For Binghamton University wrestlers Kyle Fried and Josh Patterson, the NCAA Tournament ended on an abrupt note, but the experiences they took away from it made up for their early exits.

“The tournament went really well, and I was among some of the greatest [athletes],” said Fried, a senior. “I mean, we are talking about the top wrestlers in the nation duking it out. It’s something that you will take with you for the rest of your life.”

The championship was held March 20 at the Scott Trade center in St. Louis, with over 90 schools participating in the event.

“We both learned and gained a lot from this,” said BU head coach Pat Popolizio. “It was really good that we had our guys get there and represent our school.”

Patterson, a sophomore, fell to second-seeded Steve Luke of Michigan 11-3 on the first day. Patterson then went head to head with 19th-seeded Alex Caruso of Lehigh, where he fell 5-3 despite a strong effort late in the match to tie. It was Patterson’s second consecutive year in the tournament.

“It was definitely the kind of tough competition we fell into,” Popolizio said. “Josh went up against the top of the top players. He has two years left though, and I think he knows now what it takes. The main thing is that all our guys learn from [our matches] and continue to achieve new heights.”

In his first match, Fried fell to Iowa State’s Mitch Mueller, 7-3. It was not the first time they faced each other. The Bearcat defeated the No. 14 seed in sudden-death overtime, 6-4, at the West Gym in November. This time, however, it did not fall in Fried’s favor.

“I had a bit of a stage fright … because there were over 50,000 fans watching,” Fried said. “I was thinking more about the match than actual wrestling. He took me down three times, which is the most anyone has taken me down this season.”

Fried got redemption in the first round of consolations by defeating 19th-ranked and reigning Colonial Athletic Association champ Don Fisch of Rider 6-4. Fisch was responsible for one of Fried’s two losses in the regular season.

The victory was unfortunately short-lived as 12th-ranked William Rowe of Oklahoma took down Fried in a 6-2 decision, ending his tournament run.

“Even though I didn’t make All-American, I have no regrets,” Fried said. “I had more success this season than ever before.”

For the senior, all roads lead to continuing his education, but Fried has stressed how he would like to pass on his love for the sport to other wrestlers.

“I’m going to be here for one more year,” Fried said. “For now I will try and help out with the program, but as of now, coaching is not in my future. Still, now that I’m done, I would love to take someone else in and train them with everything I know.”

Fried mentioned how this season was only a glimpse of the good things to come for BU wrestling.

“When I first came to Binghamton, they were only just starting the program,” Fried said. “Down the line [the Bearcats] are going to grow better and better and you will be seeing All-Americans and national champions soon enough.”

“We have a lot of guys coming in next year,” Popolizio said. “With the program on a rise, I believe with each season we are going to continue to get better.”