Junior Steve Schneider of the Binghamton wrestling team competed and won against the nation’s top contenders at the 35th Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational this past weekend, posting a 7-2 record and finishing fourth in the 184-pound class.
“To figure out where you want to get to, you have to put yourself in a situation where you’re tested by the best athletes,” said BU head coach Matt Dernlan. “That was the intent when we went out to the Cliff Keen Invitational. You get a very honest opinion of where your team sits and we found out a lot of great things about our guys and what we need to fix in the next 2 1/2 months.”
The tournament featured 34 teams from every corner of the country, including juggernauts like Virginia Tech, Michigan and Iowa State. Eight of the competing teams are ranked in the top 20 in the nation.
“It’s the closest replication to the NCAA Tournament that you’re going to get during the regular season,” Dernlan said. “You learn a lot about yourself and what it’s going to take to get on that podium in March.”
The Bearcats sent 10 of their wrestlers to the mats on Friday, five of whom picked up at least one victory. Schneider went 4-1 on the first day of competition, registering wins over opponents from Minnesota and Cal Poly to advance to Saturday’s consolation round. Heavyweight redshirt sophomore Connor Calkins also advanced after posting a 3-1 record. Junior Vincent DePrez and sophomore Steven Bulzomi each recorded two wins for BU while 197-pound redshirt sophomore Mark Tracy earned one.
Calkins was taken down early in Saturday’s rounds, dropping the match by a 4-1 decision to redshirt sophomore Billy Miller of Edinboro in his first match of the day. Conversely, Schneider pulverized his early competition, coming out on top in his first two matches before taking a 6-1 decision over Northern Colorado redshirt sophomore Dylan Gabel. He followed up with a contentious 4-3 decision against redshirt sophomore Nick Fiegener of California Baptist.
Schneider kept rolling in the next round, handing junior Jordan Ellingwood of Central Michigan a loss in a 3-2 decision. Sophomore Myles Martin of Ohio State put an end to Schneider’s run in a 22-7 technical fall in the third-place bout.
BU placed 22nd overall with 25.5 points. Ohio State won the tournament, recording 118.5 points and six place winners while the runner-up, Wisconsin, had 113.5 points and seven place winners. Schneider was Binghamton’s sole place winner.
“It’s really the consistency in [Schneider’s] efforts,” Dernlan said. “He faced a defending national champion and he faced several unranked players. No matter the situation, he was always the same player.”
The Bearcats have three matches scheduled for next weekend, starting with in-state rival and conference foe Hofstra. They will then face No. 14 Princeton and five-time defending national champion Penn State.
“We need to be willing to bring our best efforts this weekend,” Dernlan said. “We want to make an impression on these teams.”
BU is set to host Hofstra University in an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association matchup this Friday in the West Gym at 7 p.m.