Tag Archives: Binghamton Wrestling

Update: Nick Kelley Discusses His Commitment to Binghamton (Over Iowa, Among Others) and Working Towards a State Title

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Photo by BV

 

Shenendehowa’s Nick Kelley has achieved quite a bit in his athletic career.  He was a taekwondo national champion when he was 10 and was also successful in judo.  And he has piled up numerous medals in wrestling, ranging from his trips to the podium at the New York state tournament (fourth at 130 in 2011 and third at 132 in 2012) to his All-America performances (third at NHSCA Freshman Nationals at 125, fifth at FloNationals as a sophomore and fourth at Fargo this past summer in freestyle at 132 pounds).  But when asked what he considered to be his best accomplishment to date, he didn’t hesitate.

And he didn’t choose any of the previously mentioned accolades.

“I think it’s committing to great college like Binghamton and getting ready to take the next step,” he said.

The Section 2 star’s verbal to the Bearcats gave Coach Matt Dernlan and his staff the pledges of two of the Empire State’s top seniors, as Canastota’s Zack Zupan committed a few weeks ago.  The competition for Kelley, Intermat’s #93 ranked recruit nationally, was fierce, as he gave consideration to Iowa, Virginia Tech, Rutgers and North Carolina State before informing the Binghamton coaches on Friday that he would be staying in his home state after graduation.

“It’s a really good fit for me,” Kelley said of the CAA institution. “The coaches have the same philosophy as me – working hard and working smart.  I like the campus, the program and the coaches.  Really, I like everything about it. I feel like the staff really cares about the wrestlers.  I know there will be some tough New York kids there and we think we can make some real noise across the country.”

The future Business major is first concerned with making noise for one more season as a member of the Plainsmen.  He emerged on the Empire State wrestling scene as a seventh grader when he qualified for the state tournament.  Over the years, he has won over 200 matches and several Section 2 titles.  In his mind, there’s only one thing missing.

“The main focus is definitely to win states this year,” Kelley said, adding that he will likely compete at 138 pounds. “I am completely focused on winning a state title.”

As a junior, Kelley compiled an impressive 45-1 record, with 40 bonus point wins.  His sole setback was a one-point semifinal defeat in Albany against eventual state champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler Jamel Hudson, now a freshman at Hofstra.

“I think I was good at states, but not my best,” Kelley said.  “I put all my athleticism out there and I wrestled hard, but I could’ve wrestled smarter, especially in the semifinals.  I kept going after him and made some mistakes doing it.”

Going after opponents throughout the match is characteristic of Kelley’s style, one that has been fostered in the Shenendehowa room and at the Journeymen Wrestling Club.

“Our room is so tough and competitive,” Kelley said.  “It has been since seventh grade and it’s helped me so much.  I kept getting better and stronger by wrestling the bigger guys and the older guys and with workout partners like [2012 New York third place finisher and Fargo All-American David] Almaviva. Now, after all these years, I feel like I’m one of the stronger guys.”

He certainly is, but he believes it will take more to reach his ultimate high school goal.

“I’ve been wrestling a ton since the season ended,” Kelley said. “I got a lot of matches at the Disney Duals in Florida and at Fargo and training camps.  I’ve been working with Journeymen and coaches Rob Weeks and Frank Popolizio.  I’ve been running and getting stronger.  I’ve also spent a lot of time focusing on my match strategy.”

Kelley has still found time to paint houses over the summer with Weeks.  And he often finds good spots to engage in another of his favorite activities – fishing.  In fact, he was on the water while answering questions for this story.  But while he said that he loves fishing, few things compare to wrestling.

“My dad got me into combat sports early – I think I started when I was three,” he said. “Taekwondo and judo helped me with balance and core strength and they made me tougher.  But I stopped those other sports by eighth grade to focus on wrestling.  To me, wrestling is the best. It’s harder and requires so much commitment.  You can’t stop working.  I’m doing everything I can to get ready for the season and I can’t wait to do some damage in college.”

Shenendehowa All-American Nick Kelley Gives Verbal Pledge to Binghamton

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Nick Kelley Photo by Boris Veysman

In an interview earlier this summer, Binghamton All-American Donnie Vinson talked about how committed the new coaching staff was to compiling a top recruiting class this year.

The Bearcats are certainly off to a great start, as Shenendehowa All-American Nick Kelley gave his verbal pledge to the CAA school on Friday, a few weeks after Canastota’s Zack Zupan did the same.

Kelley, a future 141 pounder, made a splash this summer when he took fourth place at 132 pounds at the Freestyle Junior Nationals at Fargo in a bracket full of acclaimed grapplers.  It wasn’t the first time on a national podium for the Section 2 star, as he took fifth at FloNationals in 2011 and third at NHSCA Freshman Nationals in 2010.

Intermat’s #93 senior recruit has been a standout in New York for years, as he first qualified for the state tournament as a seventh grader.  He has made the podium in the Empire State on multiple occasions, including a third place showing at 132 pounds in 2012.  Kelley is currently ranked #9 in the country by Flowrestling at 132 and will look for his first state title in February, likely up a weight, for the Plainsmen.

