Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y.—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.

No. 19 Binghamton 18, Bloomsburgh 15
125 Sean Boylan (BL) dec. Derek Steeley (BU), 10-5
133 Nick Wilcox (BL) dec. Patrick Hunter (BU), 12-6
141 Joe Bonaldi (BU) dec. Derek Shingara (BL), 5-3
149 #4 Donnie Vinson (BU) major dec. Bryce Busler (BL), 14-1
157 #9 Frank Hickman (BL) dec. #10 Justin Lister (BU), 13-10
165 Matt Kaylor (BU) dec. Chris Smith (BL), 11-6
174 #19 Mike Dessino (BL) dec. Caleb Wallace (BU), 5-1
184 #20 Nate Schiedel (BU) tech fall Sam Shirley (BL), 20-3 (6:29)
197 Richard Perry (BL) dec. Cody Reed (BU), 7-4
Hwt #18 Nick Gwiazdowski (BU) dec. Zachary Walsh (BL), 12-5