Team/individual accomplishments
Baseball selected to win title in preseason poll
For the second straight year, Binghamton baseball has been picked to win the America East in the Coaches’ Preseason Poll. The Bearcats were a unanimous selection from the league’s six opposing head coaches. After BU (36 pts.), Maine (29) and Stony Brook (28) rounded out a top three that had significant separation from the rest of the teams.
Six-time conference coach of the year Tim Sinicki enters his 26th season at the helm of a Binghamton University program that has captured 10 combined America East regular season and tournament titles in the last 11 years - the most of any program in the conference.
Binghamton returns five starting position players, all three weekend starters and five all-conference selections from 2017. That team went 30-13 (15-4 in AE play) and was rated as high as No. 41 in the country (out of 299) before late-season injuries derailed the team’s quest for a return trip to the NCAA Regionals. In the last two seasons, the Bearcats have gone 34-9 against America East foes. In that span, Binghamton has sported the second-best home record in the nation (30-5, 86 percent).
Baseball season preview
Anchored by 22 returning letterwinners, including seven all-conference selections and its full three-man weekend starting rotation, Binghamton men’s baseball takes aim at another America East title in 2018.
Led by six-time conference coach of the year Tim Sinicki, Binghamton University has advanced to the NCAAs three times in the last five years and has won 10 combined America East regular season and tournament titles in the last 11 years. Understandably, the Bearcats were picked to win their third straight regular season title in both the conference coaches’ poll (unanimous) and several national publications.
“It’s nice to know that the program is respected that way by the other coaches in the league,” Sinicki said. “But in the end this conference is so balanced top to bottom I truly believe any of the seven teams could win the league championship.”
Basketball center Bruce named to America East All-Defensive Team
Junior center Thomas Bruce has been selected to the America East All-Defensive Team for the second straight season, the conference announced on Thursday.
Bruce led the league in blocks (2.1/game) and ranked second in both rebounding (8.8) and field goal percentage (.597). He produced nine double-doubles, had 12 double-digit rebound games and three 20+ point scoring performances. Bruce ranks among the nation’s top-60 in blocks (36th) and rebounds (54th). He put his name in the record books for two single-game categories in 2017-18. Bruce tied a record with 12 made field goals against Cornell on Nov. 13 (12-for-16, 28 pts.). He then set a record with 19 rebounds against UMass Lowell on Jan. 21.
Women’s basketball takes home America East honors
Senior guard Imani Watkins has been named the America East Player of the Year and senior center Alyssa James has been named the Defensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. The announcements were made during the America East’s annual Awards Banquet on Friday night, which precedes the conference tournament.
Watkins was also named first-team all-conference for the second year in a row and joined James on the All-Defensive Team. James was named second-team all-conference for the second straight season while sophomore guard Kai Moon made the third team.
With three all-conference selections, Binghamton tied Albany for the most picks among the nine teams. In addition, the two players named to the All-Defensive Team is the highest total in the America East as well as the best in Binghamton program history.
Women’s basketball earns historic postseason bid
The Binghamton women’s basketball team has earned a bid to the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI), a 16-team Division I national postseason tournament that selects teams based on their current RPI, record, conference standings, end-of-year performance, and quality wins and losses. The Bearcats begin play with a first-round game at Youngstown State on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.
This marks the first time Binghamton has received a bid to a national postseason tournament since the program moved up to the NCAA Division I level prior to the 2001-02 season. Currently, the Bearcats are 19-11 and have a RPI of 161 out of 349 NCAA Division I women’s basketball programs. The 19 victories ties Binghamton’s highest mark during its 17-year NCAA Division I era.
Softball picked first in America East preseason poll
The America East Conference has released its annual preseason poll and Binghamton is favored to finish in first place. The voting was done by the seven head coaches, none of whom were allowed to vote for their own team.
This marks the second time in three years that the Bearcats have been picked to win the conference. In 2016, Binghamton lived up to its billing by capturing the first of two consecutive regular-season championships. The previous year (2015) won the America East tournament for the first time in program history.
Binghamton finished with 33 points and got four of the seven first-place votes. Maine and UMass Lowell tied for second with 26 total points.
Softball season preview
Heading into the 2018 season, Binghamton has established itself as a championship-caliber softball program.
After winning the America East title in 2015, the Bearcats have captured the conference’s regular-season crown in each of the past two years. In the current America East preseason poll, the Bearcats have been picked to once again finish first.