Please check back for a full story on Nick Kelley’s commitment in the coming days.

Zack Zupan of Canastota Discusses His Commitment to Binghamton and His Drive For Another State (and National) Title

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Photos by Boris Veysman

Zack Zupan celebrated his commitment to Binghamton this weekend by getting some much needed, and rare, time off.

“One of my buddies has a camp up North with a big fishing area,” he said. “We went up there and hung out a little bit.  It’s nice to go away and do some relaxing activities because my schedule has been pretty jam-packed.”

It would be fair to say that Zupan has been busy. Five days a week this summer, he’s been doing speed sessions and weight training for five hours, beginning at 8 o’clock in the morning, under the guidance of Todd Cutrie.  When he’s finished, he heads to work on a nearby farm for several hours before either teaching pee wee wrestling or participating in football practice in the evening.

The work he’s put in has been obvious on the mat throughout his high school career, as he has made his presence felt both in New York and on the national scene.  His accolades include a national title at the NHSCA Freshman tournament in 2010 at 160 pounds and two other All-America finishes at national events.  He also placed at the New York states on three occasions, including a championship at 170 pounds in 2012, which he believes had a lot to do with the training he put in with Cutrie.

While Zupan was happy to get his first New York crown in February, his performance in the title bout against Nick Mitchell of Frewsburg [a 3-2 decision] left him less than totally satisfied.

“I was a little disappointed with my finals match,” Zupan said. “I didn’t wrestle the entire six minutes like I could have. I definitely hesitated on some opportunities and could have scored more points than I did.  I’m looking to put on a better show next year.”

Before he takes the mat for Canastota, however, he has some business to take care of on the gridiron.  He is excited to begin double sessions with the football squad shortly, as he hopes to reach some milestones this fall.  He said if things go as planned, he believes he can break the state record for tackles and go over 5,000 yards rushing in his last days wearing his helmet and shoulder pads.

“I’ve played football for a long time and it’s not easy knowing I won’t be able to play anymore,” he said. “I know it’s hard to get recruited in New York as a 5-10, 200 pounder.  But you have to realize what you were given and commit to the amazing opportunities you have and make the most of them.”

That’s what Zupan plans to do.  He expects to compete at 182 pounds on the mat as a senior, wrestling for his father Nick (also a Section 3 champion), his coach who has taught him so much in the sport.

“My father went about it the right way,” he said. “He didn’t force me to wrestle.  He was busy coaching high school and getting back late on Saturdays from tournaments.  He told me if I really wanted to wrestle, I should set an alarm and wake him up on Sundays.  That way, it was my choice.  I always set the alarm.  We traveled all over the country and he coached me all the way through.”

So, do father and son still go toe-to-toe in the room?

“I wrestled with him a lot when I was younger, but he knows what’s good for him now,” Zack Zupan said. “He knew when the day would come and he retired when he was undefeated against me.”

When he goes off to college, Zupan feels he will be surrounded by familiar instruction.  In fact, similarities between his father’s Canastota staff and the Bearcat coaches contributed heavily to Zupan’s commitment.

“I think the coaching staff at Binghamton has the same philosophy,” Zupan said. “They believe in training smarter, not harder.  I think I’ll have a nice adjustment to college with the staff they have in place.”

Head coach Matt Dernlan took the reins of the program a few months ago and Zupan takes pride in being the first recruit of the Dernlan era.

“It’s absolutely significant to me,” he said. “I feel like I’m going to help start a great thing.  I get to be one of the first stepping stones in where this program wants to go.  The coaches believe there is so much talent in New York and they want to keep the best in state and win national titles that way.  I’m excited to be part of that.”

Zupan added that he chose the Bearcats over schools like Cornell, Virginia, North Carolina State and Lehigh for other reasons as well.

“I took an unofficial visit and liked that it’s not huge,” he said. “I mean, 16,000 people is a lot to me — it’s more people than are in my town.  But it’s on the smaller side for college and I feel like I’ll be taken care of there and I’ll be one of their main guys and I really appreciate that.  I don’t think I’ll be just another piece of meat which sometimes happens in Division I wrestling.”

He also is excited to follow the path of Section 3 alum Justin Lister, an All-American for Binghamton.

“I watched [Lister] a lot growing up,” he said. “He was coming out of high school when I was coming in.  I just liked the way he wrestled.  What I always remembered about him was that he was a really mean kid on the mat.  Off the mat, he was polite and nice.  But when it came to wrestling, he wasn’t shy.  He was a Section 3 All-American and I think it will be cool wrestling at the same school as him.”

But first things first.  Before he tackles the college scene, Zupan has a few more wrestling honors in mind.

“I want to be a dominant state champion and then win FloNationals,” he said. “Then, I can’t wait to go to college.  I’m really looking forward to working toward a national title at Binghamton.”

Binghamton's First Class of 2013 Recruit: Canastota State Champion Zack Zupan To Join the Bearcats

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2012 State Tournament, Photo by Boris Veysman

When he took the head coaching job at Binghamton, Matt Dernlan said he wanted to win with New York talent.

