For Immediate Release: March 5, 2009
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU wrestling heading to CAA Championship, NCAA qualifier
Junior Patterson is favorite to win 184-pound title

VESTAL, N.Y. -- Binghamton wrestling is headed to Virginia for the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, held March 6-7 at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake. The two-day event, which doubles as an NCAA qualifier, is being hosted by Old Dominion.

Junior 184-pound Josh Patterson, ranked No. 6 in the country by USA Today/Intermat, is the top wrestler in his weight class and will be looking to become just the second Bearcat to win a CAA crown (Josh Ruff won the 141-pound title in 2002). Patterson brings a 38-4 overall record into the tournament. He is essentially assured of an NCAA bid (either automatic or at-large), based on his regular season accomplishments.

Four other Bearcats are ranked among the top-4 in their respective CAA weight classes and have a chance to earn an NCAA berth with strong performances.

Redshirt freshman 149-pound Matt Kaylor is 23-18 overall and has one-point losses to the top wrestlers in the weight class. Senior 157-pound Nate Patterson is competing at his final conference championship, and remains a dangerous opponent. Patterson finished third at the 2008 event and has a decision over the No.2 ranked wrestler in the weight class. Sophomore 141-pound Anwar Goeres is 6-2 against the field in his weight class. Sophomore 125-pound Tyler Malmberg is 4-1 against his CAA opponents.

Hofstra has won the last seven CAA team championships. Binghamton will be looking to improve on its sixth-place showing from 2008.