BU Wrestling Gears up for NCAAs: Part 1

3/18/2013 (Updated 10:48:29 PM)

VESTAL -- The Binghamton University Wrestling Team will send four competitors to the NCAA Championships in Des Moine, Iowa, set to begin this Thursday.

In the 133-pound weight class, it's redshirt senior Derek Steeley making the trip for BU. It's Steeley's first trip to Nationals and a somewhat surprising one after he suffered a hamstring tear in January.

Steeley admits that his leg is only about 80 percent healthy but after a second place finish in the CAA Championships, he is looking forward to competing:

"It just felt great to finally punch my ticket to go to Nationals especially with the leg injury and getting through that for the past five weeks and working to make it to Nationals."

His coach, Matt Dernlan, could not be happier for Steeley, "I really thought a month ago Derek Steeley's career was probably over with the nature of his injury but last Saturday at the CAA Championships he showed a lot of heart, he showed a lot of commitment and that's a testiment to his character."

FOX 40 will feature all four wrestlers over the next few days.

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