He’s off to a great start, as one of the top rising seniors in the Empire State, Zack Zupan, verbally pledged to the Bearcats over the weekend.

The Canastota grappler won a loaded 170-pound bracket at the state tournament in 2012, defeating previously unbeaten Nick Mitchell (now at Edinboro) in the finals.  The weight also included All-Americans Burke Paddock of Warsaw and Troy Seymour of Peru.

The Section 3 star has made an impact for several years on both the national and state levels.  He placed fourth and fifth in New York in his freshman and sophomore campaigns before his championship as a junior.  He followed each of those performances in the Empire State by earning medals at national events, including two finals appearances at the NHSCAs in Virginia Beach, which yielded a championship as a ninth grader and a runner up finish as a sophomore.  Last season, Zupan placed at the competitive FloNationals tournament in Philadelphia.

Zupan is currently ranked as the #83 prospect in the country by Intermat and is one of the top 20 170-pounders in the country according to Flowrestling.

Zupan projects as a 184-pounder for the Bearcats.

Check back for an interview with Zack Zupan in the coming days.

Binghamton Adds Two-Time NCAA Champion Teyon Ware to Coaching Staff

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Courtesy of www.bubearcats.com; Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton head wrestling coach Matt Dernlan has added former two-time NCAA champion Teyon Ware to his coaching staff, the university announced Wednesday. Ware, a four-time All-American at Oklahoma, brings a wealth of NCAA and international wrestling experience to Binghamton for Dernlan’s first year at the helm.

“Teyon is a perfect fit for what we want to build here at Binghamton … and that’s a national powerhouse,” Dernlan said. “His character and integrity are second to none and his wrestling ability and accomplishments obviously speak for themselves. He and I have built a personal relationship over the last three years and we share the same vision and goal – and that’s to bring a national title to this campus.”

Ware was a three-time NCAA finalist and national champion in 2003 and 2005 for the Sooners. After concluding his collegiate career, he trained with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, where he developed a strong relationship with Dernlan and current Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson.

“Teyon is one of the most accomplished NCAA wrestlers in the past decade,” Dernlan said. “All of his experience will really help our guys grow. It will be great to have someone in the room who has accomplished the same things our guys aspire to.”

Ware, who wrestled at 141 pounds at Oklahoma, captured the 66 kg title at the 2011 US World Freestyle Team Trials and advanced to the World Championships in Turkey last September. He came up just short in his bid to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

He coached with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and also served as a volunteer assistant at Lock Haven University for two years (2009-11).

At Oklahoma, Ware compiled a 107-13 record in four years, adding a Big XII conference title to his NCAA crowns. As a freshman, he was named the Big XII Outstanding Wrestler after winning a title and then captured his first national championship with a dramatic 6-4 sudden victory decision at 141.

To read the entire press release, please visit this link

 

Back to the Bearcats: Donnie Vinson Discusses His Return to Binghamton and the Push for a National Title

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Donnie Vinson at the 2012 NCAAs; Photo by Boris Veysman

Binghamton’s Donnie Vinson was an All-American for the first time in St. Louis in 2012, and he didn’t take an easy path to get there. After a first round loss to Oklahoma’s Nick Lester, Vinson won seven straight matches to capture third place at 149 pounds.  The 2012 CAA Wrestler of the Year talked to New York Wrestling News about a number of topics, including the departure of Pat Popolizio to the ACC, the impact of new head coach Matt Dernlan, and his final season in a Bearcat singlet.

 

New York Wrestling News (NYWN):  You have one year of wresting eligibility left.  Is it true that you already graduated from Binghamton?

Donnie Vinson (DV): Yes, I got my management degree with a concentration in marketing in four years.  I will be a graduate student at Binghamton next year, going into Administration and hopefully getting into Public Affairs as well.

NYWN: When two of your coaches, Pat Popolizio and Frank Beasley, went to NC State, did you consider leaving Binghamton?

DV: When it first happened, I wanted to wait for things to settle before making a decision.  [Assistant coach] Jasen [Borshoff] told everyone it would be okay with the administration and alumni behind us.  He was great, especially for a guy who didn’t know what would happen with him when the new coach came in. Jasen kept things positive, which is really what we needed at the time.

I also took my role as a leader on the team seriously.  I tried to talk to everyone – members of the team and recruits I could get ahold of, and tried to calm everyone down too. In the end, we only lost one team member, granted a very good one in Nick [Gwiazdowski, who transferred to NC State].  I think a lot of trust got built among the team during that time.

NYWN: Did you wind up looking at other institutions at any point in the process?

DV: I was recruited by a few schools.  I looked a little bit and took one visit.   In the end, I knew I was going to end up doing well at Binghamton in the near future and further out in the future since it’s such a great academic school.  When it came down to it, I started at Binghamton and I plan on finishing here. This is my home.  I’ve been in the area all my life and I guess I don’t like change that much.  It’s the best option for me, especially with all I’ve seen from Coach Dernlan so far.  He has a great thing going.

