The Binghamton wrestling team is set to return to the West Gym this weekend following six consecutive Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association matches on the road — but not before stopping in Ithaca.
The Bearcats (7-5, 4-3 EIWA) will face their final non-conference contest of the season against Division III Ithaca (9-4). Not to be counted out due to their division, the Bombers are currently ranked among the top 10 teams in D3 — dominating their last two opponents by a combined score of 91-7. With Saturday’s match serving as the Bearcats’ last opportunity to sharpen their skills outside of the EIWA, head coach Matt Dernlan knows that the key to a strong weekend on the mat is a strong start.
“As long as we go out there, we dictate our pace, set our tempo — because we’re in great shape … we have the potential to have a really great weekend,” Dernlan said. “And from a momentum standpoint, we need to take advantage of this opportunity.”
So far, BU’s momentum has carried it through to victory in a pair of tough road environments — including a crowd at Drexel that Dernlan simply deemed “bananas.” Set to return home on Sunday to face Sacred Heart, the Bearcats hope that their endurance shown on the road will shine through back home.
“We’ve kind of relished some hostile environments on the road,” Dernlan said. “Hopefully we can put to light a reflection of how we built our character, how we built our fight, since a month ago and our last home match.”
The Pioneers (1-9, 0-4 EIWA) will be the first of five consecutive EIWA matches for Binghamton, a stretch that will take BU through to the EIWA tournament in March. While BU’s perfect record against Sacred Heart in the EIWA era may foster hope in some, Dernlan knows that at this point in the season, his team must take a holistic approach with its remaining EIWA contests and not focus solely on the win-loss record.
“It’s not just about a win — a dual meet win, obviously that’s our focus,” Dernlan said. “We want to get the outcome as a team that we want, but also the last month is building momentum, getting into our teaching phase. It’s all about positioning yourself for the post season, and every win is critical from a seed standpoint. From a team-based stand point, we’re getting excited because everything has a bit more urgency.”
Since the Bearcats are two wins better in conference than they were at this point last season, Dernlan hopes that a strong performance this weekend will serve as a solid springboard as the squad enters into its final month of the regular season.
“Every opportunity has a bit more on the line … February’s a big month, an exciting month, and we’re ready for it,” he said.
Binghamton is set to kick off its weekend against Ithaca at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Glazer Arena in Ithaca, New York.