Wrestling Falls to Johnson & Wales, 35-6

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Visiting Johnson & Wales University posted a 35-6 victory over Bridgewater State University in Pilgrim Wrestling League (PWL) action on Wednesday evening at the Tinsley Center.

The Wildcats, who were competing in their first dual meet of the season, entered the match ranked first in the most recent New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Division III Coaches Poll.  The match featured the defending Pilgrim League co-champions.

Sophomore Jonathan Murray (Bay Shore, N.Y.) staked Bridgewater to an early 3-0 lead with a 9-2 decision at the 125-pound weight class.  Murray, ranked fifth in New England, bested fourth ranked Joe Pronk (Marshfield, Mass.).

Johnson and Wales, however, would dominate the next seven bouts to take a commanding 32-3 lead heading into the final two weight classes of the evening.  Freshman Michael Ferinde (Nutley, N.J.) at 141 and classmate Frank Marotti (Fairfield, N.J.) at 165 each posted technical fall victories, while juniors RJ Pilkington (Placentia, Calif.) and Colin Lenhardt (Hayes, Va.) pinned their opponents at 149 and 174, respectively.

BSU senior 197-pounder Andrew Frazer (West Hartford, Conn.) recorded a 10-7 decision to close the gap to 32-6.  The unranked Frazer knocked off fifth ranked Blake McNulty (Framingham, Mass.).

In the final match of the night, Johnson and Wales junior Humphrey Swift (Danbury, Conn.) edged BSU sophomore Ricky Caruso (Waltham, Mass.), 3-2, in a bout featuring the number three and number two ranked heavyweights in New England.

With the loss, the Bears slip to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the PWL. Bridgewater will travel to the University of Southern Maine on Saturday for a tri-match with AIC and the host Huskies.