NYWN: What are your early impressions of the program under Coach Dernlan?

DV: There’s a great mentality in the room.  He has the wrestling background everyone would expect; he really knows his stuff.  After coaching under the Penn State staff for all those years, he’s seen great things and he’s sharing them.  He’s a motivator and he knows what needs to be done at the right times.

The main focus with Pat [Popolizio] was on intensity, which is great.  This summer, instead of being intensity focused, we’re going over a lot of technique, probably more technique in the last three months than all of last year.  It’s been a different approach but I think it’s been great.

NYWN: What were your first interactions like with Coach Dernlan?

DV: When he came in, I wasn’t into grad school yet and the application process was a little messed up.  He helped me through and convinced me to stay.  He told me if I stayed, we’d be a top 15 team again. He also kept Jasen [Borshoff] on board, which was important and kept the team together.

I like his views on leadership.  He’s talked about me being a grad assistant next year.  He’s put a lot of faith in Nate [Scheidel], Cody [Reed] and I as leaders.  Leadership has big meaning with him.  We have a lot of responsibility, running practice at times, which I really like.

NYWN: You mentioned Jasen Borshoff remaining on the staff as an assistant.  What role has he played in your development over the past few years?

DV: Jasen’s a great coach and workout partner for me.  When I’m sucked out and miserable, he’s the one person who will push me and correct me. He makes me work harder.  He may think he has something to prove since his career didn’t end on the greatest note.  He won’t let that happen to me.  He’s my go-to guy when I need to break a barrier or be pushed more.

NYWN: Do you plan to stay at 149 pounds next year?

DV: That’s the plan as of right now.  I think that’s the weight where I have my best shot to win it all.  I’m trying to keep my weight low this summer. I believe I was a contender last year and I gave up my shot early in the tournament with my first round loss, but I expect to be right there again.

NYWN: You mentioned losing your first match at the NCAAs last year.  Most wrestling fans know you then put together seven consecutive wins to take third.  What do you think about that run when you look back at it now? 

DV: It’s still shocking when I think about it.  But I think it makes me more angry than anything else.  I lost to Lester in the first round then majored him in the wrestlebacks.  I knew it shouldn’t have happened the first time.  Obviously, [Penn State national champion] Frank [Molinaro] was the top guy last year but I believed I was a real contender and what I did in the first round really ticked me off.  I let it affect me. In my first wrestleback [against Michigan State’s Dan Osterman], I got put on my back and the referee was close to slapping the mat.  I wound up coming back to pin him, but Jasen really got on me, driving me to get the right mindset.  After that, I got focused and did what I had to do.  I had a goal in mind of being third and I accomplished that.  My sights are set higher for next year. I want to be a national champion.

NYWN: What are you focusing on improving to reach that goal?

DV: I’m looking to fine tune everything.  I gave up a lot of points at the national tournament; lots of points I shouldn’t have.  The third place match [against Ohio State’s Cam Tessari] was a great example.  I need to wrestle smarter, more compact and keep the same intensity throughout.  I can’t give up cheap points at the ends of periods.

I’ll be working on fine-tuning my technique but I’ll also be doing an internship in Panama for a month this summer.  I’ll be trying to develop new marketing plans for my dad’s company down there, which connects hardware and software with a remanufacturing process.  I’m trying to get in touch with the Panamanian national team to train with them and do some freestyle.  I’ll also be doing a lot of cardio and some lifting while I’m there.

NYWN: The 149-pound class returns six All-Americans from 2012.  Is there anyone you are hoping to wrestle before the postseason?

DV: [Boise State’s] Jason Chamberlain and [Minnesota’s] Dylan Ness are two kids I’ve never wrestled in college.  I’d like to see them before nationals to see where I stand.  Chamberlain has proven himself over the years and Ness is a young stud.  I may try to meet him at the Southern Scuffle – our team isn’t going but they may send me down there alone.  If I’m going to be in the hunt at NCAAs, I want to see guys like that before nationals.

NYWN: Before last year, perhaps your biggest win was a dual meet victory over Kyle Dake in Ithaca. Do people ask you about that match with Dake a lot?

DV: Unfortunately, yes.  Our hometowns are about 25 minutes from each other and we both trained at Shamrock with [now Wyoming Seminary head coach] Scott Green when we were growing up.  We were on every team together; spent so many practices together.  We’ve known each other for a while and we’re still friends.  But on the wrestling mat, it’s another story.  He’s a three-time national champ, so he has more credentials than I could ever imagine.  It was a good win for me, but I didn’t want to talk about it much because I didn’t want my whole wrestling career to be based on that one match.  Coming back for third last year finally gave people something else to talk about.

NYWN:  At Shamrock, you did a lot of Freestyle and Greco and you were an accomplished wrestler in the international styles prior to college.  Would you like to get back into those styles after you finish your college career?

