Ready to kick off the season Sunday! Here is our season preview: #EmbraceTheGreenhttps://t.co/rzQ41vjLfm
— Binghamton Wrestling (@BearcatsWrestle) November 6, 2019
VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton wrestling team enters the season with three returning NCAA Championship participants, a strong core of upperclassmen, and several new faces looking to make their mark on this ascending Bearcats program. Head coach Kyle Borshoff is now entering his second full season at the helm, and is ready to see where 2019-20 will take the team.
"The goal for the season is pretty simple," Borshoff said. "We want to do better than last season. And by better, I mean getting more guys to the NCAA tournament, becoming All-Americans, and eventually National Champions. I believe our dual schedule will help us prepare for those big moments."
The 2019-20 schedule is highlighted with bouts against N.C. State, Virginia Tech and Lehigh. Those matchups, alongside the Cliff Keen Invitational and Southern Scuffle, will give the team a preview of what to expect come March.
"The Cliff Keen Invitational is hands down the top college wrestling tournament in the country," said Borshoff. "Our schedule as a whole is strong, and our guys will have wrestled some of the best in the country at their weight class by the end of the regular season."
The Bearcats are fresh off an exciting 2018-19, in which they posted another record-setting season that included a program best sixth-place finish at the EIWA Championships, with a team total of 78 points. Their Four NCAA qualifiers were the most the program has seen since 2013, and the most Binghamton has sent as a program since its inception into the EIWA in 2015.The Bearcats have steadily improved in the postseason, and this year the goal is no different.
Joining Binghamton in 2019-20 are eight true freshmen, who are looking to compete with returners for potential starting positions. To start the season, all of them will wrestle unattached.
At 125 pounds, junior Audey Ashkar is expected to return as a starter for the second consecutive season. The native of Liverpool, N.Y. and last year's champion at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat open will look to build on a solid campaign.
"Audey is a tough competitor with great ability, and our goal is to move him up the podium at EIWA's and for him to earn a spot in NCAA's," Borschoff said. Audey_Lou
Behind Ashkar will be freshmen Matthew Schreiber and Tomasso Frezza, who will look to carve their own roles for the team and add depth to the weight class following the departure of three Bearcats to graduation.
At 133 pounds, returning national qualifier Zack Trampe comes back to lead the way for the Bearcats. Trampe acquired a 16-6 overall record in 2018-19 with a 9-2 record in dual matches. The redshirt-sophomore will look to improve on last season's fourth place EIWA finish and qualify for NCAA's for a second straight season.
Also wrestling at 133 pounds will be Jason Javier, J.R. Kazalas, Carson Sauriol and A.J. DeRosa.
At 141 pounds, Anthony Sparacio headlines a deep weight class. Sparacio carried a dominating 12-1 dual record into the post-season, finishing third at EIWA's and advancing to the NCAA's for the first time in his career. This season brings great expectations for the North Babylon, N.Y. native, as he holds the No. 1 spot in the EIWA preseason rankings at 141 pounds.
Kevin Kelly and Dane Heberlein are expected to be in competition alongside Sparacio. Both are experienced and will look to push for a starting spot.
At 149 pounds, the Bearcats will look to a few faces to compete for a starting position. Michael Zarif and Matt Swanson will try and impress early to lock down that role.
"At 149, we are looking forward to the Bearcat Open and our matchup at South Dakota State to help us determine our stance for who's starting. Both wrestlers will have the opportunity to show what they've got for this weight class," Borshoff said.
Sophomore Padraig Lupole will also be wrestling at 149 pounds this season.
At 157 pounds, Chris Barker slid into a prominent role for the Bearcats last season as a new addition to the starting lineup and is poised for an even greater role.
"Chris has looked strong in practice," said Borshoff. "But looking strong in practice is different than in competition, so we will look to see him try and take it to the mat starting this weekend."
He and Dylan Wood split time as starters last season, posting similar dual records, and similar career records. Wood had four wins last season, including a pivotal victory at home against Penn and is expected to compete with Barker throughout 2019-20.
Redshirt-sophomore Aidan Monteverdi returns at 165-pounds this season, looking to improve on a 3-4 record in dual matches and add to his 22 career wins. Monteverdi comes in to the season at full health and will look to make some noise at EIWA's.
"Aidan was really turning the corner last season prior to his injury," said Borshoff. "We are excited to see him healthy and see his progression in his second year." Monteverdi_Army_Web
Alex Melikian will drop down to 174 pounds this season, and is a front-runner for a starting spot in the Bearcats lineup. He posted three dual wins at 197 pounds last season and has 18 wins over his career.
Newcomer Jacob Nolan will also make a bid for the starting nod. He picked up a win as an unattached participant at Princeton last weekend.
At 184 pounds, Lou DePrez returns after a decorated redshirt-freshman season that saw him qualify and advance in the NCAA tournament. He shined with an 11-0 record in dual matches and has a stellar 33-7 record after one season. This season comes with added motivation, as he was one win away from being an All-American a season ago.
"Lou could very well be the best wrestler in the country at his weight class" said Borshoff. "If he continues to work hard and believe in himself, there's no reason why he couldn't be a National Champion. It looks as though he will have some stiff competition early this season, so it will be a good gauge on what's to come."
Corey Day also begins his collegiate career at 184 pounds as a true freshman. lpou NCAAs
Nunzio Crowley will be the opening starter at 197 pounds this season. The redshirt junior has 29 career wins and was a starter in two dual matches a season ago.
"We're excited to see Nunzio slide into that starting spot this season and look forward to seeing what he will bring to the table," said Borshoff.
Freshman Sam DePrez enters the season at 197 pounds as well.
At heavyweight, redshirt sophomore Joe Doyle placed fifth at EIWA's and moved the Bearcats into sixth place following a pin late on day two of the championship. He is ranked third in the conference for the preseason and enters his second full season as a heavyweight after being listed at 197 pounds for his redshirt season.
"Joe has put on about 10 to 15 pounds since last year," said Borshoff. He does some things that many heavyweights can't do and is no longer undersized for his weight class. It should be fun watching that hard work pay off."
Sean Dee will also compete as a heavyweight this season.
The Bearcats open the season at the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open Sunday, where they expect to have at least 20 wrestlers compete.