For Immediate Release: February 18, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU wrestling builds big lead but succumbs to Franklin & Marshall 19-18
Bearcats win five of nine contested matches but lose final dual of season

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton wrestling won five of the nine contested matches but came up just short in a 19-18 dual match defeat to visiting Franklin & Marshall Saturday night from West Gym. The Bearcats had to forfeit the second-to-last match at 197 pounds and it allowed F&M to win the match at heavyweight.

The Bearcats posted wins in four of the evening's first five matches to build a 15-3 lead before the Diplomats rallied. Franklin & Marshall recorded decisions at 165 and 174 and after BU earned its final win - a 7-2 decision at 184, F&M received six points for the forfeit to pull within 18-15. Then junior heavyweight Shawn Coughlin posted an 18-4 major decision at heavyweight to complete the comeback.

Freshman 157-pound Chris Wade (Islip, N.Y.) delivered his team-high sixth pin of the season, needing 2:32 to pin Steve Gregory. Wade improved to 16-8 overall and 5-3 in dual matches.

One match earlier, freshmen Nate Patterson (Ontario, N.Y.) earned the pivotal point by riding Al Gianforti for the entire second period and came away with a 3-2 decision. Patterson picked up his team-high seventh dual win of the season and team-best 16th win overall.

Other winners for BU were freshman 125-pound Steve Gurien (North Bellmore, N.Y.), who notched a 7-0 decision in the opening match, freshman 133-pound Errick Cholewa (North Tonawanda, N.Y.), who used a pair of takedowns in the third period to pull out a 10-6 decision, and sophomore 184-pound Jim Tretter (Sanborn, N.Y.), who earned a hard-fought 7-2 decision.

The Bearcats conclude their season at the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, March 3-4 at Drexel.

Franklin & Marshall 19, Binghamton 18
125 - Steve Gurien (BU) dec. Doug Ritchey (F&M), 7-0
133 - Errick Cholewa (BU) dec. Trent Dixon (F&M), 10-6
141 - Chris Kelly (F&M) dec. Patrick Sandberg (BU), 11-5
149 - Nate Patterson (BU) dec. Al Gianforti (F&M), 3-2
157 - Chris Wade (BU) wbf over Steve Gregory (F&M) 2:32
165 - Justin Herbert (F&M) dec. Sam Sirota (BU), 8-6
174 - James Schulz (F&M) dec. Kevin Owen (BU), 6-3
184 - Jim Tretter (BU) dec. Matt Goggin (F&M), 7-2
197 - Nico Somers (F&M) forfeit win
HWT - Shawn Coughlin (F&M) major dec. Josh Bestle (BU), 18-4