VESTAL, N.Y. – Nearly eight months after last competing at nationals, the Binghamton wrestling team is ready to open its 2024-25 season this weekend in Bethlehem, Pa.

The Bearcats will start the year with a dual on Saturday at noon against No. 17 Illinois as part of Journeymen Wrestling's Wranglemania. The following day, the team will compete in its first tournament of the season at Journeymen's Collegiate Classic.

"This weekend is a great opportunity to showcase the improvements that we have made from last season," said Binghamton Wrestling Head Coach Kyle Borshoff. "The team is excited and ready to compete. Regardless of the results, it will be a great weekend for us to figure out what direction we need to go in our training over the rest of the fall semester."

Binghamton looks to build off a strong 2023-24 season that featured nine dual wins and four wrestlers qualifying for the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Two of those wrestlers, Brevin Cassella and Cory Day, are back on the team. The duo enters this season ranked in the top 20 of both the FloWrestling and InterMat rankings in their respective weight classes. The team also features the return of both Nate Lucier and Micah Roes, who finished eighth and seventh respectively at the 2024 EIWA Championships.

Binghamton Bearcats vs. No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0)
Date | Time: Saturday, Nov. 7 | Noon
Location: Liberty High School – Bethlehem, Pa.
Live Results: X - @BearcatsWrestle
Watch: FloWrestling

Binghamton Projected Lineup
125 | Carson Wagner
133 | Micah Roes
141 | Nate Lucier
149 | Ivan Garcia
157 | Fin Nadeau
165 | Carter Baer
174 | No. 15/15 Brevin Cassella
184 | Will Ebert
197 | Andrew Bailey
285 | No. 13/16 Cory Day
*rankings based on FloWrestling/InterMat


Illinois Projected Lineup (Dual Record)
125 | No. NR/21 Ramazan Attasauov (0-1)
133 | No. 7/3 Lucas Byrd (1-0)
141 | No. 22/19 Danny Pucino (1-0)
149 | No. 11/10 Kannon Webster (1-0)
157 | No. 24/21 Jason Kraisser (1-0)
165 | No. NR/33 Braeden Scoles (1-0)
174 | No. 11/19 Danny Braunagel (1-0)
184 | No. 5/7 Edmond Ruth (1-0)
197 | No. 9/10 Zac Braunagel (1-0)
285 | No. 15/13 Luke Luffman (1-0)
*rankings based on FloWrestling/InterMat

Illinois Notes
•    The Fighting Illini, who went 5-9 in 2023-24, started this season with a 41-3 win at Southern Illinois Edwardsville on Nov. 2.
•    Edmond Ruth earned All-America honors in 2024 while also winning the Big Ten championship at 174 lbs.
•    Lucas Byrd returned to the mat against SIUE after missing the prior season due to a medical redshirt. He is a two-time All-American, finishing fifth at nationals in 2021 and 2022.
•    Against SIUE, Illinois picked up bonus points in eight out of the 10 matches. Jason Kraisser secured a pin in his match, while Kannon Webster, Braeden Scoles, Danny Braunagel and Zac Braunagel each earned a technical fall. Byrd, Danny Pucino and Luke Luffman all won by major decision.

Journeymen Collegiate Classic
Date | Time: Sunday, Nov. 10 | All Day (Wrestling begins at 9 a.m.)
Location: Freedom High School – Bethlehem, Pa.
Live Results: FloWrestling
Watch: FloWrestling

Binghamton Wrestlers Projected to Compete
125 | Carson Wagner, Jay McDonnell
133 | Jack Kazalas
141 | Nate Lucier
149 | Ivan Garcia, Caleb Sweet
157 | Fin Nadeau, Jordan Brown
165 | Carter Baer, Roberto Padilla
184 | Will Ebert
197 | Cayden Bevis, Quinn Funk
285 | Trent Sibble, Charlie Tibbitts

About the Event
Both Binghamton and Illinois will have wrestlers competing at this event. The tournament will also feature wrestlers representing No. 7 NC State, No. 11 Cornell, No. 15 Rutgers, No. 16 Lehigh, No. 19 Arizona State, No. 23 Pittsburgh, Army West Point, Harvard, Cal Baptist, Penn, Pitt Johnstown, Duke, Virginia Military Institute, Hofstra, Lock Haven, Buffalo, Franklin & Marshall, LIU and Sacred Heart.