VESTAL, N.Y.- The Binghamton wrestling team hits the road for a pair of Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) matches this weekend. The Bearcats face Columbia on Saturday, January 16, at 7 p.m. and then head to Hofstra the next day for a 1 p.m. contest.
 
BU is 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the EIWA this season. It split two outings last weekend, knocking off #27 Princeton, 18-15, on January 8 before falling at Army, 19-15, on January 10. Sophomore Steve Schneider went 2-0, including a 2-1 overtime win against then-sixteenth-ranked Abram Ayala of Princeton. Schneider, a 184-pounder, is tabbed 19^th in this week's Wrestling Report rankings.
 
Columbia is 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference in duals entering this weekend. The Lions will host Buffalo earlier in the day Saturday. Columbia went 2-1 at the Pitt Duals on January 9, beating Franklin & Marshall and Bloomsburg, while losing to #15 North Carolina. Garrett Ryan, Markus Schiedel, and Angelo Amenta each went 3-0 in their matches.
 
Hofstra has a 3-6 record, including an 0-1 EIWA mark. It defeated Davidson and fell to #3 North Carolina State at the Pitt Duals last weekend. Jamel Hudson, Frank Affronti, and Cory Damiana all won both of their outings Saturday.
 
Schneider has a 12-4 record this season. Jacob Nicholson (133) has a 14-7 mark, while Steven Bulzomi (125) is 12-4. Vincent DePrez (157) has a 15-8 record.
 
For Columbia, Schiedel is the 21^st-ranked grappler in the 157-pound division. Zach Hernandez, a 184-pounder, is 30^th in the latest rankings and Ryan, a heavyweight, stands 31^st this week. Schiedel and Ryan were both NCAA Championship qualifiers last season.
 
Hudson is the Pride's top wrestler. The 141-pounder is 22^nd in this week's rankings. Heavyweight Michael Hughes is also tabbed 22^nd in his division, while Frank Affronti, a 174-pounder, is 31^st. Hudson was an NCAA participant last March.
 
Last season, the Bearcats defeated Hofstra, 19-16, before falling to Columbia, 19-18, the following day. McKeever won both of his bouts that weekend.
 
Probable Lineups
Binghamton
125-Thierno Diallo or Steven Bulzomi
133-Jacob Nicholson
141-Dylan Caruana
149-Frankie Garcia
157-Vincent DePrez
165-Anthony DePrez
174-Jack McKeever
184-Steve Schneider
197-Mark Tracy
285-Connor Calkins
 
Columbia
125 - Britain Carter/Vince Pallone
133 - Angelo Amenta
141 - Jacob Macalolooy/Joe Moita
149 - Tyler Ponte
157 - Markus Scheidel
165 - Tyrel White
174 - Zack Hernandez
184 - Matt Fetchet
197 - Troy Hembury
HWT - Garrett Ryan
 
Hofstra
125- Bryan Damon
133 – Marcus Begay
141 – Jamel Hudson
149 – Kyle Krasavage or Ryan Burkert
157 – Jahlani Callender or Cory Goshkagarian
165 – Bobby Fehr or Jermaine John
174 – Frank Affronti
184 – Cory Damiana
197 – Omar Haddad
285 – Michael Hughes