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    Binghamton dominant in winnning CAA title

    LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Binghamton punctuated its rapid ascent in wrestling circles with a first-ever Colonial Athletic Association Championship, clinched Saturday at Rider University. The Bearcats produced four individual champions and won the team title with 87.5 points, ahead of runnerup Old Dominion (73) and the rest of the eight-team conference. Binghamton dethroned eight-time reigning champion Hofstra and nationally-ranked ODU and will now send a school-record five wrestlers to the NCAA Championship, March 18-20 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

    Junior 141-pound top-seeded Anwar Goeres got the Bearcats started with a riveting 2-1 overtime win over second-seeded Craig Wilson of ODU. The wrestlers each earned an escape in regulation and after a scoreless sudden victory period, Goeres escaped from the bottom to start the first tiebreak session. He then rode out Wilson from top in the second tiebreak period to win his first CAA title after finishing fourth and third in the last two years. Goeres will advance to NCAAs with a 35-8 record.

    Sophomore 157-pound Justin Lister took control early in his match with third-seeded Joe Booth of Drexel. Lister, the top-seed, had two first-period takedowns and built a 6-2 lead with riding time before slowing down for a 6-4 decision. Lister (28-8) had already clinched an NCAA berth Friday night - one of three allotted to his weight class.

    In a battle between defending CAA champions, senior 174-pound Josh Patterson, exacted revenge on top-seeded and 12th-ranked Bagna Tovuujav to claim his second straight CAA title. Tovuujav was the reigning 174-lb. champ and had beaten Patterson 7-6 in a dual last month. Tovuujav jumped out to a 4-0 lead with back points 15 seconds into the bout before now four-time NCAA qualifier and 14th-ranked Patterson roared back. He had a big takedown and near-pin in the first and never looked back in posting the 16-6 major decision. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the championship. Patterson, who finished seventh to earn All-America honors at the 2009 NCAA Championship, will bring a 26-6 record to Omaha.

    "From where we started four years ago to today is night and day," head coach Pat Popolizio said. "It's a reflection on the commitment, hard work and dedication of everyone in our program. This is very rewarding because of the type of kids we have and the character they've shown."

    Redshirt 184-pound freshman Nate Schiedel used a second-period takedown to build a 3-1 lead plus riding time and hung on for a 4-3 decision over second-seeded Ben Clymer of Hofstra. Schiedel, the top-seed, will bring a 29-7 record into the NCAA Championship.

    Redshirt 149-pound freshman Donnie Vinson came up short in his title match with three-time NCAA qualifier and top-seeded Mike Kessler of Rider. Vinson led 2-0 after a first-period takedown but Kessler racked up three takedowns en route to an 8-5 decision. Vinson clinched an NCAA berth on Friday and will carry a 32-11 record to the national meet.

    Senior heavyweight Corey Waite placed third with three wins. He recorded three takedowns in the first period and went on to control sixth-seeded Paul Schweighardt of Sacred Heart 14-5 in his final collegiate match.

    Sophomore 165-pound Matt Kaylor placed fourth for the second straight year after posting two wins. Kaylor, the No. 3 seed, was beaten 11-5 by fourth-seeded Rob Morrison of Rider after leading 5-4 in his final bout.

    The four CAA champions and five NCAA qualifiers represents the most in BU's nine-year Division I history. Binghamton had never won more than one CAA title in any year and its two NCAA qualifiers in 2008 were the previous best.

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