BU Wrestling Holds Off Bloomsburg

Vestal, NY (WBNG Binghamton)

Binghamton wrestling (13-4), No. 19 in the country, split 10 matches with visiting Bloomsburg (15-7) but utilized a technical fall and major decision to earn an 18-15 win Thursday night from West Gym. The match was deadlocked at 15-15 heading into the final bout at heavyweight. Freshman Nick Gwiazdowski, No. 18 in the country, racked up five takedowns plus riding time for a 12-5 decision to give the Bearcats the deciding three team points.

“It was a solid performance overall,” head coach Pat Popolizio said. “We had a couple of key individual loses but impressive performances from our guys who won. It was a big win for Gwiazdowski and our team. Nick is a true freshman and that win is a great sign for him heading forward.”

Bloomsburg won the first two matches at 125 and 133 to forge ahead 6-0. Freshman 141-pound Joe Bonaldi put BU on the board with a 5-3 decision over Derek Shingara, who entered the night with 19 wins. Bonaldi (15-13) stretched a 3-2 lead with a takedown with 56 seconds remaining in the match and held on for the key win.

Junior 149-pound Donnie Vinson, ranked No. 4, was in control from the start and cruised to a 14-1 major decision over Bryce Busler, who is No. 29 in the latest NCAA Coach Ranking. Vinson (28-4, 16-1 duals) needed just two takedowns and recorded eight back points and a commanding 3:10 of riding time.

In a high-scoring affair between two ranked foes at 157, Bloomsburg’s No. 9 Frank Hickman overcame a 4-2 third-period deficit to storm past 10th-ranked Justin Lister, 13-10. Hickman attacked for five takedowns in the third period and despite more than two minutes of riding time, Lister dropped to 21-5 overall, 13-3 in duals.

Senior 165-pound Matt Kaylor collected five takedowns en route to an 11-6 decision. Kaylor raised his record to 20-8 overall, 12-5 in duals.

Junior 184-pound Nate Schiedel, No. 20, looked strong in a 20-3 technical fall. Schiedel (25-6, 13-2 duals) led 2-0 before registering three takedowns in the second period and two more takedowns and subsequent back points in the third to end the bout with 31 seconds remaining.

After a Bloomsburg decision at 197, the stage was set for Gwiazdowski. He shot in for a single leg takedown 50 seconds into the match and added another with 19 seconds left in the period to take a 4-1 lead after one. An escape by Zachary Walsh made it 4-2 before Gwiazdowski added another takedown with 26 seconds left in the second to push ahead 6-3 entering the third. Two more Gwiazdowski takedowns and 1:24 of riding time gave the BU freshman a seven-point final cushion and the pivotal three team points.

Up next is a bragging-rights away tilt Sunday at CAA rival Hofstra - in a battle between the last two CAA team champions. The Pride is ranked No. 22 in the poll and won the 2011 conference crown. A home encounter with fellow CAA member and No. 23 Old Dominion finishes off the dual season on February 17.