This year’s squad combines a mixture of both experience and youth and has the potential to continue Binghamton’s run of success.
Men’s lacrosse season preview
Under second-year head coach Kevin McKeown, the Binghamton men’s lacrosse team is looking to build off the success of last season and reach new heights in 2018.
Returning four of the Bearcat’s top five point scorers from 2017 and a veteran midfield, the Bearcats are determined to prove they are building a real lacrosse program in Binghamton. Led by senior Stephen Petrelli and redshirt junior Sal Fama, the Bearcats hope to again be a top contender in the America East.
“I am excited to get going in year two with our competition against outside teams,” McKeown said. “It has been a fun and productive off-season for us as a program. With a large group of returning players alongside a talented freshman class that is competing for time in all aspects of the game, I am eager to see how we can continue to grow throughout the spring.”
Men’s lacrosse hires assistant coach
The Binghamton men’s lacrosse team has added a new member to its coaching staff for the 2018 season. Head coach Kevin McKeown has announced the hiring of Nick Hautau, who previously coached at Manhattanville College.
“We are very fortunate to be able to add Nick to our coaching staff,” said McKeown.“He brings wealth of coaching experience that will greatly enhance how our staff is able to operate.”
Hautau comes to Binghamton after one season at Manhattanville. Previously, he spent five years at Greenwich High School where he served as an assistant coach to the varsity men’s lacrosse program from 2012-2017. While at Greenwich, Hautau was responsible for coordinating offensive schemes and managing substitutions. He has also spent time working with Prime Time Lacrosse as a Clinic Coordinator and the Head Coach for the U15-17 team from 2009-2017.
The native of Cross River, New York, played lacrosse at Sacred Heart University and Marist college. He graduated from Sacred Heart in 2010.
The men’s lacrosse team kicks off their season on February 10 when they travel to Syracuse.
Men’s swimming and diving is runner up at America East Championships
The Binghamton swimming and diving programs closed out competition in the America East championships on Sunday evening. The Binghamton men finished in second place with 817.5 points. UMBC won the men’s competition with 1113 points. The Binghamton women were fourth with 485.5 points.
The championships ran from Thursday to Sunday on the campus of WPI.
“I’m so proud of what our men’s and women’s teams accomplished this championship,” head coach Brad Smtih said. “We has a lot of great performances but our team accomplishments and team effort is what I am most proud of. They worked so hard together all off season long and I am honored to see their hard work pay off.”
Men’s tennis wins prestigious service award
Binghamton men’s tennis was recognized by the United States Tennis Association for its outstanding community service at a ceremony over the weekend. Head coach Nick Zieziula accepted the 2017 USTA Eastern Collegiate Award at the association’s Annual Awards Dinner, held Saturday at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y.
Under Zieziula’s direction, the Bearcats have been very active in the Binghamton community, hosting numerous events and lending a hand to several local fundraising efforts to benefit children and those less fortunate. In the fall, Binghamton University teamed with The Magic Paintbrush Project and their “Fair Play Project” to host five adaptive tennis days on campus. The team welcomed young people with special needs to the courts, where they were introduced to tennis and given a supportive environment to enjoy exercise. From that initiative, Zieziula “signed” Mather Stover-Ling to the roster for the 2017-18 year. The young boy will join the team for practices, workouts, team meals and matches throughout the year.
Track and field finish strong at America East Championships
Seniors Keishora Armstrong and Oyin Adewale and freshman Brittany Korsah all earned major awards at the America East Indoor Track & Field Championships, which concluded on Saturday at the Boston Track & Tennis Center. In the team standings, Binghamton was third out of nine teams in the men’s meet and fourth in the women’s competition.
Armstrong received the Women’s Coaches Award as the top point scorer. Adewale was named the Women’s Field Athlete of the Meet while Korsah was the Women’s Most Outstanding Rookie.
By placing second in the triple jump (40-11) and fourth in the 60 on Saturday, Armstrong finished with a meet-best 23.00 points. On Friday, she was first in the long jump.
Armstrong has now earned the Coaches’ Award four times during her career. It’s the third time she has done so at an indoor meet, with 2015 and 2016 being the two previous instances.
Women’s lacrosse season preview
The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team enters the 2018 season looking to lean on experience. With a quality amount of talent and depth stepping on the field, leadership from a strong core of upperclassmen will be crucial towards their success this year.
