The Binghamton University wrestling team cemented its most successful dual-meet season as a Division I program last Thursday. The Bearcats recorded their 14th dual meet win by defeating East Stroudsburg University 35-3 at the Koehler Fieldhouse in East Stroudsburg. The 14 wins this season is the most Binghamton has ever had in Division I, surpassing the 13 wins they had in each of the past two seasons. It is also the highest total for the program since 1975.

The Bearcats won nine of the 10 bouts. Freshman James Inghram recorded a major decision at the 125-pound weight class to start the dual. Junior Tyler Malmberg (133) recorded a pin at 2:30. Junior Anwar Goeres (141), redshirt freshman Donnie Vinson (157), junior Ryan McGarity (165), redshirt freshman Pat Walsh (197) and senior Corey Waite (285) all won by decision. Sophomore Matt Kaylor bumped up to the 174-pound weight class and recorded a major decision. Freshman Nate Schiedel (184) recorded a pin at 2:59. Sophomore Anthony Jerome suffered the lone loss for the Bearcats, losing 4-3 at the 149-pound weight class.

This past Sunday, the Bearcats held Senior Day at the West Gym to honor the team’s five seniors prior to their final home match of the season against conference foe George Mason University. It was the final home match in the careers of Anthony Esposito, Mike Kleeman, Josh Patterson, Robert Slavin and Corey Waite.

The final Colonial Athletic Association dual meet for both teams resulted in a 22-22 tie. The dual started at the 184-pound weight class, and Schiedel put the Bearcats on the board right away with a 10-4 victory. Schiedel, the CAA’s top ranked 184-pounder, is 19-2 in dual meets this season, leading the team in dual wins. After sophomore Mike McKeever was pinned at 197, Waite answered with a pin of his own at 285. Waite leads the team in wins with 33. The Patriots won the next two bouts, one by decision and one by pinfall. Goeres, ranked No. 1 in the CAA, recorded a major decision win at 141, moving his overall record to 32-7. Jerome lost 9-1 at 149 to give the Patriots a 19-13 lead with three bouts remaining.

At 157, sophomore Justin Lister, ranked No. 18 in the nation, won by decision to bring the Bearcats within three points. The match was Lister’s first as a nationally-ranked wrestler. George Mason forfeited the 165-pound weight class to give Binghamton a 22-19 lead with Patterson left to go at 174. Unfortunately, the reigning All-American could not secure a win for his squad. Patterson, who was ranked 12th in the nation at the time, was upset by then 19th-ranked sophomore Mendbagana Tovuujav 7-6, clinching a tie for the Patriots. Patterson had been 14-0 in dual meets this season prior to the loss. Patterson dropped to 14th in the Intermat national rankings. Binghamton finishes with a 4-1-2 conference record and are 14-6-2 overall.

The Bearcats’ final dual meet of the season is slated for tonight at Oklahoma State University, which is the alma mater of BU head coach Pat Popolizio. OSU is currently ranked fourth in the nation. Popolizio wrestled under current Cowboy head coach John Smith. This is the third year in a row the Bearcats are facing OSU. Last year, the Cowboys won 40-6; Patterson was the lone winner for the Bearcats. The match is set for 7 p.m.