Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton (4-5, 2-0 EIWA) begins a two-match, weekend homestand when the Bearcats host fellow EIWA member Drexel (4-6, 1-0 EIWA) at 7 p.m. Friday night at West Gym.

The Bearcats split two tight matches last weekend, rallying past Hofstra 19-16, before coming up short at home against Columbia, 19-18. The loss to the Lions was BU's first defeat against an EIWA foe this season. Double-winners for the Bearcats were senior 125-pound David White (14-11), redshirt freshman 165-pound Zack Zupan (14-11), junior 184-pound Jack McKeever (15-7) and senior heavyweight Tyler Deuel (14-4). Zupan and Deuel earned pins against Columbia.

The Bearcats are tied for eighth place in the latest EIWA Rankings and have one top-6 ranked wrestler in the conference (Deuel, 3rd). In the first NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings (used for NCAA wild card selections), released Thursday, BU has three ranked individuals: Deuel (22nd), White (27th) and McKeever (31st).   

Drexel is coming off an 18-15 loss to Lock Haven on Friday. The Dragons won four matches but dropped a pair of one-point decisions. The team has one nationally-ranked individual — 16th-ranked Kevin Devoy Jr. (23-4). Devoy, a reigning NCAA qualifier, is the second-ranked 133-pounder in the EIWA. Other EIWA ranked individuals are sophomore 149-pound Matt Cimato (4th), sophomore 125-pound Tanner Shoap (6th) and sophomore 133-pound David Pearce (6th). Drexel is ranked fifth as a team in the EIWA, behind Cornell, Lehigh, Bucknell and Penn. The team's conference win came against Navy (24-16).  

Before and during the match, BU will celebrate its relationship with local athletes and coaches who participate in the Special Olympics. Continuing the team's tradition, the Bearcats have worked out with these young athletes at Johnson City High School every Wednesday, lifting weights and sharing inspiration. The youngsters will be recognized before the match and also will serve as honorary coaches during the match.

Binghamton will then host Penn at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Projected Matchups
BINGHAMTON (record) vs. DREXEL (record)
125    No. 27 David White (13-11) vs. Tanner Shoap (13-8) or Eric Ochoa (4-2)    
133    Joe Nelson (3-5) vs. No. 15 Kevin Devoy Jr. (23-4)
141    Dylan Caruana (13-11) vs. David Pearce (12-5)
149    Nick Tighe (8-8) vs. No. 22 Matthew Cimato (18-9) or Willie Davis (5-4)
157    Vincent DePrez (15-10) vs. Noel Blanco (11-10) or Ryan O'Connor (0-0)
165    Zack Zupan (13-11) vs. Nick Elmer (8-11)
174    Steve Schneider (13-12) vs. Stephen Loiseau (19-8)
184    No. 31 Jack McKeever (14-7) vs. Jason Fugiel (2-3) or Alex DeCiantis (10-10)
197    Caleb Wallace (8-9) vs. Joshua Murphy (8-13) or Brandon Litten (8-12)
Hwt    No. 22 Tyler Deuel (13-4) vs. Joey Goodhart (13-11)

Rankings are Jan. 22 NCAA Coaches' Panel