VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton wrestling program hits the road this weekend for three big duals against top level competition. The Bearcats will take on No. 21 Lehigh Friday night before heading to Blacksburg, Virginia for a tri-meet with No. 10 Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
 

Binghamton Bearcats (3-8) at No. 21 Lehigh (4-4)
Date | Time: Friday, Jan. 7 | 7 p.m.
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Stats: TrackWrestling
Watch: FloWrestling
 

The Bearcats will take on the Mountain Hawks in their first action since the Collegiate Wrestling Duals, where they took sixth in the red pool. In matches against some of the country's top teams, BU put together a number of tough bouts. Against Central Michigan, BU stumbled early, but won four of its final bouts to create positive momentum for 2022.

Lou DePrez continues to lead Binghamton in the national polls. At the National Collegiate Duals, he picked up an impressive major decision over No. 13 Isaac Trumble. The two-time All-American sits at 15-3 on the year, and is 7-1 in duals.

Joe Doyle sports an 8-4 record, with a notable victory over No. 22 Brandon Metz of North Dakota State. Doyle is slated to face three ranked opponents this weekend, two of which are in the top 15.

Anthony Sobotker, ranked No. 32 by InterMat, leads the country with 10 pins this season. In six dual wins this season, he has contributed a maximum 36 team points. 

Brevin Cassella, who has had one of the toughest slates for a 165-pounder this season, is 11-8 this season. He picked up a major decision over Central Michigan's Tracy Hubbard in his last time out.
 

Binghamton Projected Lineup
125 | Nick Curley (0-9)
133 | No. 31 Anthony Sobotker (11-7)
141 | Ryan Anderson (4-5)
149 | Nick Lombard (10-10)
157 | Tyler Martin (7-9)
165 | Brevin Cassella (11-8)
174 | Jacob Nolan (11-6)
184 | Sam DePrez (5-10) OR Cory Day (2-0)
197 | No. 11 Lou DePrez (15-3)
285 | No. 22 Joe Doyle (8-5)
 

Lehigh has a deep lineup, with strengths coming at the 125-pound, 157-pound and 285-pound spots. All three wrestlers (Jaret Lane, Josh Humphreys and Jordan Wood) find themselves in the top 15 in the country (InterMat). Wood, an All-American at heavyweight in 2019 and four-time NCAA qualifier is 9-1 on the season. He has three wins over top-10 wrestlers.

Besides the three aforementioned Mountain Hawks, four others made an appearance in this week's rankings. 141-pounder Connor McGonagle recorded an upset victory over No. 12 Dresden Simon last week and is ranked No. 14 by Flo.
 

Lehigh Projected Lineup
125 | No. 11 Jaret Lane (8-2) or Sheldon Seymour (8-7)
133 | No. 20 Malyke Hines (4-3)
141 | Connor McGonagle (2-3)
149 | No. 30 Manzona Bryant IV (5-5) or Jimmy Hoffman (0-4)
157 | No. 9 Josh Humphreys (8-1)
165 | No. 26 Brian Meyer (7-4)
174 | Jake Logan (5-6)
184 | AJ Burkhart (4-7)
197 | JT Davis (4-7)
285 | No. 8 Jordan Wood (9-1)
 

Binghamton Bearcats (3-8) at No. 10 Virginia Tech (4-3)
Date | Time: Sunday, Jan. 9 | Noon
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
Stats: TrackWrestling
Watch: ESPN Networks
 

Scouting Virginia Tech

The No. 10 nationally ranked Hokies are 4-3 this season, and are coming off a tight 18-15 loss to No. 11 Cornell to end the National Collegiate Duals. A big win for Virginia Tech was an 18-16 win over Missouri on December 4.

Eight of Virginia Tech's 10 probable starters are in the national rankings, led by No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (174 pounds) and No. 5 Korbin Myers (133 pounds). 149-pounder Bryce Andonian (No. 6) is Virginia Tech's third representative in the top ten. 

Hunter Bolen, an All-American at 184 pounds last season, is ranked No. 14 by InterMat and was in the top 10 last week prior to a loss to Rutgers' Greg Bulsak. Heavyweight Nathan Traxler and 125-pounder Sam Latona round out the Hokies in the top 20.

Virginia Tech defeated Binghamton 47-0 in 2019 and holds the all-time series 2-0.
 

Virginia Tech Projected Lineup
125 - No. 16 Sam Latona (4-6)
133 - No. 5 Korbin Myers (9-1)
141 - No. 30 Collin Gerardi (7-4) or Sam Hillegas (2-1)
149 - No. 6 Bryce Andonian (2-1) or Kylan Montgomery (1-3)
157 - No. 23 Connor Brady (9-2)
165 - Clayton Ulrey (5-9)
174 - No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (11-0) or A.J. Dempsey (5-6)
184 - No. 14 Hunter Bolen (16-2) or Simeone Holmes (5-3) 
197 - Andy Smith (6-4)
285 - No. 13 Nathan Traxler (10-1)
 

Binghamton Bearcats (3-8) vs. West Virginia (5-3)
Date | Time: Sunday, Jan. 9 | 2:30 p.m.
Location: Blacksburg, Va.
Stats: TrackWrestling

A look at West Virginia
The Mountaineers are led in the rankings by Killian Cardinale (No. 6 at 125 pounds), Peyton Hall (No. 11, 165 pounds) and Michael Wolfgram (No. 20 at 285 pounds). Cardinale just took second place at the Southern Scuffle last weekend, with his only loss being a medical forfeit in the championship. Meanwhile, Hall also took second. His only defeat came at the hands of No. 3 Keegan O'Toole in the final.

Wolfgram saw a 12-bout winning streak snapped in Chattanooga, but still finds himself in the nation's top 20. He is 14-3 this season. 133-pounder Michael Dolan leads West Virginia with 17 wins (17-7).
 

West Virginia Projected Lineup
125 | Colton Drousias (6-7) OR No. 6 Killian Cardinale (6-0)
133 | Garett Lautzenheiser (5-8)
141 | Caleb Rea (9-6)
149 | Jeffrey Boyd (13-8)
157 | Alex Hornfeck (10-9)
165 | No. 11 Peyton Hall (17-1)
174 | Scott Joll (14-4) OR Dennis Robin (10-8)
184 | Anthony Carman (12-6)    
197 | Jackson Moomau (2-7) OR Jace Bradbury (3-5)
HWT | No. 20 Michael Wolfgram (14-3)
 

Up Next
After the weekend, BU will dive into EIWA duals for the remainder of the month, starting with Drexel on Saturday, January 15. Opening bout is set for 5 p.m.