Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y.—Visiting American won six matches – three by a narrow 5-3 decision – and pulled off an 18-15 upset over No. 18 Binghamton (12-4) Friday night from West Gym. Top-ranked heavyweight Ryan Flores posted an 8-1 win to snap a 15-15 team score and give the Eagles (5-6) the decisive points in the final bout of the evening.

The teams traded wins over the first eight matches with neither squad taking more than a three-point lead at any time. Trailing 12-10 entering the match at 184, junior No. 20 Nate Schiedelposted a 24-7 technical fall to push BU ahead 15-12, with two bouts remaining. But American scored a 5-3 win on the back of No. 19 197-pound Daniel Mitchell and with the team score deadlocked, unbeaten and reigning NCAA runnerup Flores was too strong for freshman No. 19 Nick Gwiazdowski.

After dropping the opening match at 125, sophomore 133-pound Patrick Hunter used three back points in the second period to pull away from Corey Borshoff, 13-6. It was Hunter’s 15th win of the season.

At 149, No. 4 Donnie Vinson continued his winning ways with a controlled 7-1 decision. Vinson raised his record to 27-4 overall, 15-1 in duals.

The showcase match was at 157 between two high-ranking foes. Senior No. 10 Justin Lister came up short against No. 3 Ganbayar Sanjaa, 5-3. It was only Lister’s fourth loss of the season (21-4, 13-2 duals).

Senior 165-pound Matt Kaylor gave the Bearcats the lead again with a 19-9 major decision. He scored eight points and compiled riding time in the first period alone and went on to claim his 19th win of the season (19-8, 11-5 duals).

At 174, freshman Caleb Wallace led 4-2 early and was tied at 6 before giving way to his opponent in the third period, 12-6.

At 197, sophomore Cody Reed entered the third period knotted at 3 with Mitchell but gave up a takedown to lose 5-3. American drew even at 15 with the win, setting up the final decision at heavyweight.

The match was a reunion of two former Oklahoma State teammates as sixth-year BU mentor Pat Popolizio brought his Bearcats up against Teague Moore, in his first year at the helm of American. The two were together for three years for the John Smith-coached Cowboys in 1999-01.

Binghamton hosts Bloomsburg at 7 p.m. next Thursday at West Gym.

FINAL RESULTS

American 18, No. 18 Binghamton 15
125: Thomas Williams (American) dec. Derek Steeley (Binghamton); 5-3
133: Patrick Hunter (Binghamton) dec. Corey Borshoff (American); 13-6
141: No. 15 Matt Mariacher (American) dec. Joe Bonaldi (Binghamton); 9-3
149: No. 4 Donnie Vinson (Binghamton) dec. Kevin Tao (American); 7-1
157: No. 3 Ganbayar Sanjaa (American) dec. No. 10 Justin Lister (Binghamton); 5-3
165: Matt Kaylor (Binghamton) major dec. Mark Cirello (American); 19-9
174: Phillip Barreiro (American) dec. Caleb Wallace (Binghamton); 12-6
184: No. 20 Nate Schiedel (Binghamton) tech fall Thomas Barreiro (American); 24-7; 6:00
197: No. 19 Daniel Mitchell (American) dec. Cody Reed (Binghamton); 5-3
285: No. 1 Ryan Flores (American) dec. No. 19 Nick Gwiazdowski (Binghamton); 8-1