Fueled by an elevated mindset and hungry to set new standards for Binghamton women’s lacrosse, senior captains Bri Arthur, Callon Williams, Jocelyn Penteck and Miriam Ghabarou are ready to help get them there.
“We’ve seen a big difference in our team this off-season,” head coach Stephanie Allen said. “The level of energy in practice everyday is incredible. You can tell that everyone out there is playing for each other and pushing the girl next to them to get to that next level. We return a solid group of juniors and seniors, as well as a very hard-working sophomore class that used the off-season to really step up their game. I’m excited to see where this group can take us this year.”
Women’s lacrosse hires assistant coach
The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team has added a new member to its coaching staff for the 2018 season. Head coach Stephanie Allen has announced the hiring of Stephanie Cooper, who previously coached at Corning-Painted Post.
“We are very excited to welcome Stephanie to the Binghamton Lacrosse staff and family,” said Allen. “She brings a wealth of passion and knowledge to our program as well as a strong background in developing young women both on and off the field. She will definitely compliment our current staff and parallel the values and standards we have set for this team.”
After graduating from Elmira College in 2007, Cooper took on the assistant coaching job at the College of Brockport. In just a short year, she became the head coach at Brockport, setting the school record for wins in a season with 19. In 2009, Cooper received a high school teaching job at Corning-Painted Post where she taught and coached junior varsity. Later on, she took the head coaching job at Horseheads before returning to. She also spent time working as the Section IV Girls Lacrosse State Coordinator.
Cooper began her collegiate playing career at Syracuse University where she was twice named to the All-Big East Second Team. She later transferred to Elmira College where she was twice named First-team All-Empire Eight.
She prides herself on helping student-athletes to reach their highest potential both on and off the field, and most importantly, in the classroom.
The women’s lacrosse team are set to face off on the road against Fresno State on February 11.
Armstrong becomes track All-American
The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) has released its list of 2018 Indoor Track Division I All-Americans and senior Keishorea Armstrong has earned second-team status. It marks the second time in her career that she has been named an All-American.
Armstrong placed 13th in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend. Places 1-8 earned first-team All-America status while places 9-16 were named to the second team.
Previously, Armstrong earned honorable mention All-America status with a 24th-place finish in the long jump at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Since Binghamton moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 2001, the program has had 13 student-athletes earn a total of 21 All-America honors. This includes Rory Quiller’s national championship in the pole vault at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track Championships.
Armstrong is just the fourth Binghamton student-athlete to earn All-America honors at least twice in their career.
Borshoff takes control of wrestling program
After lifting Binghamton wrestling to an undefeated run in the EIWA (5-0) over the last two months as acting head coach, Kyle Borshoff has been named the head coach moving forward.
In his third year with the program, Borshoff took over the reigns as acting head coach in December and has the Bearcats surging toward the postseason. Binghamton (8-4) has won five straight dual matches and after a win over nationally-ranked Drexel on Saturday, Binghamton University made its first appearance in the national polls in six years.
“We are excited to have Kyle guide our wrestling program into the future,” Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott said. “His experience as a coach and leader at the Division I level combined with his stellar career as a student-athlete will allow us to continue to build a national wrestling program on the mat, in the classroom and in the community.”
Wrestling advances pair to NCAA Championships
The Binghamton wrestling team placed five wrestlers at the 2018 EIWA Championships Sunday afternoon, highlighted by a second place finish by redshirt sophomore Frankie Garcia at 149 pounds. With his finish, Garcia joins senior Steven Schneider, as the two earned themselves automatic bids to the 2018 NCAA Championships. Binghamton finished in seventh place overall out of 16 teams with 65.5 points, marking the highest finish in program history. As a team, head coach Kyle Borshoff’s squad was also awarded the sportsmanship award, voted on by referees for the wrestlers respect and demeanor on the mats.
“The EIWA’s are a great event every year,” Borshoff said. “We’re the second biggest conference in the country, and we take the second most bids behind the B1G for the NCAA Championships. You always know you’re going to get some good matchups when you’re here, and we showed up and competed. Having five guys place at their weights, with two guaranteed bids for Cleveland and finishing the highest we ever have in program history, that’s exciting. I’m really proud of these guys for the fight they showed on the mats this weekend and for what this means for us moving forward.”