan State and Davidson in the Sprawl and Brawl Sunday.