DV: I think I could do it.  I put all the international wrestling away when I got here so that I could get better at folk, and it’s paid off.  If I put the same level of attention and focus into those styles I don’t think it would be out of the question to make a World team or something like that.   But honestly, if I stick with wrestling in the future, I think I’ll concentrate on coaching.  If I coach, I want to be focused on helping the kids rather than training myself because the kids need the full attention of the coaches.

NYWN: Binghamton has come a long way as a program since you’ve been there.  What are the changes that really stand out to you?

DV: I was there early enough to see how bad the team was years ago.  Pat [Popolizio] started to recruit guys like Nate Scheidel and me and was able to weed out the people who didn’t really buy into the mentality and the system.  The partying was cut out and the focus on wrestling moved in.  You could see the obvious changes that came.  Everyone bought in, everyone fed off each other and we came together as team.  It’s apparent how far we’ve come with the All-Americans we’ve had and the finish at NCAAs last year.  Hopefully we’ll keep that going.  Coach Dernlan is recruiting really hard right now; he’s been on the phones literally 12 hours a day. The goal is to have a top three recruiting class next year.

NYWN:  Two former NCAA qualifiers, Justin Lister and Matt Kaylor graduated and Nick Gwiazdowski transferred, but you bring back the remainder of last year’s starters.  What are your expectations for next year’s team?

DV: I believe that we can do extremely well at NCAAs, which is the main goal. We’ll be a young team and dual wise, we’re expecting to take some blows.  Lister and Kaylor leave holes to fill, but from what I’m seeing, we’ll have some tough kids coming in who will fight for seven minutes.  I think we’ll have just as many or more All-Americans this year.  We’ll miss the people who left, but we’re moving past that.  We’re happy with what we have here right now and I’m really happy with my decision to be a part of it.

Top Talent Comes Together for Fourth Annual Adam Frey Classic On Sunday

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Adam Frey

It’s hard not to be excited about the Adam Frey Classic this year.  Just ask Penn State National Champion Ed Ruth.

According to Adam Frey Foundation Board Member Josh Liebman, Ruth was in the middle of a special family occasion when he was contacted about the event.

“Ed had a lot going on, but he called back right away and said he definitely wanted to do it,”  Liebman said. “It was on his mind enough that he couldn’t wait until the next day to call.”

In the fourth annual event for the Adam Frey Foundation, Ruth will square off against Lehigh’s two-time All-American Robert Hamlin in the feature bout in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

“We were trying to think of matchups that would be really exciting for wrestling fans and we knew [Hamlin] would be involved,” Liebman said. “He and his family have been really supportive of the Foundation and with the event being at Lehigh this year, it was a great fit.”

Ruth has posted first and third place finishes at NCAAs, while Hamlin has taken second and fourth.

After holding the first three Adam Frey Classics at Rider, Liebman is excited for the new location at Grace Hall on Lehigh’s campus.

“So far, it’s been nothing but great,” he said. “Everyone has been very supportive and interested in being part of the event and helping it grow.  The sports marketing staff has helped out and the coaches have too. I really wanted to get Pennsylvania involved since Adam was from there.  It’s like he’ll be closer to home, at least for a year.”

Besides the new arena, another addition in 2012 is a match of high school stars with the top rising junior in the country, Chance Marstellar, taking on New Jersey state champion Johnny Sebastian.

“We’ve never done a high school vs. high school match before,” Liebman said. “Last year, because of an injury, [Blair Academy’s] Brooks Black stepped in to wrestle Zach Rey.  But this year, Marstellar really wanted to be a part of it.  The college kids weren’t in a hurry to wrestle him, but [Sebastian] was excited.  He loves to test himself.  I expect Johnny to start next season ranked in the top 5 or 10 at his weight, so I think it’s a premiere matchup.”

It’s one of many bouts Liebman is looking forward to viewing.  (The full lineup is listed below). He believes the tilt between 141 pound All-Americans Boris Novachkov (Cal Poly) and Perry, NY native Mike Nevinger (Cornell) will be one to watch.

“That match may not jump out at people, but I can’t wait for it,” Liebman said. “They’re both so tough on top and a little funky on their feet.  I think it could steal the show.”

While heavyweight battles aren’t typically the most entertaining affairs, Liebman is anticipating 2012 All-American Nick Gwiazdowski’s meeting with former Pittsburgh Panther Ryan Tomei. He predicts good action and “not a lot of the hanging on you often see at heavy.”

Liebman added that having Gwiazdowski, a former star at Duanesburg High, in the event is exciting for another reason.  When he was a senior in high school, the recent NC State transfer participated in the New York-New Jersey Charity Challenge, which benefitted the Adam Frey Foundation.  In fact, Gwiazdowski’s pin sealed the victory for the Empire State.

“It’s something I’d like to have on a regular basis — having guys be a part of an event in high school and staying involved with our organization in college.  It feels like watching guys grow up through your peewee program,” Liebman said. “That’s what’s great about the wrestling community.  Everyone, even if they didn’t know Adam personally, wants to know his story and get involved.”

