Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binhgamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Binghamton wrestling racked up seven pins and rolled to pair of dual wins Saturday afternoon from West Gym. The Bearcats won 14 of the 20 bouts and defeated fellow CAA member George Mason 31-11 and then toppled Sacred Heart 39-13. The duals kicked off a busy weekend for the Bearcats, who will host the 15-team BU Open Sunday at the Events Center.

Junior 149-pound Donnie Vinson posted a pair of pins to demonstrate why he's ranked eighth in the nation. Vinson, a two-time NCAA qualifier, ended his match with Mike Bakackas in 2:34 and then finished off Justin Belanger of Sacred Heart in 3:59. Senior 11th-ranked 157-pound Justin Lister notched a pin in 1:17 against Sacred Heart after he started the day with a 6-1 decision. Senior 165-pound co-captain Matt Kaylor also produced a pin - in 1:40 against Sacred Heart. Kaylor started his afternoon with a 12-3 major decision against the Patriots.

Other BU pins were recorded by junior 184-pound Nate Schiedel (in 3:33 vs. GMU) and freshman heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski (in 4:38 vs. GMU). Gwiazdowski, who pinned every opponent he faced as a senior at Duanesburg High, began his collegiate career the same way. Despite giving up several dozen pounds to the GMU heavyweight, Gwiazdowski put him to his back and earned the pin midway in the second period.

The BU Open gets underway at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Binghamton 31, George Mason 11

125 Vince Rodriguez (GMU) dec. Derek Steeley (BU), 13-11
133 Patrick Hunter (BU) dec. Rich Lavorato (GMU), 10-4
141 Joe Bonaldi (BU) dec. Denny Herndon (GMU), 7-4
149 #8 Donnie Vinson (BU) WBF Mike Bakuckas (GMU), 2:34
157 #11 Justin Lister (BU) dec. Jaaziah Bethea (GMU), 6-1
165 Matt Kaylor (BU) major dec. Ty Knepp (GMU), 12-3
174 Frankie McLaughlin (GMU) major dec. Caleb Wallace (BU), 17-7
184 Nate Schiedel (BU) WBF Ryan Hembury (GMU), 3:33
197 Bagna Tovuujav (GMU) major dec. John Paris (BU), 14-3
Hwt Nick Gwiazdowski (BU) WBF Adam Barnette (GMU), 4:38


Binghamton 39, Sacred Heart 13

125 Derek Steeley (BU) forfeit win
133 Andrew Polidore (GMU) major decision Patrick Hunter (BU), 10-2
141 Joe Bonaldi (BU) forfeit win
149 #8 Donnie Vinson (BU) WBF Justin Belanger (GMU), 3:59
157 #11 Justin Lister (BU) WBF Joe Evangelista (GMU), 1:17
165 Matt Kaylor (BU) WBF Michael Impellizeri (GMU), 1:40
174 Caleb Wallace (BU) dec. Jonathan Rizzitello (GMU), 8-3
184 Zach Moran (GMU) injury default over John Paris (BU)
197 Tyler Deuel (BU) WBF Sam Morrison (GMU), 1:59
Hwt T.J. Neidhart (GMU) def. Mike McKeever (BU), 7-2