A dramatic comeback victory at 184 ignited the 18th-ranked
Binghamton wrestling team to a 23-12 victory over an upset-minded Princeton
squad during Friday night's home opener at Dillon Gym.
Princeton grabbed four victories on the evening, including a
wild 6-2 win for senior Andrew Hirai at 133, but three straight victories late
for the Bobcats helped Binghamton to the team win.
Patrick Hunter gave Binghamton a 3-0 lead at 125 after
scoring on a series of takedowns against freshman Max Rogers, who stayed
aggressive throughout his match but couldn't manage a takedown.
Senior Andrew Hirai got the crowd fired up at 133 with a
pair of first-period takedowns against Dan Riggi. After riding Riggi for the
entire second period, he escaped early in the third for a 5-2 edge. After a
hard-fought scramble late in the period, Hirai ended with a 6-2 victory.
Kevin Moylan tried to build on the momentum with a quick
takedown at 141 against Tyler Pendergast, though the Binghamton wrestler would
escape and score a takedown of his own for a 3-3 tie at the end of one period.
Pendergast took bottom to open the second, and Moylan took full advantage. He
scored a quick two back points, and then hit a near fall three points later in
the period to open an 8-3 edge.
Pendergast got an early takedown in the third to cut the
deficit to 9-6, but Moylan scored a reversal to assume control in the final
period and earn an 11-6 win.
Binghamton senior Donnie Vinson took the mat as the
third-ranked wrestler in the nation against Princeton tri-captain Zach Bintliff
at 149 pounds. While Bintliff fought hard, Vinson showed his All-America
abilities with a 17-5 major decision.
At 157, Princeton junior Seth Hazleton brought momentum
backed to Princeton's side with a quick takedown and ride out in the first
period. An escape early in the second opened a 3-0 lead, though Binghamton's
Jack McKeever scored a takedown late in the second to cut the deficit to one
point. McKeever chose neutral in the third, but Hazleton remained the aggressor
and scored on a double to pull out a 6-2 win.
Binghamton freshman Vincent Grella drew first blood at 165
with a late takedown, but Tiger freshman Judd Ziegler raised his level with a
quick reversal in the second. Grella assumed control in the third with multiple
takedowns and closed the match with an 11-5 win.
Junior Ryan Callahan scored first for Princeton at 174 with
a takedown, and after an escape in the second, held a 3-1 lead over John Paris.
Callahan rode long enough to grab more than a minute of riding time, and then
he forced a stall point from Paris to open a 4-1 lead. He never let Paris
escape and walked off the mat with a 5-1 victory.
Freshman Scott Gibbons brought his team-best 11 victories to
the mat at 184 pounds against Cody Reed, and after a scoreless first period, he
hit three near-fall points in the second to open a 3-1 edge. A quick escape and
then an impressive scramble out of a double left Gibbons up 4-1 midway through
the third.
Reed responded for Binghamton with two quick takedowns to
force overtime, and then he fought through a scramble to score a stunning 7-5
victory.
Binghamton had total control from that point, as
sixth-ranked Nate Schiedel scored a 15-0 technical fall over Dan Santoro, the
junior co-captain who was making his season debut. Schiedel overpowered Santoro
and grabbed several near falls to build his way to a tech fall early in the
third.
In a battle of freshmen heavyweights, Binghamton's Tyler
Deuel posted a 19-2 technical fall in the first period to complete a 23-12
Bobcats' victory.
Princeton will return to the mat Saturday evening when it
heads to the host
125 Patrick Hunter (B) d. Max Rogers 10-5
133 Andrew Hirai (P) d. Dan Riggi 6-2
141 Kevin Moylan (P) d. Tyler Pendergast 11-6
149 Donald Vinson (B) md. Zach Bintliff 17-5
157 Seth Hazleton (P) d. Jack McKeever 6-2
165 Vincent Grella (B) d. Judson Ziegler 11-5
174 Ryan Callahan (P) d. John Paris 5-1
184 Cody Reed (B) d. Scott Gibbons 7-5, OT
197 Nate Schiedel (B) tf. Dan Santoro 16-0
285 Tyler Deuel (B) tf. Cole Lampman (P) 19-2
