Wrestling Opens Season with 35-9 Setback to Roger Williams

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University wrestling team opened the 2019-2020 season with a 35-9 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Friday evening at the RWU Recreation Center.

The Hawks (1-0) won eight of the ten bout including a pair of pins and a technical fall victory.

RWU senior Brett Leonard (New Milford, Conn.) posted a 16-1 (2:20) tech. fall win at the 174-pound weight class, while junior Nick Wagner (Wall, N.J.) and freshman Jackson Wrobel (Pawling, N.Y.) recorded back-to-back pins for the Hawks at 141 and 149, respectively. Leonard is ranked third in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Preseason Individual Rankings.

Sophomores Ryan Higgins (Billerica, Mass.) and Edwin Morales (Philadelphia, Pa.) notched the Bears' two wins on the evening. Higgins, who is ranked fourth in New England, earned a first period pin (1:37) at heavyweight, while Morales posted a 3-2 decision over junior Anthony Malfitano (Pearl River, N.Y.) competing out of the 184-pound weight class. Malfitano is ranked fifth in New England.

The Bears (0-1) host New England College on Wednesday (Nov. 6) night at seven. The Hawks travel to the Monarch Invitational hosted by Kings College on Saturday, November 9th.