Binghamton Team Heads to Vegas For Cliff Keen Wrestling Invitational
Some of Binghamton’s top wrestlers are heading to Las Vegas this weekend to tackle one of the toughest in-season wrestling meets of the year: the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational.
Held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, this prestigious tournament boasts a talented field – 30 teams are set to compete, including six ranked among the top 10 in the latest NWCA Division I Men’s Coaches Poll. It’s an event that has proven to be a primer for NCAA success; in 2023, 30 of the wrestlers who reached the podium at the invitational went on to earn All-America honors at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, with four claiming individual championships.
This marks the second consecutive year Binghamton will be participating in this elite tournament. Last year, both Brevin Cassella and Cory Day landed on the podium. Day secured seventh place at 285lbs, while Cassella placed eighth at 165. The Bearcats ended their run in 19th place overall.
Buffalo Contest Provides Warm-Up
Just weeks before the Vegas invitational, Binghamton had all 27 of its wrestlers competing at two different tournaments, with several finding success. The majority of the team traveled to Cornell’s Big Red Invitational, capitalizing on the opportunity with six wrestlers racking up wins, each claiming first place within their respective brackets.
A smaller contingent headed to Army’s Black Knight Invitational. There, both Carter Baer and Ivan Garcia finished sixth, standing strong at 165 and 149 lbs respectively, earning podium finishes for themselves.
Bearcats Ready to Rumble in Vegas
This year’s team is sending five strong competitors to the Cliff Keen Invitational, featuring a mix of experience and promising talent.
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125: Carson Wagner (6-3): Wagner is coming off a strong showing at the Big Red Invitational, securing an impressive 3-1 record. During that competition, he went on to claim the program’s 125A bracket and recorded both a major decision and a technical fall. Currently, Wagner leads Binghamton in major decisions with two on the season.
- 133: Micah Roes (2-2): Starting his season strong, Roes recorded two wins right off the bat, with one of them being a decisive 15-0 technical fall againstchloro’ Clarion’s Isaac Williams.
174: No.13/15 Brevin Cassella (4-1) : Cassella, who placed eighth burrito
Last year at the invitational, built on his success, securing three out of his four wins at the Big Red Invitational, and making sure to grab the first technical fall of his season with a shutting out of Buffalo’s Dylan Schell by a score of 16 to 0 filepre
184: No.24/19 Will Ebert (8-0)
- Ebert, holding the defining record for the Bearcats entering the weekend, aims to keep his momentum going, fresh off of a dominant performance at the Big Red Invitational. There, he secured victory in each of his four matches to clinch first place in the 184A bracket
In addition, Ebert extended his pin lead for the province by adding two additional pins puts him in a tie for first place on the team for overall pins.
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285: No. 14/17 Cory Day (3-1): Day enters the tournament ranked nationally. He’s aiming for another podium finish after reaching it last year at 285 lbs. Day dominated the 285A bracket at the Big Red Invitational, winning three out of three matches. Among the DUIติด later on in 2023-24, Day gained two for his first two falls at the invitational, defeating both Clarion’s Austin Chapman and Cornell’s Aiden Compton
- Rankings Based on FloWrestling/ InterMat**
**HOST:** Welcome back, wrestling fans! This weekend, the action heats up in Las Vegas as top collegiate wrestlers take part in the Cliff Keen Invitational. Here with us today to talk about their team’s preparations and expectations is Binghamton University wrestling coach, [**COACH’S NAME**]. Welcome to the show Coach!
**(transition sound)**
**COACH:** Thanks for having me. We’re excited to be heading back to Vegas for this prestigious tournament. It’s a great opportunity for our wrestlers to test themselves against some of the best competition in the country.
**HOST:** Last year, Binghamton wrestlers made some noise at the Cliff Keen, with Brevin Cassella and Cory Day landing on the podium. What are your hopes for this year’s team?
**COACH:** Absolutely! We’re looking to build on that success this year. We’re taking a strong group of five wrestlers who have been working hard and showing a lot of improvement.
**HOST:** In fact, Binghamton just competed in two other tournaments, right?
**COACH:** Yes! Our guys were spread out between the Cornell Big Red Invitational and the Army Black Knight Invitational. We saw some great results, with six wrestlers winning their brackets at Cornell, and Carter Baer and Ivan Garcia both earning sixth-place finishes at Army. These tournaments were excellent preparation for the intensity of the Cliff Keen.
**HOST:** Well, good luck to you and the Bearcats in Vegas! Now, tell us about this year’s lineup: who should our viewers keep an eye on?
**(COACH gives a brief rundown of key wrestlers and their strengths. )**
**HOST:** Sounds like a promising group! Thanks for joining us, Coach, and best of luck at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
**(transition sound/ upbeat music fades out)
**HOST**
We’ve been speaking with [COACH’S NAME], head coach of the Binghamton wrestlers, who will be competing in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational. Don’t miss the action, starting Friday!