Team/individual accomplishments
Garn competes at Olympic Trials
Recent Binghamton University graduate Jesse Garn was sixth in his heat and 25th overall in the preliminary round of the men’s 800 at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials on Friday afternoon at Heyward Field.
Garn clocked a time of 1:49.11. Drew Windle was first (1:48.66), followed by Joseph White (1:48.68) and Charles Jock (1:48.71). The top overall time, which came in the second heat, was turned in by Boris Berian (1:46.03).
MLB draft pick headed to Binghamton
Binghamton baseball has landed its first-ever MLB Draft pick out of high school. Incoming freshman pitcher Ben Anderson (Rexton, N.Y./Shenendehowa HS) has decided to become a Bearcat in the fall after weighing an offer from the Toronto Blue Jays to begin his professional career. Anderson was a first team all-state selection who helped lead Shenendehowa to its first-ever state championship in the spring. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 26th round last month and was faced with a decision after previously signing a National Letter of Intent to play at BU.
Men’s basketball adds 6-foot-9 transfer
Binghamton men’s basketball has added another big man to its program. Head coach Tommy Dempsey announced Thursday that 6-foot-9 forward Caleb Stewart(Glenville, N.Y./St. Leo University, Fla.) has transferred to the University and will join the program as a redshirt this season. After sitting out the required year for NCAA transfer rules, Stewart will have two seasons of eligibility with the Bearcats beginning in 2017-18.
Women’s lacrosse announces new assistant coach
Binghamton women’s lacrosse head coach Stephanie Allen has added a coach to her staff with the hiring of Marissa Rose for the 2017 season. Rose will serve as an assistant coach alongside Allison Daley.
A native of Camillus, N.Y., Rose was a four-year member of the Binghamton women’s lacrosse team, and served as a captain during the 2016 season. She played in five games at attack, and closed out her career with a goal in a season-ending win at Vermont.
Wrestling releases 2016-17 schedule
Binghamton wrestling has released its 2016-17 schedule, as the Bearcats will host eight home contests this season. BU won 11 matches last season and will return all but one starter from its regular lineup.
Coach Matt Dernlan enters his fifth season at Binghamton. He has guided ten Bearcats to NCAA Championships appearances in his first four years at BU.
In 2016-17, Dernlan’s squad will open the campaign with the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open, one of the largest tournaments in collegiate wrestling. On November 13, over 400 wrestlers will compete at the Events Center.
Women’s soccer season preview
First-year head coach Neel Bhattacharjee points to his back line as the backbone of a 2016 Binghamton women’s soccer team whose aim is to climb the standings and return to postseason play.
Bhattacharjee and his staff, who took over the reins of a program that notched just three wins in 2015, have worked tirelessly to reinvigorate a program that reached the America East title game in 2009 but has slipped in recent years. With a steadfast commitment to fitness, preparation and commitment, the 2016 Bearcats are ready to open play with a pair of non-conference games in Buffalo this weekend. Binghamton will face St. Bonaventure in its season opener Friday night and then play at Niagara Sunday afternoon. The team then returns home to host Lafayette on August 25.
Men’s basketball releases 2016-17 schedule
Binghamton men’s basketball released its 2016-17 schedule and the 31-game slate includes several marquee matchups against prominent first-time opponents.
“The release of your schedule is a great motivator,” said head coach Tommy Dempsey. “It is a daily reminder in your preparation of what lies ahead.”
Dempsey’s Bearcats will open the regular season with a home game against Cornell on Nov. 11. Then BU heads to NYC for a first-ever game against BIG EAST member St. John’s on Nov. 14. The Red Storm, coached by Chris Mullin, have made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances and are one year removed from a 21-win, NCAA season. Two days later, BU returns to the Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center for a game against Central Connecticut State on Nov. 16.
Women’s basketball announces 2016-17 schedule
The Binghamton women’s basketball team has released its 2016-17 schedule, which begins with a Nov. 11 game against Bucknell at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. The 29-game slate includes four non-conference opponents that took part in either the NCAA Tournament or WNIT last year as well as home and away games against all eight other America East opponents.
Bucknell finished the 2015-16 season 25-8 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. It marked the second time in three seasons that the Bison earned a bid to a national postseason tournament.
Unbeaten men’s soccer ties nationally-ranked Siena
Senior forward Alex Varkatzas scored in the 62nd minute as Binghamton (1-0-2) tied No. 21 Siena (1-1-1) in a non-conference men’s soccer game on Friday afternoon at the Siena Turf Field. With the tie, the Bearcats are unbeaten through three matches for the first time since 2007.
With the Bearcats down 2-1, redshirt junior back Charlie Novoth took a free kick to the left of the goal. The ball was redirected by sophomore back Kevin Flesch and then fired into the net by Varkatzas. It was his first goal of the season.
Women’s lacrosse coach competing for Team Canada
Binghamton women’s lacrosse assistant coach Allison Daley has made it through first cuts for the Canadian senior women’s lacrosse team. The first selection camp was held over four days in August, and saw the 80 players invited get cut down to 45 as the team prepares for the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup next year.
“It’s a huge honor to be selected to the next round,” remarked Daley. “Anytime you have an opportunity to represent your country it is a great feeling. I am looking forward to working hard over the next 6 weeks to be as best prepared as possible for the next round.”
Baseball alums wrap up summer of pro ball
Six former Binghamton baseball standouts enjoyed another successful season of professional ball in 2016.
Leading the way were former BU teammates Scott Diamond and Murphy Smith, who closed out 2016 as teammates again - this time with Toronto’s Triple-A team in Buffalo. Another member of Toronto’s organization, Jake Thomas played a full season with Class A Lansing in the Midwest League. PitcherMike Bunal and infielder Reed Gamache followed-up their spring championship seasons with the Bearcats by producing noteworthy seasons in the Colorado and N.Y. Mets organizations, respectively. Former ace closer Lee Sosa is also pitching for New Jersey in the independent Can-Am League.