VESTAL, N.Y. - The Binghamton wrestling program will start the 2022-23 campaign this Saturday at 3 p.m. The Bearcats welcome Northern Colorado from the Big 12 to the Events Center for the first dual of the season.  The Bearcats finished last season 7-11 overall and 5-3 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). 

"The offseason was great," said head coach Kyle Borshoff. "The entire team was here training throughout the summer and the fall, so by the time our official preseason started, the guys we're in great shape already because they were wrestling and lifting every day during the summer. That's great for our team culture. We've got guys staying after practice each day doing extra stuff without being asked."  

The team wrapped up the offseason with wrestle-offs last Saturday. Borshoff was pleased with the overall effort of his team throughout the day.  I thought wrestle-offs went well," said Borshoff. "It was good to see some of the guys open up and score more points than they had in previous practice matches. We need to continue to focus on scoring and making sure that we are constantly being aggressive." 

Binghamton returns three national qualifiers from a season ago, while retaining several key wrestlers from last year's campaign. The coaching staff stayed busy during the offseason by reloading the roster with six freshmen and two transfers. All of the national qualifiers from a season ago are featured in the preseason rankings provided by InterMat. Two-time All-American Lou DePrez is ranked seventh at 197 pounds, while Brevin Cassella (174) and Jacob Nolan (184) are ranked inside the top 30. All three are focused on earning All-American status and competing for a national championship in Tulsa, Okla. this March. Regardless of the preseason rankings, the message remains simple in the wrestling room. Borshoff said, "Our focus is to get better at wrestling."  

Bearcats in the Rankings

• Lou DePrez - No. 7 InterMat (197)  
• Jacob Nolan - No. 23 InterMat (184)  
• Brevin Cassella - No. 26 InterMat (174)  

Superior Strength of Schedule  

Binghamton will wrestle several of the top programs in the country this season. Nearly one-third of the opponents on the Bearcats' schedule are featured in the top 25 of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) preseason rankings. Despite the rugged schedule, Borshoff has high expectations for this team. Borshoff wants them to wrestle against the best teams and the best wrestlers in the country this season. 

"We're wrestling a lot of really good teams," said Borshoff. "We're going to have a lot of tough matchups out of the gate. We're going to see a lot of the best guys in the country, and it will give us a great idea of where we are at heading into winter break. Whether we win or lose those duals, we will learn a lot about ourselves. In our sport, the goal is to always get better throughout the season to get ready for the national championships."  

Ranked Opponents  

• No. 7 Cornell  
• No. 9 North Carolina State  
• No. 13 Minnesota  
• No. 17 Lehigh  
• No. 23 Princeton  

To the see the entire schedule for the 2022-23 season, click here.  

Projected Starters   

125: Micah Roes will look to add to more accolades to his resume this season. In 2020-21, he qualified for the NCAA Tournament as a freshman, and he will look to accomplish that feat again after being sidelined for most of his sophomore season with an injury.   

133: Anthony Sobotker won 11 of his 15 matches by fall last season, and he was among the nation's best in that category. Sobotker led the team with 50 team points last season. The coaching staff wants him to continue to be aggressive. 

141: Nate Lucier missed all of his true freshman season with an injury, but he earned the starting spot with a close decision win at wrestle-offs. Lucier was a two-time Pennsylvania state placer as a junior and a senior.  

149: Michael Zarif begins his fifth season in a Bearcat singlet. The graduate student will be called upon to perform early in the 2022-23 campaign. Zarif won three dual matches a season ago.   

157: Conner Decker transferred from Maryland, where he was thrown into the lineup at 157 pounds midway through last season. Decker wrestled against some of the premier teams in the Big 10 as a true freshman, and he will look to make an impact this season for the Bearcats.  

165: Carter Baer is the only true freshman in the lineup to start the season. Baer is a three-time New York state champion, and in his senior year he went undefeated (41-0) en route to winning a state title at 160 pounds.  

174: Brevin Cassella qualified for the NCAA tournament at 165 pounds last season, and finished the season with a 21-15 record. Cassella led the team with six major decisions and he was one of four Bearcats with over 40 team points. Cassella will move up to 174 pounds for this season.  

184: Jacob Nolan finished last season 21-15 at 174 pounds, and he also qualified for the NCAA tournament. Nolan posted an 11-7 record in duals last season. Nolan will make the move to 184 for this season.   

197: Lou DePrez is on a mission to become a three-time All-American. DePrez qualified for the NCAA tournament a season ago, and he finished the season with a 28-5 record. DePrez led the team in overall wins, wins in dual meets (12), and technical falls (4). DePrez enters the season with 124 career wins, and he is expected to be one of the nation's best at 197 pounds.  

285: Cory Day makes the leap from 184 to heavyweight this season. Day posted an overall record of 13-8 last season, and he went 5-2 in duals at 184. Day had a strong showing at wrestle-offs last weekend.