In its second and final home appearance of the season, the Binghamton University wrestling team struggled to find its footing early on Sunday, dropping its first three bouts against reigning CAA Champion Hofstra en route to a 23-19 defeat.
Despite the loss, seniors Donnie Vinson and Nate Schiedel continued to shine for Binghamton (5-12, 3-3 CAA). On the team’s Senior Day, the pair pinned their respective opponents to keep their undefeated dual records intact with just one dual remaining on the Bearcats’ schedule.
Currently ranked No. 4 in the nation at 149 pounds, Vinson recorded three takedowns in the opening period before closing the bout with his eighth pin of the season, good for first on the team. He currently stands at 27-1 overall on the year. The program leader in career wins, Vinson boasts a 126-25 career record, including a 71-8 slate in duals.
Schiedel, currently ranked No. 5 in the country at 197 pounds, finished off his opponent in 1:15 to improve his perfect dual record to 17-0 on the season. The pin was his seventh of the season.
Binghamton as a team struggled, though, quickly falling behind the Pride (6-13, 3-2 CAA) 12-0.
Redshirt freshman 125-pound Mike Sardo opened the day for BU with a major decision loss to No. 17 redshirt senior Steve Bonanno, 12-2. Binghamton freshman 133-pound Dylan Cohen followed with another loss and senior 133-pound Dan Riggi dropped his match to No. 13 redshirt junior Luke Vaith by means of technical fall.
Vinson’s win came next and cut BU’s deficit in half, but the Bearcats would drop their next three bouts, allowing Hofstra to take an insurmountable 23-6 lead. Back-to-back major decision losses from freshman 157-pound Jack McKeever and freshman 149-pound Brian Conrad followed by a 3-1 loss by redshirt junior 174-pound John Paris made up the skid.
With the fate of the match already determined, wins from junior 184-pound Cody Reed — in major decision fashion — and heavyweight redshirt freshman Tyler Deuel sandwiched Schiedel’s pin to make the final score 23-19 in Hofstra’s favor.
The Bearcats held a ceremony prior to the start of the match honoring its five seniors. Along with Vinson, Schiedel and Riggi, 125-pounders Patrick Hunter and Derek Steeley are also in their final year of eligibility.
Binghamton has one match remaining — a Feb. 21 dual against No. 14 Bloomsburg — before the CAA Championship, scheduled for March 9 in Boston. Last year, the Bearcats took second place at the CAA Championship, recording three individual titles and four NCAA Championship berths along the way.
Binghamton’s regular season finale is set for 7 p.m. at Bloomsburg’s Nelson Field House.