Adam Frey’s alma mater, Blair Academy, has been very involved from the start.  This year, the event will be set up as a dual meet between Blair and Angry Fish with several alums of those squads coaching and competing.  As a bonus, Monroe Woodbury’s Vinny Vespa, who is fighting Stage 4 cancer, may serve as an honorary coach.

Nevinger and Gwiazdowski won’t be the only representatives from the Empire State.  All-American Justin Accordino of Hofstra will take the mat, as will John Jay graduate Billy Watterson (Brown), Brockport native Christian Boley, Columbia’s Jake O’Hara, Cornell’s Caleb Richardson and Binghamton’s Pat Hunter and Cody Reed.  In addition, Beat the Streets (BTS) wrestlers from New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore will participate in exhibition bouts between 1 and 2 p.m. before the main event begins.

“I’m really excited about having BTS,” Liebman said. “It’s a chance for kids to get outside the city.  One of the important parts of the BTS program is for kids to strive for a college education, even if it’s outside of wrestling.  This is a great chance for the kids to visit a college campus and see that it’s something they may want.”

What Liebman wants is to fill Grace Hall as close to capacity as possible.  He wants the wrestling community to come together to support the Foundation and celebrate Adam Frey’s life.

“In the past, our events have had a fun atmosphere,” he said. “Top talent comes but since it’s not a pressure situation, the guys go out there and relax and wrestle.  It’s more open, more fun. It quickly becomes a feeling of reunion rather than a somber event where we’re memorializing Adam.  Adam wouldn’t have wanted that; he wouldn’t want a moment of silence.  He’d rather have everyone having a good time.”

Exhibition Matches 1-2 p.m. – Beat the Streets New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore

Main Event Matches, Beginning at 2 p.m.

Chuck Zeisloft (Rider) vs. Billy Watterson (Brown)

Nic Bedelyon (Kent State) vs. Steve Mytych (Drexel)

Mike Nevinger (Cornell) vs. Boris Novachkov (Cal Poly)

Tyler Small (Kent State) vs. Vinnie Fava (Rider)

Caleb Richardson (Cornell) vs. Pat Hunter (Binghamton)

BJ Young (Newberry) vs. CJ Cobb (UPenn)

Justin Accordino (Hofstra) vs. Jake O’Hara (Columbia)

James Fleming (Clarion) vs. Joey Napoli (Lehigh)

Ian Miller (Kent State) vs. Shane Welch (Lehigh)

Chance Marsteller vs. Johnny Sebastian*

Bekzod Abduakhmanov (Clarion) vs. Josh Asper (Maryland)

Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) vs. Jimmy Resnick (Rider)

Jimmy Sheptock (Maryland) vs. Ricky McDonald (Brown)

Christian Boley (Maryland) vs. Andrew Campolattano (Ohio State)

Nick Gwiazdowski (NC State) vs. Ryan Tomei (Pitt/ OTC)

Max Wessell (Lehigh) vs. Cody Reed (Binghamton)

Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) vs. Ed Ruth (Penn State)**

*High School match

**Featured bout

***Match-ups provided by Josh Liebman

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The Newest Member of the Wolfpack: All-American Nick Gwiazdowski Discusses His Transfer

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When Pat Popolizio took the head coaching job at North Carolina State in April, freshman Nick Gwiazdowski, who reached All-American status in his first season with the Bearcats, started mulling his future options.  In early May, the Delanson, NY native got his full release from Binghamton. 

On Saturday night, while on a visit to the Raleigh campus, Gwiazdowski announced that he was transferring to the ACC school.  He answered a few questions for New York Wrestling News from the airport on his way back to the Empire State.

New York Wrestling News: What has happened over the past few weeks since Binghamton gave you your release?

Nick Gwiazdowski: I received some calls from other schools – some were coming after me pretty hard. I wasn’t that interested – you can’t jump on the ship after it sails. It came down to a small chance of staying at Binghamton or going to NC State.

As far as NC State goes, I needed to come down and look at the school, meet with the academic advisors and straighten out some financial things.  On my visit this weekend, everything fell into place and I knew NC State was where I wanted to be.

What were some of the things you really liked on your trip to Raleigh this weekend?

This place is awesome.  It felt like a vacation with the warm weather.  I had fun with all the people I met.

The coaching staff was the biggest factor for me.  I know [Popolizio] and Frank Beasley really well and they know me.  They were so important in helping me be an All-American this year. I just met Jamill Kelly this weekend and he seemed like a great guy.

The facilities were great.  Everyone I talked to said that [Athletic Director] Debbie Yow is all about winning and she’ll do whatever it takes.  People told some stories.  Like about her letting go a strength coach that had been around for a while but who wasn’t getting the job done; wasn’t putting winners out there. The coaches said that she’s basically put every coach on campus on notice. She’s serious about winning and that type of commitment to winning is exciting.

I also thought academically it would be a good fit for me. (Editor’s Note: Gwiazdowski made the NWCA All-Academic team this season).

What are you interested in studying?

