Fairfield native Will Ebert of Binghamton (top) is the EIWA wrestler of the week for the second time this season. (Photo courtesy Binghamton University)
For the second time this season, Fairfield’s Will Ebert, a junior at Binghamton University, has been named wrestler of the week by the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA).
Ebert (184 pounds) beat a top 10 opponent last weekend at the Journeyman’s Arm Bar tournament Sunday in Clifton Park, New York. Ebert beat No. 9 Jaxon Smith of Maryland, 4-3 in a close battle against a two-time NCAA tournament qualifier.
It was the second victory of the season over a top 10 opponent for Ebert, a graduate of Fairfield Warde.
Back at Journeymen’s WrangleMania on Nov. 9 in Bethlehem, Pa., Ebert made noise by defeating No. 5 Edmond Ruth of Illinois 2-0. Ebert would go on to win his first eight matches this season and enter the national rankings. In the latest rankings, Ebert is ranked No. 23 by InterMat and No. 24 by FloWrestling.
Ebert’s win over Smith on Sunday helped the Bearcats beat Maryland, 28-10. It was second time in two years that Binghamton (3-5) has beaten a Big 10 squad.
“Will did an excellent job controlling the pace of the match against Jaxon,” Binghamton coach Kyle Borshoff said. He was able to create some tough defensive positions early in the bout, and give himself some counter scoring opportunities.
“As the match went on Will did a nice job creating great pressure positions which led to a very well timed slide by. That takedown was the difference in the match. Will has had a ton of opportunities to wrestle nationally ranked opponents this season, and he has a high wrestling IQ so with each of those opportunities he is making adjustments and improvements on the mat,” Borshoff said.
Ebert would go on to wrestle one more match on Sunday, shutting out Lock Haven’s Chase Bartram in a 1-0 decision. With his two wins that day, Ebert improved his overall record on the season to 12-6.
Binghamton will hold its first two home duals this week. The Bearcats first host Hofstra on Thursday at 2 p.m., followed by a match against No. 20 Lehigh on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., in the Events Center.
Ebert was a State Open and New England champion in 2022 at Warde and also won a National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) championship in 2022.
