CLEVELAND – The 2025-26 season came to an end for the Binghamton wrestling team Friday as both Carter Baer and Mikey Squires were eliminated from the NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championships at Rocket Arena.
 
Baer picked up his second win of the tournament at 174 lbs., by defeating No. 19 Logan Messer of George Mason in sudden victory 4-1. The score matched Baer's other win at the tournament from Thursday night, when he won against No. 29 Avery Bassett of Lock Haven in overtime to advance. However, Baer was then defeated by No. 6 Matty Singleton of NC State to be eliminated from the tournament. Squires, meanwhile, fell to No. 25 Evan Bates of Missouri at 197 lbs., ending his collegiate career.
 
Both Baer and Squires finish the season by setting a new career high for total wins in a season with 20, reaching the 20-win mark for the first time in the process. Squires broke his previous career high of 12 that he set while wrestling for Princeton in 2024-25. Baer's previous career high was 18 in 2024-25.
 
Binghamton closes out its first season under Head Coach Ryan LeBlanc by extending its streak of having won at least one match at nationals to the program's last 18 appearances at nationals dating back to 2008. This also marks the eighth consecutive appearance where the Bearcats have won at least two matches at the national tournament dating back to 2018. With Baer winning two matches himself, the Bearcats have had one wrestler win at least two matches at nationals in each of the team's last seven appearances dating back to 2019.
 
The Bearcats finished the third session 50th out of 70 teams with 2.5 points.
 
Session Three Notes

• For the second time in this tournament, Baer went up against an opponent he faced earlier this season in Messer. Baer previously defeated Messer 6-3 at the Big Red Invitational on Nov. 23. Much like Baer's victory against Bassett on Thursday, the Bearcat would have to once again fight for a win in sudden victory. After a scoreless first period, Baer got an escape early in the second, while Messer escaped from the bottom in the third. Tied at one going into overtime, Baer eventually lunged forward and brought down Messer to win the bout and advance.
• Baer then went up against Singleton in the third round of the consolation bracket. A win by Baer would put him through to the fourth session, where one more victory would have put himself on the podium. Following neither wrestler scoring in the first period, Singleton was able to ride Baer for the first 1:32 of the second before Baer escaped. Singleton then escaped Baer 20 seconds into the third to tie the match at one. Baer took several shots to try and take the lead with a takedown, but Singleton defended them all. With his bonus point via riding time secured, Singleton eliminated Baer with a 2-1 decision.
• Squires faced Bates as he too looked to win his second match at nationals. But Bates got a takedown 32 seconds into the match and rode Squires for the final 2:28 of the period. Squires would get a point on Bates' second stalling call of the match, as the Bearcat trailed 3-1 going into the second period. Neither wrestler was able to score in the second, as Squires started the third on top. But Bates got an escape and another takedown within the first 18 seconds of the frame to bring his lead up to 7-1. Squires would gain a point on Bates' third stalling call, as well as another two on a reversal, but Bates added a bonus point for riding time to win the bout.

 
NCAA Division I Men's Wrestling Championships Results
Carter Baer
174 Round One | No. 20 Daschle Lamer (Oregon State) def. No. 13 Carter Baer (Binghamton) DEC 2-0
174 Consolation First Round | No. 13 Carter Baer (Binghamton) def. No. 29 Avery Bassett (Lock Haven) DEC 4-1 SV
174 Consolation Second Round | No. 13 Carter Baer (Binghamton) def. No. 19 Logan Messer (George Mason) DEC 4-1 SV
174 Consolation Third Round | No. 6 Matty Singleton (NC State) def. No. 13 Carter Baer (Binghamton) DEC 2-1)
 
Mikey Squires
197 Round One | No. 10 Mac Stout (Pittsburgh) def. No. 23 Mikey Squires (Binghamton) DEC 5-2
197 Consolation First Round | No. 23 Mikey Squires (Binghamton) def. No. 26 Ben Vanadia (Purdue) MD 11-2
197 Consolation Second Round | No. 25 Evan Bates (Missouri) def. No. 23 Mikey Squires (Binghamton) DEC 8-4
 
*Rankings are seeds for NCAA tournament
 
The New York Army National Guard is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Wrestling.