I didn’t declare a major yet at Binghamton. My meetings with the academic advisor here were good. NC State has some programs I’m interested in like sports management and a parks, recreation and tourism major.  I spoke with some people who were in those areas.  One wrestling alum talked about his experiences after college with minor league baseball teams, USA Baseball and now as a young athletic director.  There are a lot of good opportunities for graduates.

Did you meet a lot of the team?

I met a few of the guys who were on campus. I hung out with [Long Island native] Ryan Fox who committed to Binghamton but switched to NC State a little while ago.  I plan to go back to NC State in July and I’ll probably meet more guys then as everyone adjusts to how [Popolizio] runs things.

What’s next for you this summer?

Honestly, I’m a little out of shape.  I won’t be going to the University Nationals.  I’ll be working out and getting back into shape.  My next thing is the Adam Frey Classic where I’m supposed to wrestle Ryan Tomei.  I was excited that Josh Liebman asked me to participate.  It will be great to wrestle for a cause like that in front of a lot of people. Then, I’ll head back down to Raleigh.  Right now, the plan is for me to redshirt next year.

Congratulations on your decision.  Is there anything else you want to add?

Thank you.  I will miss my family and friends in New York. It’s a little hard to leave and it will be an adjustment, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.  I felt good about NC State for the last few weeks but after visiting this weekend, everything came together. I knew I liked the coaching staff but everything else is there too – the academics, athletic department, the campus, financials.  I’m sure that it’s the place I want to be.

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Gwiazdowski went 30-9 as a true freshman at heavyweight for Binghamton.  He was the CAA Rookie of the Year after capturing a conference championship and earned All-America honors after taking eighth place in St. Louis.

"Winning Big With New York Kids": Matt Dernlan Excited to Get Started at Binghamton

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By Betsy Veysman

Matt Dernlan was focused on his Clarion wrestlers at the 2012 NCAA tournament in St. Louis, but like many other coaches and fans, he couldn’t help but notice the performance of Binghamton’s Donnie Vinson.

The 149-pounder dropped his initial bout to Nick Lester of Oklahoma before rattling off seven straight victories to take third place.

“I think it’s the toughest tournament in the world, especially if you lose your first match,” Dernlan said. “It’s not the achievement of third place that was so impressive.  It was the resilience and resolve he showed to come back and keep fighting and winning.  With that type of character and his talent, he’s got everything it takes to be a national champion.”

Dernlan now has an opportunity to be a part of Vinson’s run at a title in his new position as head coach at Binghamton.  In fact, when talking to Dernlan, the phrase “national champion” comes up quite a bit.

The Ohio native has some experience with reaching the pinnacle of the college wrestling world.  As the Director of Operations, he was part of Penn State’s NCAA title team in 2011.  He witnessed the key ingredients that brought that crown to State College and believes he sees many of the same pieces in place at Binghamton.

“When the job first opened up, it wasn’t something I pursued because there were a lot of good things going on at Clarion,” he said of the institution he coached for nine months.  “But Binghamton reached out to me.  The more I talked to them, the more I saw all the elements necessary to build a national championship program.”

Those elements, according to Dernlan, go beyond the athletes and coaches.

“Coming from Penn State, I have an understanding of everything that has to come together to get to the top,” he said. “You need to have committed support from everyone – from the President, the athletic department, the alumni and the community.  You need to have support systems in place for the student-athletes.  I wouldn’t have left a top 20 program with the history and tradition of Clarion if I didn’t think all of that support was here.  When I spoke to the President about his vision for the university and to the Athletic Director about his vision and plans for the next five years, I got really excited.  Conversations with the alumni made me even more excited.  It became an easy decision.”

Another reason the decision was “easy” is the current state of the Bearcat program.  When now-North Carolina State head coach Pat Popolizio took the reins six years ago, Binghamton was a winless team.  Fast forward to 2011-12, when the Bearcats earned a top 20 dual meet ranking in addition to an 14th place finish at the NCAAs fueled by five qualifiers and a pair of All-Americans (Vinson and freshman heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski).  Dernlan spoke with admiration about the foundation Popolizio developed.

“A lot of credit needs to go to Pat,” Dernlan said. “He did so much to elevate the program to national prominence.  He created the right kind of culture.  We want to take advantage of that and build on all the momentum.”

To do that, Dernlan will look for a holdover from Popolizio’s staff, Jasen Borshoff, to play a key role.

“I’ve been spending time with Jasen, picking his brain and getting to know him,” he said. “I am very impressed with his intelligence and passion.  He’s everything I think college coaching should be about.  Retaining Jasen was a priority. He is committed and driven towards the same goals as I am.”

Dernlan said he also would like to utilize the expertise of volunteer assistant Andy Seras, whom he has not spoken to yet in detail in his few days on the job.

“Andy’s resume and track record show that he brings a lot to the table,” he said. “If he wants to continue on, that would be attractive.  He has roots in New York.”

New York roots are another topic Dernlan talks about with enthusiasm.  He has watched several Empire State grapplers succeed in the postseason over the past several years and believes that homestate wrestlers should form the backbone of the squad.

“It is very appealing to be in New York, which is one of the best scholastic states in the country,” he said. “That’s been proven by performance at the NCAAs.  If we can get the talent in this state on our team, I don’t anticipate going outside the borders that much.  I believe we can win and win big with New York kids.”

Dernlan knows it won’t always be easy getting those top Empire State grapplers on campus.  There aren’t double digit in-state programs competing for talent like in Pennsylvania, but the coach knows that programs such as Cornell, Hofstra and Buffalo are competitors on the recruiting trail — and on the mat.

“Rob Anspach has done a great job at Hofstra,” he said.  “They have great tradition and I am sure we will push each other to be great and continue to elevate the stature of CAA wrestling.  And I know there’s a team up the road in Ithaca that’s been doing special things. You want to compete against teams like Cornell.  Rob Koll is one of the best coaches in the nation and he’s created the standard.  We’ve got a bullseye on his team.  Having several elite teams in this state can only be a great thing.  But our goal is to become the face of New York wrestling.  If we can do that, we’ll be contending for national titles because that’s what Cornell is doing now.”

Trying to take that step next year will be a fairly experienced Bearcat team.  While longtime standouts Justin Lister and Matt Kaylor have graduated, and heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski is likely to transfer, Binghamton could return the remainder of its starters, including NCAA qualifiers Vinson, Nate Scheidel and Cody Reed.

“I think we’ve got great experience and a collection of individuals that have gone deep into March and know what that environment is like,” Dernlan said.  “Everyone is proud of what Binghamton accomplished last year but now we’re aspiring to go beyond. There’s a lot that goes into that; a lot of intangibles you can’t control at the national tournament.  But my expectation is that with the talent we have returning and the incoming guys, we can improve upon last year if we prepare the right way.”

An integral component of that, according to Dernlan, is optimizing the level of competition throughout the campaign.

“We need to elevate our schedule and compete against the best,” he said. “The CAA tournament and Nationals are the two target weeks of the season.  We won’t be doing our program or any of our wrestlers favors by padding records heading into the conference tournament.  We need to test ourselves early, often and consistently so that when March rolls around, we’re ready for those big moments. We know what the intensity and the fight of March are all about and we need to be prepared.”

Part of that preparation, the coach said, is encouraging an aggressive style of wrestling.

“We want to go out to dominate, put up points and break our opponents,” he said. “If you do that, you build a reputation and it spreads.  It creates a tangible element at the national tournament.  People step on the mat with you and they already know what they’re in for.  They know you won’t back down and you’ll be in their face for seven minutes.  That’s what makes you succeed against the best.”

Succeeding against the best is something Dernlan values.  When asked about his most memorable match, he almost immediately brings up one of his toughest high school battles in the Buckeye State against fellow state champion John Marchette.

“Competing against him is something I remember to this day because he pushed my limits in every capacity,” he said.  “We laugh about it at this point and appreciate and respect each other for pushing each other to new levels. Fortunately, I was the winner, but we were both better for the battle and it helped us both later on.”

Dernlan sees that competitive fire in the Binghamton room.  He has spent his first few days meeting the team and laying out the gameplan for the summer and next season.  He joked about his endless to-do list, which includes things like figuring out summer camps, talking to this year’s incoming class, selling a house and hiring another assistant coach (Frank Beasley accompanied Popolizio to the ACC), all while shuttling back and forth to Pennsylvania.  But he’s enjoying every minute of it and his optimism is obvious.

“[Popolizio] won and he did it the right way,” he said. “He wanted to win with character kids who were a positive reflection on the program.  That’s fundamental for me; doing things in a way that the university and the community will be proud of.  With what we have in place here, I think Binghamton should be a top 10 team every year. But that won’t be enough for me.  I’m driven to win a national title.   If we attract the right kids with all we have to offer, I believe we can get there.”

Binghamton Hires Matt Dernlan as New Head Coach

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Binghamton University has hired Clarion head coach Matt Dernlan as the new leader of the Bearcat program.

Dernlan takes the reins of the CAA squad following the departure of Pat Popolizio, who took over a winless program and in six years, built Binghamton into a nationally-ranked team.

An Ohio native, Dernlan held the top position at Clarion for one season, leading the Golden Eagles to an 18th place finish at the NCAA tournament with two All-Americans.

Prior to his stint at Clarion, Dernlan spent six years at Penn State, first as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator and then as the director of operations for the Nittany Lions.  In addition, he has held positions at Ohio Northern University, Jeff Jordan Champ Camps and St. Paris Graham High School.

On the mat, Dernlan was a three-time Ohio State Champion who amassed a 154-4 record.  He wrestled for Liberty University and was an NCAA qualifier.

2011-12 was a banner year for the Bearcats, who went 15-4 in dual meets and finished 14th at the NCAA tournament with a pair of All-Americans (true freshman Nick Gwiazdowski at 285 and 149-pounder Donnie Vinson).  The squad also swept the major CAA awards with Popolizio capturing Coach of the Year honors, Vinson nabbing Wrestler of the Year and Gwiazdowski earning the conference’s top rookie award.

–Betsy Veysman